Future Students

Industrial Relations

You will examine the nature of industrial relations both in Australia and in other countries pursuing both institutional and sociological perspectives.

Industrial Relations can be studied as a major in the, Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Economics, and can also be studied in the Bachelor of Arts and associated combined courses which include these degrees. You may be able to study individual Industrial Relations units in other degrees.

An understanding of Economics or History would be useful when studying Industrial Relations, but also just being aware of the news and issues facing people at work is a good basis from which to start your studies.

What do you study?

A range of units is offered which will help you understand the nature of industrial relations and, if you so choose, prepare you to start a career in industrial relations or human resource management.

Level 1
The foundation units provide a comprehensive introduction to the subject. Topics covered include the nature of work; employers and managers; workers and unions; and processes for resolving conflict at the workplace. The course also focuses specifically on industrial relations in Australia, including central industrial issues and the current reform processes. Comparison will be made with other national industrial relations systems wherever appropriate.

Level 2 and 3
In Levels 2 and 3 you will examine issues more thoroughly; for example, the history of industrial relations in Australia, the nature of trade unions, the nature of work and management, how to negotiate, personnel and human resource practices, how wages are determined and industrial relations in other countries.

Career opportunities

Many large organisations have specialists to handle their industrial relations but increasingly they expect their managers to be competent industrial relations practitioners. An industrial relations specialist has a challenging role in conducting, research, developing strategy, giving advice, negotiating agreements and resolving disputes. The same is true for union officials who spend their time acting for their members to ensure that they are properly represented in the workplace and that the agreements reached are acceptable to them. Employer associations also employ research officers, advisers and advocates to assist and represent their member companies. The units taught at UWA will give you a solid practical foundation. Recent employers include Argyle Diamonds, Commonweath Bank, Telstra, the Health Department of WA and AIRS Industrial Relations Services.