2006 Handbooks

Is Australia a fair and prosperous society or one shaped by inequality and threats? Is Australia becoming a more tolerant and open or more closed and divided on major social questions? How does Australia compare to other advanced democracies, and how well are Australians adapting to globalisation? This course offers students a rich program of learning about Australian social life, which also serves as a gateway to the study of sociology. We look closely at contemporary debates and trends in Australian society in diverse areas like family and sexuality, crime and justice, social welfare and community, sport and the media, immigration and racism, and class and employment. We will also look at how Australia fits into the global community and into the Asia-Pacific region in particular. Students will also gain skills in conducting social research and understanding social statistics, which are useful in a wide range of social and professional situations.