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Ageing and Human Rights (LAWS90242)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
March
Lecturer(s)
Professor Emeritus Andrew Byrnes (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352), International: +(61 3) 9035 5511
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | March |
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Fees | Look up fees |
The ageing of world populations and the increased longevity of individuals has significant political, cultural and economic consequences. Ageism, the marginalisation of and discrimination against ‘older persons’, in particularly subgroups of older persons, is widespread, and involve systematic human rights violations on the ground of” older age’. This subject will review the historical development and current state of international human rights law as it applies to human rights and older age.
Principal topics will include:
- Ageing historically and in the modern world – demographic trends and their significance
- Theories of ageing, the social construction and cultural significance of older age and nature, extent and importance of ageism
- Ageing and human rights: human rights of older persons or human rights in older age; intersectionality and life course approaches
- Age and international human rights law; past coverage and current developments
- Older age and domestic law and policy (Australian and comparative perspectives), including human rights dimensions of aged care
- Intergenerational equity and human rights law
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Be able to describe and compare different theories of ageing and explain the social construction of ageing and the significances of older age in the modern world.
- Be able to identify the phenomenon of ageism and to analyse the role it plays in affecting the enjoyment of human rights by older persons.
- Be able to identify and critique the adequacy of existing human rights standards for addressing human rights in older age and current controversies over reform of the international framework.
- Be able to identify how human rights standards may be applied to frame and design policy in relation to ageing in Australia.
Generic skills
The course will contribute to the development of the following generic skills:
- Interdisciplinary skills – relating legal analysis and frameworks to literature and practices in the fields of gerontology and other social sciences.
- Skills in legal writing and analysis, including the application of international human rights standards to domestic policy issues.
- Oral skills in the presentation of analysis and argument in relation to ageing, law and human rights issues.
- Skills in legal drafting through the formulation of and commenting on proposed new international standards.
Last updated: 29 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
Recommended background knowledge
Completion of an introductory course in either human rights law or public international law would be helpful, though not essential.
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 29 February 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Assessment 1: Class participation (including the preparation and presentation of a short reflective/analytical piece of 1,200 words) | Throughout the teaching period | 20% |
Assessment 2, Option 1: Take-home examination
| 26 - 29 April 2024 | 80% |
Assessment 2, Option 2: Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator.
| 8 May 2024 | 80% |
Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Students must choose assessment from the options listed above. If an option contains parts, all parts must be completed if that option is chosen.
Last updated: 29 February 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- March
Principal coordinator Andrew Byrnes Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 7 February 2024 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 6 March 2024 to 12 March 2024 Last self-enrol date 12 February 2024 Census date 7 March 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 12 April 2024 Assessment period ends 8 May 2024 March contact information
Lecturer(s)
Professor Emeritus Andrew Byrnes (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352), International: +(61 3) 9035 5511
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 29 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS in the pre-teaching period.
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-masters@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 29 February 2024