Course Title: Work with conflict resolution and mediation processes within justice environments
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2017
Course Code: JUST5722
Course Title: Work with conflict resolution and mediation processes within justice environments
School: 365T Global, Urban and Social Studies
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5315 - Diploma of Justice
Course Contact: Irene Pagliarella, Program Manager
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4581
Course Contact Email: irene.pagliarella@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nominal Hours: 40
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
Successful completion of, or demonstrated equivalence to, the following units of competency:
VU20868 Apply foundation legal principles
VU20869 Work within the criminal justice system
VU20870 Apply writing and presentation skills within a justice environment
VU20871 Support the management of adult offenders within the Victorian correctional framework
PSPOHS401B Implement workplace safety procedures and programs
PSPETHC401A Uphold and support the values and principles of public service
And ONE of the following electives:
VU20867 Support policing processes within justice environment contexts
CHCCHILD401B Identify and respond to children and young people at risk
Course Description
In this course you will develop the skills and knowledge required to address conflict resolution processes and preparation for mediation requirements across a range of disputes within a range of justice environments.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VU20864 Work with conflict resolution and mediation processes within justice environments |
Element: |
1. Develop communication skills required for working in justice environments |
Performance Criteria: |
Principles of effective communication are researched, evaluated for effective application to justice environments, and practised 1.2Models of interpretation of non-verbal communication are delineated, analysed for application to justice environments, and practised 1.3Presentation of documented and written communication is reviewed against justice environment requirements |
Element: |
2. Address conflict resolution and mediation processes within a justice environment |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1Models of conflict resolution are researched and analysed for application to justice environments 2.2Models and systems for mediation are researched and analysed for application to justice environments 2.3Parameters of own role in addressing conflict resolution and mediation processes are identified in consultation with relevant people 2.4In consultation with relevant people, clients are assisted to undertake conflict resolution and/or mediation processes 2.5Outcomes are recorded and work is reviewed in accordance with organisational requirements |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course, you will be able to:
• Apply written and oral communication strategies selected for relevance across a range of justice dispute resolution contexts
• Plan for and review conflict resolution and mediation processes within a range of justice contexts
• Provide evidence of knowledge of models and systems of conflict resolution and mediation within the Victorian justice system
• Provide evidence of the knowledge of relevant legislation, provisions regulatory requirements and standards
Details of Learning Activities
You will participate in a variety of learning activities. They include the following:
In class activities:
• Role plays
• Observations
• Demonstrations
• Lectures
• Presentations
• Class discussions
• Oral and written questioning
Out of class activities:
• Readings
• Case studies
• Role plays
• Observations
• Research
Teaching Schedule
Week One:
Introduction and overview of subject, teaching schedule and assessments
Week Two:
Definition of key concepts and establishing your personal conflict resolution
Responding to conflict
Mediation/Conciliation/Arbitration
Week Three: Models of Mediation
Week Four: The role of the Mediator
Week Five: Non-verbal communication
Defining negative and positive body language
Cultural differences in non-verbal communication
An introduction to non-verbal barriers to effective communication
Week Six: Active listening – Role plays
Week Seven: Barriers to effective communication
Passive
Aggressive
Passive-aggressive
Assertive
Summative Assessment 1 due - 18 August 2015
Week Eight: Assertive Communication
Models for assertive communication
Week Nine: Mid semester break - no classes
Week Ten: Managing difficult clients
Week Eleven: Effective Questioning Techniques
Week Twelve: Disputes appropriate for mediation
Week Thirteen: Insight into The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria – its purpose in conflict resolution
Summative assessment 2 due 18 September 2015
Week Fourteen: Various stages of Mediation & Mediation observation
Week Fifteen: Stages of Mediation & Mediation observation continued
Week Sixteen: Role Play preparation and rehearsal.
After mediation. What next?
Week Seventeen:
Summative assessment Mediation Practice - ROLE PLAYS - 30 October 2015
Week Eighteen:
Summative assessment Mediation Practice - ROLE PLAYS - 6 November 2015
NOTE: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.
Attendance
It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.
We expect that students engage in learning through a combination of lectures, individual reading and study, meaningful feedback on written work and structured activities that encourage critical thinking and the development of discipline specific knowledge and practical skills.
Students are active participants and this course prioritises learning by doing. It is essential that students take ownership of their studies and work on developing skills as independent learners in time allocated away from lectures and class time.
As a student you need to demonstrate both knowledge and practical skills relevant to the course content within the classroom environment. Engagement with educators and other students is critical to you maximising learning opportunities and achieving satisfactory results. Participation in classroom discussion and activities will allow educators to apply observational assessment during role-plays, exercises and assignments and provide you with feedback.
