The 2020s have seen the rise of numerous strategic problems for Australia. There are giant states in fierce competition, such as the United States and China, and emerging giants in India and Indonesia. There are also problems from below, such as climate change, artificial intelligence, cyber security, and terrorism. This course examines the security challenges facing Australia and explores how Australia should approach its region. This course is designed with a focus on active and authentic classroom experiences, with a heavy emphasis on simulation exercises that replicate real world problem solving. The course will thus help any students wishing to understand how the Australian government pursues national security, whether they are seeking a future career in government, or to contribute analysis to policy and public debates about how Australia should seek its security in a contested Asia.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Understand the range of national security challenges confronting Australia in the 21st Century and the way they relate to each other and Australia's strategic environment.
2. Apply analytical frameworks and tools to better understand the complexities of the national security challenges confronting Australia and its neighbours.
3. Articulate the role and nature of policy advice and develop creative proposals both individually and as part of a team
4. Explore the contribution of Australia's First Nations people to Australian security, from the historical legacy of the Frontier Wars, through to the rise of Indigenous Diplomacy initiatives.
5. Clearly and confidently articulate their ideas regarding Australia's national security in verbal as well as written form.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups and individuals

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Module 1: The Security LandscapeIntroduction: The Security Landscape
2	Security Problems and Paradigms
3	Evolution of Australian Security
4	Australia in the Indo-Pacific
5	Module 2: Australian Tools of National PowerStrategic Diplomacy
6	Intelligence and Information
7	Military Capabilities
8	Economics and Security
9	Module 3: Australia's Future SecurityRegional Flashpoints
10	Climate Change and HADR
11	Politically Motivated Violence
12	Future of Australian Security

Tutorial Registration

Via MyTimetable. Please note tutorial registrations will close at the end of the first week of semester, and commence in the second week of semester.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Ministerial Brief	20 %	18/08/2025	30/08/2025	1, 3, 5
Research Essay	40 %	06/10/2025	28/10/2025	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Take-Home Exam	30 %	30/10/2025	27/11/2025	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Course Engagement	10 %	*	*	1, 2, 3, 4, 5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using 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. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Participation marks are not based on attendance, but on how well students contribute to the tutorials. Students will be assessed on the quality of their contribution to discussion and debate within tutorials. To do well in this assessment, students should ensure they complete the assigned readings before their tutorial, attend the tutorial in which they are enrolled, and participate in class discussion.

Examination(s)

There is a take-home exam in this course. ANU policy prohibuts late submission and extensions for home examinations (see the Student Assessment (coursework) Policy).

Assessment Task 1

Ministerial Brief

Word count: 1,000 words

Due: Monday August 18, 23:55

Return date: August 30 or earlier.

Weighting: 20 percent

Students will be tasked with developing a short brief for a minister with a national security portfolio, engaging with key features of Australia’s strategic environment. Further information on the task and submission requirements is available on the Canvas teaching site.

The CAP Word Limit Policy applies to this task. For this task, any submission over the allocated word count by more than 10% will be penalised 2% of the available marks for every 50-words over 1,100-words (or part thereof).

Linked Learning Outcomes

This assessment links to the following course learning outcomes:

• 1. Understand the range of national security challenges confronting Australia in the 21st Century and the way they relate to each other and Australia's strategic environment.
• 3. Articulate the role and nature of policy advice and develop creative proposals both individually and as part of a team
• 5. Clearly and confidently articulate their ideas regarding Australia's national security in verbal as well as written form.

Assessment Task 2

Research Essay

Word Count: 2,500 words

Due: Friday, 3 October 2025 at 23:55*

Return Date: Tuesday, October 28 or earlier.

Weighting: 40 percent

Students will be tasked with developing an academic research essay in response to one of the set questions. Further information on the task and submission requirements is available on the Canvas teaching site.

The CAP Word Limit Policy applies to this task, any submission over the allocated word count by more than 10% will be penalised 2% of the available marks for every 125-words over 2,750-words (or part thereof).

