Studying online

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 covers some of the more difficult concepts associated with general insurance law, such as the duty of utmost good faith, a non-party's right to sue on an insurance contract, causation, the nature of an insurer's promise to indemnify, subrogation, and the duties of a lawyer when retained by an insurer and double insurance.

Credit
6 points
Offering
AvailabilityLocationMode
Not available in 2025UWA (Perth)Face to face
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) identify relevant legal issues; (2) analyse the law logically and methodically; (3) apply the law to the facts; and (4) persuade, by their reasoning process, why their conclusion in relation to a problem is the right one and why any insistent alternatives are not correct for the circumstances (through their knowledge of the common law and equitable principles relevant to insurance law and the Insurance Contracts Act 1984).
Assessment

Students demonstrate achievement of the outcomes in a variety of assessment methods which may include an essay and an oral presentation. Further information is available in the unit outline.



Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Contact hours
lectures: 2 hours per week
tutorials: 1 hour per week
Text

The unit is structured around Greg Pynt’s text Australian Insurance Law: a First Reference, 3rd edn: LexisNexis 2014

The Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) is central to an understanding of insurance law in Australia.  Students should have ready access to it at all times.

  • 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.