LAW4163 Parents, children and the state
Faculty of Law
LAW4163 Parents, children and the state is a level 4, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Law. It isn't offered in 2026. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Not offered
- Assessment
- Exam 60%
- and 1 other task
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before LAW4163
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After LAW4163
No unit lists LAW4163 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
You must have completed at least 60 credit points of law study.
Overview
Examines legislative structures for resolving disputes between parents, children and State child welfare authorities and the difficulties which arise as the result of the divided Commonwealth/State responsibility. Examines creation of families and parent-child relationships, common law and statutory principles governing rights and responsibilities of parents, particularly the provisions of Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). Examines paramountcy of 'best interests of the child' and relevant considerations.
Offerings in 2026
The 2026 handbook lists no offerings for LAW4163.
Assessment
- Research assignmentWritten40%
- Take home examExamination60%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
identify and evaluate a knowledge of the common law and statutory principles which govern the relations between parents and children and between children, parents and the State and develop some understanding of the way in which these laws operate in practice
- 2
analyse and interpret the jurisdictional issues and legal procedures relevant to the determination of such disputes
- 3
research and evaluate theoretical and critical debates about the laws governing parents and children and the adequacy of current laws and procedures
- 4
communicate effectively and persuasively on issues relevant to family law
- 5
evaluate and reflect on some of the skills necessary for practice in this area of the law and recognize ethical issues they may encounter in practice
- 6
learn and work autonomously and use feedback to improve their own capabilities and performance
Workload and teaching
- Seminars36 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
Learning resources
Required resources
See the Moodle unit page for prescribed and recommended resources. Prescribed texts are usually available for purchase through the University Bookstore and are sometimes available for short-term loan or as eBooks through the library.
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for LAW4163?
LAW4163 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is LAW4163 offered?
LAW4163 has no offerings listed in the 2026 handbook.
How much work is LAW4163?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does LAW4163 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 60% of the final mark, alongside 1 other task.