Overview

This unit of study aims to introduce the fundamental aspects of the law and contracts applicable to construction and civil engineering works

Requisites

Prerequisites

175 credit points
OR
50 credit points in AB-APPTEC

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Appreciate and apply contract practices, procedures and standard forms of contracts for civil engineering and construction activities; (K5, K6, S4, A1, A4, A5, A6)
  • Apprise contractual obligations and relationships in construction projects (K5, K6, S4, A1, A4, A5, A6)
  • Identify and recognise the fundamental laws and legal requirements applicable to construction contracts and contract administration in projects (K5, K6, S4, A1, A4, A5, A6)
  • Recognise various forms of contracts and procurement procedures in the construction industry including subcontracts and professional services contracts (K5, K6, S4, A1, A4, A5, A6)
  • Exercise and reflect upon the professional and legal/legislative responsibilities of civil engineers in the changing workplace; (K5, K6, S4, A1, A2, A4, A5, A6, A7)
  • Integrate professional procedures and regulations (addressing safety, health, social cultural, and environmental factors) in civil engineering contracts/contractual relationships; (K5, K6, S4, A1, A2, A4, A5, A6, A7)

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-Campus
Lecture		 3.00  12 weeks  36
On-Campus
Class		 1.00  12 weeks  12
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		 8.50  12 weeks  102
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment Individual  20-40%  1,2,3,4,5,6 
Test Individual  60-80%  1,2,3,4,5,6 

Hurdle

As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:

(i) an aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) at least 40% in the final assessment.

Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 45% as the total mark for the unit.

Content

  • Principles of contracts; Elements of contract; Contractual procedures;
  • Various forms of contract (including standard and bespoke), Duties, obligations and responsibilities of various parties involved in construction contracts
  • Fundamentals of contract law & standard construction contracts, general conditions of contract for Civil Engineering & Construction Works particularly AS21241 AS4000
  • Variations and change orders
  • Tort including Duty of Care, Negligence and Nuisance
  • Disputes and Claims settlement
  • Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms
  • Claims management in construction projects;
  • Environmental legislation, professional responsibility and negligence

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.