Policing: Systems and Practice
24 hours face to face + blended
One Semester or equivalent
Hawthorn, Online
Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
Overview
This subject provides students with an overview of policing in a criminological context. Students will gain an understanding of the breadth of the field of policing, including historical, international and methodologies, as well as a critical engagement with policing practices. In addition an appreciation of the importance of theoretical models when applying a critical analysis to policing.
Requisites
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
09-March-2026
07-June-2026
07-June-2026
Last self-enrolment date
22-March-2026
Census date
07-April-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
28-April-2026
Results released date
30-June-2026
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
02-November-2026
07-February-2027
07-February-2027
Last self-enrolment date
15-November-2026
Census date
01-December-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-December-2026
Results released date
02-March-2027
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Outline foundation concepts and the significance of historical events that shape contemporary police and policing in Australia
- Apply academic, policy and practice knowledges as tools to explain policing trends
- Critically assess the contemporary challenges faced by police organisations in Australia
- Showcase a diversity of communication and representational skills to Communicate evidence and ideas about policing using a diversity of communication and representational skills.
- Apply social scientific research methods to evaluate police procedures and policies, and demonstrate the extent to which they use evidence-based practices
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Specified Activities Various | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Unspecified Activities Various | 7.50 | 12 weeks | 90 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Class | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 9.50 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Discussion | Individual | 20% | 3,4 |
| Essay | Individual | 50% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Poster | Individual | 30% | 1,2,4 |
Content
- Key Stakeholders in Policing
- History and Development of Policing in Australia
- The role of the police in 21st Century Australia
- Police Strategies
- Police Culture
- Police Governance and Accountability
- Careers in Policing
- Policing Diverse Communities
- Technology & Digital Policing
- Policing Vulnerabilities
- Critical Perspectives on the Police
- Researching the Police & Evidence Based Practice
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.