* Students may submit this assessment over the long weekend without penalty.

Linked Learning Outcomes

This assessment links to the following course learning outcomes:

• 1. Understand the range of national security challenges confronting Australia in the 21st Century and the way they relate to each other and Australia's strategic environment.
• 2. Apply analytical frameworks and tools to better understand the complexities of the national security challenges confronting Australia and its neighbours.
• 3. Articulate the role and nature of policy advice and develop creative proposals both individually and as part of a team
• 4. Explore the contribution of Australia's First Nations people to Australian security, from the historical legacy of the Frontier Wars, through to the rise of Indigenous Diplomacy initiatives.
• 5. Clearly and confidently articulate their ideas regarding Australia's national security in verbal as well as written form.

Assessment Task 3

Take-Home Exam

Word Count: 2,000-words (total)

Release Date: Thursday October 23, 09:00

Due Date: Thursday October 30, 17:00 (with penalty free submission grace period until 23:55)

Return Date: Results Day

Weighting: 30 percent

On Thursday of week 12, the full details of this task will be released to students. This take home exam will comprise of:

• Part A: Short answer questions
• Part B: One long form question

Further information on the task and submission requirements will be made available on the Canvas teaching site on the task release date.

The CAP Word Limit Policy applies to the total word count of this task, any submission over the allocated word count by more than 10% will be penalised 2% of the available marks for every 100-words over 2,200-words (or part thereof).

Linked Learning Outcomes

This assessment links to the following course learning outcomes:

• 1. Understand the range of national security challenges confronting Australia in the 21st Century and the way they relate to each other and Australia's strategic environment.
• 2. Apply analytical frameworks and tools to better understand the complexities of the national security challenges confronting Australia and its neighbours.
• 3. Articulate the role and nature of policy advice and develop creative proposals both individually and as part of a team
• 4. Explore the contribution of Australia's First Nations people to Australian security, from the historical legacy of the Frontier Wars, through to the rise of Indigenous Diplomacy initiatives.
• 5. Clearly and confidently articulate their ideas regarding Australia's national security in verbal as well as written form.

Assessment Task 4

Course Engagement

Due: Ongoing, assessed during tutorials held in weeks 2 - 12.

Return Date: Results Day

Weighting: 10 percent

Students will be assessed on the quality of their contribution to discussion and debate within tutorials. To do well in this assessment, students should ensure that they complete the assigned readings before their tutorial, attend the tutorial in which they are enrolled, and participate in class discussion.

Tutorial allocations will close at the end of week 1, unallocated students will then be assigned to an available tutorial.

Linked Learning Outcomes

This assessment links to the following course learning outcomes:

• 1. Understand the range of national security challenges confronting Australia in the 21st Century and the way they relate to each other and Australia's strategic environment.
• 2. Apply analytical frameworks and tools to better understand the complexities of the national security challenges confronting Australia and its neighbours.
• 3. Articulate the role and nature of policy advice and develop creative proposals both individually and as part of a team
• 4. Explore the contribution of Australia's First Nations people to Australian security, from the historical legacy of the Frontier Wars, through to the rise of Indigenous Diplomacy initiatives.
• 5. Clearly and confidently articulate their ideas regarding Australia's national security in verbal as well as written form.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

Submissions need to be submitted via the ANU Canvas teaching site, submissions will not be accepted via email. All written assessments are to be uploaded in a Microsoft Word format (either doc or docx), Canvas will not accept other file types. ANU provides Microsoft 365 to students free of charge.

Hardcopy Submission

Hard copy submission will not be accepted in this course unless approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension will be penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day (or part thereof). Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Return dates for assessments are posted on Canvas.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

It is each student's responsibility to ensure they upload the correct version of their work, student error is not considered reasonable grounds for assessment extension or adjustment.

Students may use the submission portal to check their similarity reports, and replace their submission if needed. For on time submissions, the most recently uploaded paper will be graded. For late submissions, the first submission received after the due date will be graded.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students