• Offered by Law School
  • ANU College ANU College of Law
  • Classification Advanced
    Specialist
  • Course subject Laws
  • Areas of interest Law

This course examines the legal regulation of work in the Australian Public Service. The diverse sources and changing balance of employment rights and obligations are examined - the contract of employment, legislation (both APS and more generally), administrative law and collective bargaining, including reforms to collective bargaining brought about by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).

The course examines the legal regulation of work with particular attention to the Commonwealth public service. The diverse sources and changing balance of employment rights and obligations are examined - the contract of employment, legislation for the workplace, in particular the role of administrative law and the provisions of the Public Service Act 1999 (Cth) and subordinate legislation, minimum standards (both statutory and those contained in modern awards), and collective bargaining.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

By the conclusion of this course, it is intended that students who have successfully completed all the course requirements will be able to:
  1. Identify, explain and analyse the various elements, frameworks and legislation applicable in public sector employment law;
  2. Demonstrate understanding of, and critically analyse, the evolution of differences and similarities between public and private sector employment law; and
  3. Identify, critically evaluate and explain contemporary policy issues involved in legal regulation of employment generally and public sector employment specifically;
  4. Demonstrate the ability, to a Masters level standard, to plan and produce a substantial research project, analysing and critiquing issues covered in the course.

Other Information

This is an intensive course with a 4 day compulsory intensive (see LLM Masters Program timetable for dates).
Approximately 6 weeks from the completion of the intensive your final assessment will be due. Contact with fellow students and the convenor, both prior to the intensive and after, is conducted via the Wattle course site.

Indicative Assessment

It is likely the assessment will consist of:
  1. A take-home examination (2000 wds, 40%)
  2. A research essay (4000 wds, 50%)
  3. Seminar participation (10%)

Students must rely on the approved Course Study Guide which will be posted to the Wattle course website approximately 4 weeks prior to the commencement of the course

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

26 hours of face to face teaching (4 day intensive). The course will also require advanced preparation through assigned readings. In total, it is anticipated that the hours required for completion this course (class preparation, teaching and completion of assessment) will not exceed 120 hours.

Please see the LLM Masters Program timetable

Requisite and Incompatibility

To enrol in this course you must be studying a: Master of Laws (7300XLLM, MLLM), Master of Laws specialising in International Law (7300XSINTL), Master of Laws specialising in Law, Governance and Development (7300SLGD), Master of Laws specialising in Environmental Law (7300SENVL), Master of Laws specialising in Government and Commercial Law (7300SGCL), Master of Laws specialising in International Security Law (7300SISL), Master of Laws in Migration (NLLML), Master of Laws in International Law (NLLIL), Master of Laws in Environmental Law (NLLEN), Master of Laws in Law, Governance & Development (NLLGD), Master of Laws in International Security Law (NLLSL), Master of Laws in Government and Regulation (NLLGR), Master of Laws (Legal Practice) (7312XLLMLP), Master of Diplomacy/Master of Laws (7883SINTL, 7883XLLM), Master of Legal Practice (MLEGP). OR Must be studying a: Master of Diplomacy/Master of International Law (7893MDIPL, 7893XMINTL), Master of International Law (7310XMINTL), Master of Environmental Law (7309XMENVL), Master of Law, Governance & Development (7317XMLGD), Master of International Security Law (7318XMISL), Master of Government and Commercial Law (7313XMGCL), Master of Legal Studies (7305XMLEGS), and completed LAWS8015 Fundamentals of Government and Commercial Law or LAWS8587 Legal Framework of Regulation. OR Must be studying a Juris Doctor (7330XJD, 7330HJD or MJD) and have completed or be completing five LAWS1000 level courses or five LAWS6100 level courses. OR Must be studying a Graduate Certificate of Law (CLAW) and have completed or are completing LAWS8586 Law and Legal Institutions and LAWS8587 Legal Framework of Regulation. OR Must be studying a Master of Military Law (MMILL) OR Must be studying a Juris Doctor (MJDOL) and have completed the course LAWS8712 Australian Public Law & International Law B

Prescribed Texts

Andrew Stewart, Stewart’s Guide to Employment Law (Federation Press, 3rd ed, 2011)
Marilyn Pittard and Phillipa Weeks (eds), Public Sector Employment in the Twenty-First Century (ANU Epress, 2007

Preliminary Reading

www.apsc.gov.au click on ‘legislative framework’ then ‘Public Service Act and relevant APS legislation’
•    PS Act
•    Public Service Regulations 1999 (PS Regs);
•    Public Service Commissioner’s Directions 2013 (Directions);
•    FW Act 2009 (Cth);
•    Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth).

Students must rely on the approved Course Study Guide which will be posted to the Wattle course site approximately 4 weeks prior to the commencement of the course.
An e-brick will be available on the Wattle course site.

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Student Contribution Band:
3
Unit value:
6 units

If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.  Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Units EFTSL
6.00 0.12500
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee
2016 $3252
International fee paying students
Year Fee
2016 $4638
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

Winter Session

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
6866 17 Jul 2017 17 Jul 2017 28 Jul 2017 31 Aug 2017 In Person N/A

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions