About this unit of work

Crossroads by Larissa Behrendt provides students with an opportunity to explore a range of themes simultaneously. It allows students to explore -

1. social-emotional themes about making good personal choices in the face of peer pressure,
2. civics learnings about how the criminal and juvenile justice systems work, and
3. historical events such as the Freedom Rides and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

Making choices
In the novel Simon, like other of the major characters, experiences a number of hardships in his life. He experiences racism from people he trusts, his father has died. He is angry and feels alone despite having a positive relationship with his twin sister and his mother. He chooses to spend more time with his cousin Brandon who is already been part of the juvenile justice system. Eventually Simon's choices lead him to be charged with shop-lifting.


Developing social and emotional well-being in children and young people is a core component in good learning. This is particularly relevant for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. A number of programmes  have been established in educational systems around the country.

• Guide to social and emotional learning in Queensland state schools

Learning about the legal system
In Australia there are different dimensions to law. There is

1. legislative law - law created in State and Commonwealth parliaments through statutes. Examples of this are the Racial Discrimination Act, 
2. judge-made law (or Common law) - law created by judges through the decisions they make in each case. 

There is also

1. Civil law - law or cases that are between two individual parties. This includes Family law (eg. custody disputes and divorces) and some negligence law.
2. Criminal law - cases that are between an individual and 'the state'. When a person commits a crime, it is a crime against the state (ie. the people) and the state will decide (ie. police and Justice departments) if it will or will not prosecute a person.

In the novel, Simon was charged with shoplifting. While the 'crime' would have been committed in a shop owned by a person, shoplifting (theft), like assault, is seen as a crime against the community. 


Aboriginal history of the Australian legal system
In a sense, police, as enforcers of the laws of the state, are at the coalface or the interface between Aboriginal People and the rest of the community. Racism, discrimination and brutality are the well-known experiences of Aboriginal People in relation to police forces all over Australia.


In the novel, different characters refer to these experiences. The author creates a story that allows students to explore personal dilemmas within the context of the historical experience of Aboriginal people. Events including the Freedom Rides, the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, racism and discrimination can be researched and investigated.