Historical and Cultural Aspects of Australian Sport

The aim of this unit is to provide students with an understanding of the social and cultural factors that, over time, have influenced the development of sport, recreation and leisure in Australia. The first part of the unit therefore provides an extended narrative framework which explores the evolution of sport in Australia from Aboriginal occupation to the late 20th century, with special emphasis given to developments in the Federation era and in the decades immediately following World War II. A number of sports and pastimes are considered as specific case studies, and students are encouraged to examine these case studies in the light of relevant key ideas, debates and concepts.