Overview

This unit enables students, through the study of cases, statutes and other materials, to acquire a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of, and competence in, Australian contract law. Students are introduced to the law relating to contractual agreements including formation, scope, content, avoidance, performance, discharge and remedies. Its focus is on the underlying principles and rules of law that apply to all contracts, unless otherwise provided by statute or the common law. As such, its study is a prelude to embarking upon those areas of law that have contractual agreement at their core.

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
03-November-2025
08-February-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-November-2025
Census date
28-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-January-2026
Results released date
03-March-2026
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
09-March-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
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
06-July-2026
04-October-2026
Last self-enrolment date
19-July-2026
Census date
04-August-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
25-August-2026
Results released date
27-October-2026
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
02-November-2026
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

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  1. Describe and evaluate Australian contract law and related policies
  2. Identify relevant contract law principles in cases and statues
  3. Apply those contract law principles to particular factual situations and effectively advise and communicate with clients and others about their contractual rights and obligations
  4. Locate and interpret domestic legislation applicable to contract law
  5. Conduct contract law related research independently and in groups and use the results of that research to reach well-reasoned conclusions

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class
3.00  12 weeks  36
Online
Lecture (asynchronous)
1.00  12 weeks  12
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning
8.50  12 weeks  102
TOTAL     150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)

Live Online

Class (synchronous)

3.00  12 weeks  36

Online

Directed Online Learning 

1.00 12 weeks  12

Unspecified Activities

Independent Learning

8.5 12 weeks  102
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULOs
Examination Individual  40 - 60%  1,2,3,4 
Online Quiz Individual  10 - 20%  1,2,3,4 
Presentation and Report Group  30 - 40%  1,2,3,4,5 

Content

Topics will include:

  • The nature of contractual agreements
  • The role of contracts in market economies
  • Formation
  • Capacity to contract
  • Formalities
  • Privity
  • Content and construction
  • Avoidance of contracts
  • Performance and discharge
  • Remedies

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.