You will be required to sign an attendance sheet and if you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to advise your educator and complete any written tasks that may have been allocated.
Students are required to carefully plan and use their time productively and submit assessments as required. All assessments tasks should be researched and drafted well in advance of the set submission dates.
The course will use blended learning techniques, including; lectures, discussions, activities in class and learner directed activities supported by a range of resources available in class and on Blackboard system
Feedback - You will receive verbal and written feedback on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects. Student feedback at RMIT
Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. Student progress policy
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
GUSS Skills Central (http://Gussskillscentral.edu.au/) is a site developed specifically for students in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT. It provides links to a range of resources for supporting student work on assessments and negotiating university studies more generally.
Overview of Assessment
Assessments may incorporate a variety of methods including role play, case studies, observations, lectures, tutorials, class discussions, audio-visual presentations, and interaction with individuals and/or groups within the justice industry.
Assessment Tasks
In order for students to prove competence in this subject, all assessment tasks must be satisfactorily completed in a timely manner.
Formative Assessments:
A range of role plays on mediation practices and conflict resolution practices with difficult clients
All assessment tasks are based on the requirements of the performance criteria, range statements and the assessment guidelines of the course and include:
Assessment instruments used by the educator/assessor.
There are three assessable tasks to be completed they are;
• A short answer and multiple choice exam - 20%
• A written essay submission - 30%
• Mediation role play - 50%
Students must achieve competency IN ALL assessment tasks to PASS this subject.
Assessment Matrix
Assessment Grading Table
The assessments have been designed to cover all Learning Outcomes and will be graded in accordance with RMIT’s Mark Table which is as follows:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved - Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did not Submit for Assessment
Grades which apply to course delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment (not-graded)
CA Competency Achieved
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit For Assessment
Assessment Deadlines
Any due date for any assignment is to be considered a deadline. You can submit work at any time prior to the submission date, but it must be into the Administration office by close of business (5pm) of the day the submission is due.
Assessment Format
As a student of the Justice VE program, it is expected that you adhere to the following criteria regarding essays/research/reports;
1. For a DIPLOMA written assessment task/s – no less than 2000 words, 5 academic references and ONE in-text citation per paragraph.
2. A paragraph is usually between 200 – 250 words.
3. A sentence is usually between 20 - 25 words.
4. American Psychological Association (APA) Referencing Style is the EXPECTED referencing style for the school of Criminal Justice (VE).
5. We highly recommend that all students download a copy of the APA Referencing Guide which is available on the Blackboard or purchase a Pocket Guide to APA style from the campus bookshop.
6. APA Referencing system is to be used and all in-text citations must be recorded according to APA standards.
7. An academic reference is a scholarly source (journal articles that are peer reviewed, a published book, an approved government or organisation website etc).
8. Written reports, research projects or essays are to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and familiarity with the prescribed or negotiated topics
9. It is expected that all submitted work will be well written, with clear and consistent grammar, expression and punctuation. It must be well structured and address the issues raised in the chosen topic in a logical ordered and organised manner.
10. Written submissions must demonstrate appropriate preparation, reading and research.
11. Double or 1.5 spacing and a font size of 10-12 must be used in either Arial or Times Roman. Do not submit double paged assessments.
12. All assignments to be submitted via the Drop Box (Building 37, level 2) and submitted via email to the Advanced Diploma email address to verify submission (advdipjusticeassignments@rmit.edu.au). Assessments must be submitted by 5pm (close of business).
13. Written assessments will also be submitted with a Turnitin Report attached (as instructed by your Educator).
Other Information
Other Information
Please refer to RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters:
Extensions
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level and by the DUE DATE. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by a due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
In accordance with RMIT policy, you may apply for an extension where there have been unexpected or extenuating circumstances, e.g.
• Hospital admission, serious injury, severe asthma, severe anxiety or depression. This does not include minor illness such as a cold, period pain or hay fever.
• Loss or bereavement – e.g. death of a close family member, family/relationship breakdown.
• Hardship/trauma – e.g. victim of crime, sudden loss of income or employment, severe disruption to domestic arrangements.
You must keep a copy of your assessment until the graded submission has been returned or marks have been posted.
All email communications will be sent to your RMIT student email address.
An extension up to seven calendar days may be granted if good reason can be demonstrated. Include supporting evidence (such as medical certificates) with your application.
An extension up to seven calendar days may be granted if good reason can be demonstrated. Include supporting evidence (such as medical certificates) with your application
Extensions beyond seven calendar days cannot be granted by Course coordinators or individual educators.
