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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

11–12Legal Studies 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

Implementation from 2027
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Year 12

Options

The Loading  is to be integrated as appropriate.

Students study TWO of the following options:

  • Consumer law
  • Family law
  • Housing law
  • Peace, conflict and the law
  • Workplace law.
Workplace law (option)
The nature of workplace law
  • The evolution of the labour market and the recognition of employee rights under international law

  • Key workplace legislation and organisations in Australia

  • The implications of employment status for employees, independent contractors and gig-economy workers

  • The employment contract and minimum conditions of employment

  • The roles of trade unions, non-government organisations and the media in advocating for workers’ rights

Safety
  • The need to maintain safe workplaces, including culturally responsive workplaces

  • The regulation of safety requirements in the workplace

  • Methods of enforcing employer responsibilities through government organisations and courts

  • Challenges in protecting the safety of workers, including technological advancements and the inadequacy of regulation and penalties

Fair pay
  • The need to protect fair pay in the workplace

  • The regulatory framework for paid work in Australia

  • Methods of enforcing fair pay through government organisations and courts

  • Challenges facing vulnerable workers, including exploitation, wage theft, unpaid work and unlawful deductions

Leave
  • The evolving recognition of leave entitlements in the workplace

  • Types of leave entitlement

  • The regulatory framework for leave entitlements

  • Measures to address a changing and diverse workforce without paid leave entitlements

Discrimination and termination
  • The need to protect workers’ rights regarding discrimination and termination

  • Laws regulating unlawful workplace discrimination, unfair dismissal, unlawful termination and redundancy

  • The roles of courts and tribunals in resolving disputes and imposing penalties, including alternative dispute resolution

  • Barriers to participation in employment dispute resolution

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