• Observe live proceedings at the Perth Magistrates Court and tour the WA Police Academy in Joondalup.
• Visit the WA Police Watch House and experience the Fremantle Prison “Behind Bars” tour.
• Engage with Indigenous justice perspectives at Murdoch University’s Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre.
• Meet with officials from the WA Corruption and Crime Commission, Casuarina Prison, and the Department of Justice to learn about anti-corruption, corrections, and reintegration.
• Participate in briefings with the Australian Federal Police, WA Department of Justice, and WA Police Internal Affairs on federal policing, ethics, and accountability.

The University of Kansas Criminal Justice Study Abroad in Perth, Australia (Dates TBA) is a two-week faculty-led program that provides students with an in-depth look at justice systems in Western Australia. Through a series of site visits, professional engagements, and faculty-led reflections, Jayhawks will gain a comparative perspective on global justice and policing practices.
The academic core of the program begins with an orientation session, where students review themes, expectations, and learning goals. From there, participants will engage with the justice system at every level. Highlights include observing criminal proceedings at the Perth Magistrates Court and touring the WA Police Academy in Joondalup, where students will learn about police recruit training and operational readiness. A visit to the WA Police Watch House introduces students to daily procedures in custody management, while the Fremantle Prison “Behind Bars” tour connects history to contemporary issues in corrections.

The program continues with sessions at Murdoch University’s Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre, offering Indigenous perspectives on justice, and at the WA Corruption and Crime Commission, which addresses anti-corruption oversight. Students will also tour Casuarina Prison, a maximum-security facility, and meet with the WA Department of Justice to learn about rehabilitation and reintegration initiatives. A dedicated session with a returning citizen further explores corrections and prisoner education.

The final week features briefings with the Australian Federal Police, the WA Department of Justice, and the WA Police Internal Affairs and District Headquarters. Students will reflect on issues of federal policing, ethics, accountability, and legal frameworks before concluding with a wrap-up session led by KU faculty.

This program offers a rare opportunity to directly engage with another nation’s justice system, enriching both academic study and professional growth.

Located on Australia’s west coast, Perth offers a uniquely compelling setting for examining global justice systems in context. As the capital of Western Australia, Perth provides direct access to a wide range of justice institutions—from courts and police academies to anti-corruption agencies and federal policing headquarters—enabling students to apply comparative frameworks and analyze justice practices firsthand. The city’s justice system both parallels and diverges from that of the United States in meaningful ways, offering insights into alternative approaches to policing, rehabilitation, and reintegration. 

Western Australia’s geographic isolation, resource allocation strategies, and corrections management models provide a distinctive lens for evaluating the effectiveness of justice systems beyond the U.S. perspective. Additionally, engagement with the Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre at Murdoch University allows students to explore the historical and cultural factors shaping Indigenous justice. 

Perth’s diverse, globally connected urban environment further enriches the experience, supporting reflective learning that links academic insights to real-world career pathways. In this program, Perth is not just a destination but rather an essential component of the learning journey.

All students on this program will enroll in CRIM 396 – Faculty-Led Study Abroad for three credit hours. 

Through participation in this program, students can expect to:

1. Apply comparative justice frameworks to analyze similarities and differences between the U.S. and Australian criminal justice systems.
2. Analyze the roles of courts, police, prisons, and anti-corruption agencies in Western Australia, drawing connections to systemic challenges faced globally.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation, reintegration, and accountability practices within Australia’s justice system.
4. Critique the impact of historical and cultural factors, including Indigenous perspectives, on justice processes in Western Australia.
5. Synthesize insights from site visits, academic sessions, and cultural experiences into a reflective project that connects global justice perspectives to personal academic and career goals.

Additionally, participants can opt to also fulfill the Global Culture Goal of the KU Core through co-completion of UNIV 342, an online and asynchronous course taught via Canvas during their time abroad.  

Students will be housed in shared apartments at Murdoch University in Perth.

All students have unique things to consider when studying abroad. A Traveler Profile is a set of personal factors, characteristics or life experiences that could impact daily life abroad. Your individual Traveler Profile may include things such as your age, foreign language proficiency, gender, medical history, medication use, mental health, mobility, piercings and tattoos, travel experience, and more. 

SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Before selecting a program, consider how your Traveler Profile may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process. 

Check our Traveler Profile pages linked below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program. 

• Adult Learners and Non-Traditional Students
• First Generation Students
• Physical and Mental Health Histories
• Religious, Spiritual, and Non-Religious Students
• Sexual and Gender Diversity
• Students of Color Abroad
• Students with Children
• Students with Financial Need
• Veterans, Active Duty, and ROTC
• Visible and Invisible Disabilities 

Open to undergraduate and graduate students from any accredited U.S. college or university. Minimum 2.5 GPA required (exceptions considered after submission of a petition).