Longer extensions
Extension of time longer than 7 days can only be granted through special consideration.
Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: rmit.edu.au/students.
The submission of assessments on the due date is the responsibility solely of the student. Students should not leave assignment preparation until the last minute and must plan their workloads so as to be able to meet advertised or notified deadlines. 

Assignment Submissions:
The submission of assessments on the due date is the responsibility solely of the student. Students should not leave assignment preparation until the last minute and must plan their workloads so as to be able to meet advertised or notified deadlines.
If you have not been granted an extension or special consideration, you need to submit any work that has been completed on the due date.
For assignments 1 to 10 days late, a penalty of 10% (of the marks awarded) per day will apply. For assignments more than 10 days late, a penalty of 100% will apply. Weekend days (Saturday and Sunday) are considered when counting total late days for electronic submissions but not for hardcopy submissions.
Cover Sheet for Submissions
All assessment items are to be submitted with a University Assessment Coversheet. Students are responsible for ensuring they complete all sections of the Cover Sheet and that they have agreed to the Academic Integrity Declaration.
Applying for Special Consideration
If you are seeking an extension of more than seven calendar days (from the original due date) you must lodge an Application for Special Consideration form, preferably prior to, but no later than two working days after the official due date. Late applications will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.
For information about Special Consideration and how to apply, see: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration
All email communications will be sent to your RMIT student email address.
An extension up to seven calendar days may be granted if good reason can be demonstrated. Include supporting evidence (such as medical certificates) with your application
Retention of Assessments
The University is required to retain all essays, assignments, and other assessment materials for a minimum of six months from the date of issue of results.
At the completion of the six-month period, students can collect their assessments or assessment material may be destroyed. Material that relates to appeals that have not yet been finally determined will not destroyed.
Assessment Appeals
If you believe your assessment result or final result is wrong please contact the course coordinator and provide the reason why you think your result is incorrect. Valid reasons for seeking a review of results include:
• You believe an error has occurred in the calculation of the grade; or,
• You believe the assessment did not comply with criteria published in the Course Guide; or,
• You believe the assessment did not comply with University Policies on Assessment (i.e. an error in process has occurred).
• Full details of the procedure (including appeals procedure) can be located at this RMIT site: http://www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academic#assessment
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism - RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity.
Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship through respecting the work of others whilst having the freedom to build new insights, new knowledge and ideas. RMIT University upholds the values of academic integrity as fundamental to the scholarship undertaken by all members of its community. Whenever you refer to another person’s research or ideas (either by directly quoting or paraphrasing them) you must acknowledge your source.
If you are even in doubt about how to properly cite a reference, consult your lecturer or the academic integrity website: http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity
The RMIT library provides tools to assist with your referencing http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/info-trek/referencing
Plagiarism and Collusion
Plagiarism and collusion constitute extremely serious academic misconduct, and are forms of cheating. You are reminded that cheating, whether by fabrication, falsification of data, or plagiarism, is an offence subject to University disciplinary procedures. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data, and oral presentations. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. Plagiarism is not acceptable.
Examples of plagiarism include:
• Copying sentences or paragraphs word-for-word from one or more sources, whether published or unpublished, which could include but is not limited to books, journals, reports, theses, websites, conference papers, course notes, etc. without proper citation;
• Closely paraphrasing sentences, paragraphs, ideas or themes without proper citation;
• Piecing together text from one or more sources and adding only linking sentences;
• Copying or submitting whole or parts of computer files without acknowledging their source;
• Copying designs or works of art and submitting them as your original work;
• Copying a whole or any part of another student’s work; and
• Submitting work as your own that someone else has done for you.
• Enabling Plagiarism: the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work is also an offence.
For further information, please see the RMIT Plagiarism Policy – http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=sg4yfqzod48g1 – and the RMIT Student Discipline Statute and Regulations - http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=11jgnnjgg70y
Plagiarism Software
The originality verification software Turnitin may be used in this course. For details, see: http://www.turnitin.com
Complaints procedure
RMIT University is committed to providing a harmonious study and work environment for all students and staff. The University recognises your right to raise concerns about academic, administrative or support services without recrimination and has policies and procedures to assist in the resolution of complaints.
Most issues are resolved at the local level and you are encouraged to take steps to resolve your issue locally. The student complaint procedure details steps to take if your problem is not resolved or you believe the response you received is unreasonable.
Student Complaints Policy: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/policies/studentcomplaintspolicy
Student complaints Procedure: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=i1lexipvjt22
Student Complaints Form: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/v4ujvmyojugxz.pdf
Course Overview: Access Course Overview