Information Governance Frameworks and Data Strategy Law G (12303.1)
Please note these are the 2027 details for this unit
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | Online real-time |
Bruce, Canberra |
| EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
| 0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Business, Government & Law |
| Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
| Canberra Law School | Graduate Level | Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905) Band 5 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) |
Help lead how your organisation manages data and design governance frameworks
Government and organisational data is siloed. Each holds pieces of information that can transform your workplace - but only if you know how to share it legally. Learn how to design and manage the legal architecture that governs how we handle information.
You'll work with real legislation that shapes government data today, such as the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022, the Archives Act, and the Freedom of Information Act. These aren't isolated rules. Over the unit, you'll learn how to integrate them into coherent governance frameworks that balance competing demands: sharing data to improve services, keeping information secure, protecting privacy, and meeting transparency obligations.
Rather than studying law in isolation, you'll tackle real problems. How do you set up data sharing between agencies while managing legal risks? What happens when cloud computing conflicts with security requirements? How do you navigate the constitutional complexities of federal data governance? You'll draft governance policies and risk assessments that address these challenges, building the professional skills your agency needs. You'll also explore emerging issues your organisation will face, such as sovereign AI governance, managing contracts with cloud providers, and international data transfers. Understanding the legal implications now positions you to lead your agency's response to these evolving challenges. By the end of this unit, you'll have practical expertise in building information governance systems that work. You'll be able to consider policies, assess legal risks, consult stakeholders, and protect your agency from liability, whether you're managing data initiatives, supporting policy development, or leading digital transformation.
1. Analyse and interpret the legislative and policy frameworks governing government data sharing, security, privacy, and transparency to identify compliance obligations and risks;
2. Design and justify integrated information governance frameworks that reconcile competing statutory requirements and operational needs;
3. Evaluate emerging technology and ethical challenges to develop risk mitigation strategies and policy recommendations;
4. Communicate governance advice and risk assessments with professional effectiveness to non-legal stakeholders in government settings; and
5. Reflect on the development of your legal reasoning and professional skills.
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
Government and organisational data is siloed. Each holds pieces of information that can transform your workplace - but only if you know how to share it legally. Learn how to design and manage the legal architecture that governs how we handle information.
You'll work with real legislation that shapes government data today, such as the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022, the Archives Act, and the Freedom of Information Act. These aren't isolated rules. Over the unit, you'll learn how to integrate them into coherent governance frameworks that balance competing demands: sharing data to improve services, keeping information secure, protecting privacy, and meeting transparency obligations.
Rather than studying law in isolation, you'll tackle real problems. How do you set up data sharing between agencies while managing legal risks? What happens when cloud computing conflicts with security requirements? How do you navigate the constitutional complexities of federal data governance? You'll draft governance policies and risk assessments that address these challenges, building the professional skills your agency needs. You'll also explore emerging issues your organisation will face, such as sovereign AI governance, managing contracts with cloud providers, and international data transfers. Understanding the legal implications now positions you to lead your agency's response to these evolving challenges. By the end of this unit, you'll have practical expertise in building information governance systems that work. You'll be able to consider policies, assess legal risks, consult stakeholders, and protect your agency from liability, whether you're managing data initiatives, supporting policy development, or leading digital transformation.
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Analyse and interpret the legislative and policy frameworks governing government data sharing, security, privacy, and transparency to identify compliance obligations and risks;
2. Design and justify integrated information governance frameworks that reconcile competing statutory requirements and operational needs;
3. Evaluate emerging technology and ethical challenges to develop risk mitigation strategies and policy recommendations;
4. Communicate governance advice and risk assessments with professional effectiveness to non-legal stakeholders in government settings; and
5. Reflect on the development of your legal reasoning and professional skills.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
Prerequisites
None.Corequisites
None.Incompatible units
None.Equivalent units
None.Assumed knowledge
None.
Availability for enrolment in 2027 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Bruce, Canberra | Study Block 6 | 26 October 2026 | Online real-time | Dr Bruce Baer Arnold |
| 2027 | Bruce, Canberra | Study Block 6 | 25 October 2027 | Online real-time | Dr Bruce Baer Arnold |
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit
timetable.
Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.
Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.
UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).
UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.
Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.
