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Introduction
Convict, prison and court records can provide rich, if sometimes disturbing, evidence of the lives led by our ancestors. This unit draws upon the expertise of leading historians of crime, the law, and convict transportation to guide you through the vast archival underbelly of the criminal justice system. You will learn about convicts’ journeys from the time of their trials and transportation, through to living under sentence in the Australian penal colonies, and what likely became of them afterwards. You will be shown how to find and use a wide range of digital records and other relevant research materials to contextualise individual convict’s life stories. This is a unit for those who want to get ‘forensic’ about the past.
Summary
| Unit name | Convict Ancestors |
| Unit code | HAA007 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| College/School | Arts and Society Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Discipline | History and Classics |
| Coordinator | Doctor Alana Piper |
| Available as an elective? | Yes |
| Delivered By | University of Tasmania |
| Level | Foundation or Enabling |
Availability
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Term 2 |
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- Key:
On-campus- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
Note
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Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.
Key Dates
| Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 2 | 3/5/2026 | 18/5/2026 | 3/6/2026 | 4/7/2026 |
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).
Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Be familiar with the wide range of historical records available to locate individual convicts transported to the Australian penal colonies and to trace their life course experiences
- Be able to read, transcribe, and understand key material presented within convict, court, and prison records
- Be able to situate the experiences of individual convicts within a relevant wider context and convey this information clearly and succinctly
Fee Information
| Field of Education | Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 | Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 | Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 | Domestic Full Fee 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 090305 | $2,174.00 | $1,020.00 | not applicable | $2,249.00 |
- Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
- HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
- FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4
1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.
If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.
Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.
Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | Weekly online learning materials (e.g. short video lectures, discussions, readings, activities) (approx. 6 hours). |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Online transcription exercise (10%)|Four online quizzes (40%)|Convict case study (50%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
All required learning materials will be provided in the unit's MyLO site. |
|---|---|
| Recommended | Any recommended readings will be provided in the unit's MyLO site. |
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