Studying online (if an online offering is shown below)
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
This unit is concerned with the development of consumer protection law in Australia as a discrete area of law and practice, largely as a consequence of statutory initiatives.
The unit focuses on the law of misleading or deceptive conduct, unfair practices, unconscionable conduct, unfair contract terms, consumer guarantees, the liability of manufacturers for goods with safety defects, the safety of consumer goods and product related services and consumer credit. It also covers current developments in Australian consumer law, as well as comparative perspectives.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2025 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Outcomes
- Students are able to (1) critically identify and understand the objectives, requirements and processes of state and federal legislative schemes for the protection of consumers in Australia; demonstrate an understanding and application of the legislation most relevant to consumer law: the Australian Consumer Law 2010 (Cth) and the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (Cth); demonstrate an understanding of current developments in consumer law including by reference to international perspectives; learn, without the aid of lectures, a discrete area of consumer law–consumer credit, and demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of it, together with an ability to apply it to real and hypothetical scenarios; (2) demonstrate a developed ability to recognise and reflect upon the professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice and service to the community; (3) demonstrate a developed ability to (a) identify, interpret and apply relevant legal principles to hypothetical factual scenarios; (b) engage in critical analysis of claims and make reasoned choices among alternatives to provide written and oral advice on a range of consumer law issues; (4) locate, analyse and critically evaluate material from primary and secondary sources to critically discuss existing consumer credit law as to whether it responds adequately to consumer needs; and (5) demonstrate an ability to (a) communicate a comprehension of consumer law by providing logical and coherent written and oral advice on consumer law issues; (b) work effectively in small groups to research and apply law and practice not taught in lectures.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) tutorial participation; (2) assignment; and (3) examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Assistant Professor Tracey Atkins
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Enrolment in20810 Doctor of Juridical Science
- Incompatibility
- LAWS5128 Consumer Law
- Contact hours
- 4 hours per week
- Text
-
Corones, S. Australian Consumer Law Commentry and Materials: Thompson Reuters 2015
- Recommended
Reading -
Bruce, A. Consumer Protection in Australia: Lexis Nexis 2011
Miller, R. Millers Australia Competition and Consumer Law Annotated: Thompson Reuters 2017
Pearson, G. & Batlen, R. Understanding Australian Consumer Credit Law: CCH 2011
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.