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HE Unit Template
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Psychology, Culture, and First Nations Australians
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PSYCB2109 - Psychology, Culture, and First Nations Australians
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20270200
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1.0
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2026-09-10
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2026-09-10
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Psychology
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Institute of Health and Wellbeing
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Psychology
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Undergraduate
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15
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.125
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090701
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Psychology
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090701 - Psychology
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<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/psycb2109">View unit fees</a>
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Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
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7
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Bachelor Degree
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1
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<p>The unit aims to provide students with an understanding of the centrality of culture to human behaviour. Students will explore how culture affects a variety of psychological variables, including identity, social functioning, emotions, mental health, as well as other areas within the discipline of psychology. Furthermore, they will develop an understanding of the processes through which this occurs. A specific focus is on First Nations Australians, and students will learn how social, cultural, and historical contexts have shaped contemporary life, especially with regard to well-being. Students will be introduced to Indigenous Psychologies and alternate models of health and well-being. Students will be challenged to explore the assumptions and values embedded in their own worldviews, and the effect of these on their perception and approach to the world around them, such that they develop a capacity to engage with the broader community in a culturally aware and responsive fashion.</p>
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<p>Unit content topics may cover: </p><ul><li>Introduction to culture and the study of culture in psychology.</li><li>Cross-cultural research methods.</li><li>Culture, enculturation, and developmental processes.</li><li>The impact of culture on self and identity.</li><li>The importance of language to culture.</li><li>Migration and acculturation.</li><li>Mental health from a cultural perspective.</li><li>The social, cultural and historical contexts of First Nations Australians.</li><li>The relationship between psychology as a profession and discipline and First Nations Australians.</li><li>Indigenous psychologies and Australian First Nations psychology and social and emotional wellbeing.</li></ul>
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<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
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2027
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2026
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PSYCB2109 - Psychology, Culture, and First Nations Australians
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PSYCB2109 - Psychology, Culture, and First Nations Australians
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Year
2027
2026
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Overview
Key information
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Assessment
FedTASK
Parent Region
Overview
Unit description
<p>The unit aims to provide students with an understanding of the centrality of culture to human behaviour. Students will explore how culture affects a variety of psychological variables, including identity, social functioning, emotions, mental health, as well as other areas within the discipline of psychology. Furthermore, they will develop an understanding of the processes through which this occurs. A specific focus is on First Nations Australians, and students will learn how social, cultural, and historical contexts have shaped contemporary life, especially with regard to well-being. Students will be introduced to Indigenous Psychologies and alternate models of health and well-being. Students will be challenged to explore the assumptions and values embedded in their own worldviews, and the effect of these on their perception and approach to the world around them, such that they develop a capacity to engage with the broader community in a culturally aware and responsive fashion.</p>
Unit content
<p>Unit content topics may cover: </p><ul><li>Introduction to culture and the study of culture in psychology.</li><li>Cross-cultural research methods.</li><li>Culture, enculturation, and developmental processes.</li><li>The impact of culture on self and identity.</li><li>The importance of language to culture.</li><li>Migration and acculturation.</li><li>Mental health from a cultural perspective.</li><li>The social, cultural and historical contexts of First Nations Australians.</li><li>The relationship between psychology as a profession and discipline and First Nations Australians.</li><li>Indigenous psychologies and Australian First Nations psychology and social and emotional wellbeing.</li></ul>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Psychology
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
090701 - Psychology
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 1</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Berwick (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p></p> <p><strong>Teaching Period 1</strong><p>Federation University Online</p></p> <p><strong>Teaching Period 3</strong><p>Federation University Online</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/psycb2109">View unit fees</a>
Requisites
Prerequisite
<p>must have completed 2 of <a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB1003" target="_blank">PSYCB1003</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB1004" target="_blank">PSYCB1004</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB1005" target="_blank">PSYCB1005</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB1006" target="_blank">PSYCB1006</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB1101" target="_blank">PSYCB1101</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB1102" target="_blank">PSYCB1102</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB1111" target="_blank">PSYCB1111</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB1112" target="_blank">PSYCB1112</a></p>
Corequisite
None
Exclusion
None
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
<p>On successful completion of this unit, students are expected to gain the following [K]nowledge, [S]kills and [A]pplication of knowledge & skills</p>
Learning Outcomes
Ref
Outcome
K1
<p>Describe the central role of culture in shaping human behaviour and explain the processes through which cultural influences operate.</p>
K2
<p>Review the contemporary consequences of colonisation for First Nations Australians’ psychological health.</p>
K3
<p>Appraise Indigenous Psychologies as a unique discipline with unique perspectives on mental health and well-being.</p>
S1
<p>Exhibit an awareness of cultural diversity in Australian society and/or throughout the world.</p>
S2
<p>Demonstrate an appreciation of implications of the differences and commonalities between people from different social and cultural groups.</p>
A1
<p>Demonstrate cultural awareness and responsiveness, with a focus on First Nations Australians.</p>
Assessment
Learning Tasks and Assessment
Ref
Learning task
Assessment type
Weighting
Learning outcomes assessed
1
<p>Quizzes to test knowledge of content and practical applications.</p>
<p>Quizzes</p>
<p>10-40%</p>
K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, A1
2
<p>A written assessment incorporating an understanding of culture and its application and impact on real-world contexts.</p>
<p>Written Task - Policy Brief</p>
<p>30-50%</p>
K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, A1
3
<p>A written reflexive task incorporating personal reflection on the unit and content.</p>
<p>Reflective Task</p>
<p>20-40%</p>
K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, A1
Supplementary assessment available:
Yes
Supplementary assessment information:
<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
FedTASK
FedTASK
Description of FedTASK outcome
Level
FedTASK 1: Interpersonal
The ability to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK 2: Leadership
The ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others.
<p>Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</p>
FedTASK 3: Critical Thinking and Creativity
The ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using imagination to create new ideas.
<p>Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</p>
FedTASK 4: Digital Literacy
The ability to work fluently across a range of tools and applications to achieve a range of skills.
FedTASK 5: Sustainable and Ethical Mindset
The ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions.
<p>Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</p>
FedTASK
<p>Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FedTASKs (<strong>T</strong>ransferable <strong>A</strong>ttributes <strong>S</strong>kills and <strong>K</strong>nowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key, transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and co-operative learning opportunities.</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Psychology
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
090701 - Psychology
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 1</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Berwick (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p></p> <p><strong>Teaching Period 1</strong><p>Federation University Online</p></p> <p><strong>Teaching Period 3</strong><p>Federation University Online</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/psycb2109">View unit fees</a>
Additional information
Add Info Static Text
Internal reference: PSYCB2109 - U1.0