Students

BHIS1003 – History Now!

2026 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Matthew Bailey
matthew.bailey@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Climate change. Indigenous Rights and Reconciliation. The plight of asylum seekers. Housing affordability. Intergenerational inequality. Gender pay gaps. Big data and AI. What are the major issues affecting Australian society today? This unit explores this question, and examines the ways that history shapes the present. Rather than viewing current issues as isolated phenomena, students will trace the deep historical roots of problems that dominate public discourse today, developing critical analytical skills to understand how the past continues to shape present-day Australia. It is designed for history students as well as anyone who wishes to gain a greater understanding of contemporary Australian society. Each week, issues of topical importance are introduced and given an historical setting. We will use a wide range of media and primary sources, and engage with objects and documents in the Janet Gale Museum in the university. We will draw connections between the present and the past and consider the power of history to influence events today.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Identify and explain the historical roots of significant issues facing Australian society today.
  • ULO2: Analyse how Indigenous histories and perspectives contribute to broader debates on reconciliation and social justice in Australia.
  • ULO3: Critically assess the role of historical thinking in contemporary debates, including those related to inequality, technology, and human rights.
  • ULO4: Engage with historical artefacts and documents to draw connections between material culture and ongoing societal change.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.    
This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Artefact Inquiry 30% No 23/08/2026 Individual Yes Open
Infographic 40% No 18/10/2026 Individual Yes Open
Final exam 30% No Formal exam period Individual No Observed

Artefact Inquiry

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 23/08/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Students will select an object from the Gale History Museum’s collection or another primary source from the unit materials that relates to a contemporary issue. A list of objects will be provided. Students will research and write an analysis of the object, identifying its historical context, relevance to a modern issue, and its interpretive value for understanding continuity and change in Australian society.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically assess the role of historical thinking in contemporary debates, including those related to inequality, technology, and human rights.
  • Engage with historical artefacts and documents to draw connections between material culture and ongoing societal change.

Infographic

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 18/10/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Students will select a significant issue in Australian history and design an infographic to depict the development of this issue in an engaging and creative format for a specific audience. It will include a 500-word explanation and a bibliography to support academic references.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and explain the historical roots of significant issues facing Australian society today.
  • Critically assess the role of historical thinking in contemporary debates, including those related to inequality, technology, and human rights.
  • Engage with historical artefacts and documents to draw connections between material culture and ongoing societal change.

Final exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: Formal exam period
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Students will answer a series of questions relating to the primary sources studied in the unit. They will draw on their discussions and research conducted in class (online or face-to-face).
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and explain the historical roots of significant issues facing Australian society today.
  • Analyse how Indigenous histories and perspectives contribute to broader debates on reconciliation and social justice in Australia.
  • Critically assess the role of historical thinking in contemporary debates, including those related to inequality, technology, and human rights.
  • Engage with historical artefacts and documents to draw connections between material culture and ongoing societal change.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

All essential materials will be available online through the unit iLearn site and the Macquarie University Library. Face-to-face students are encouraged to use the library to supplement online sources. Off-campus students are similarly encouraged to use libraries availlable to them.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2026.04 of the Handbook