Unit rationale, description and aim
To be a competent youth worker, students need to know the core values, theories and frameworks that inform and drive ethical youth work practice. This unit explores the core values and purpose of youth work. The unit examines a range of theories, approaches, models and frameworks appropriate for different youth work settings and roles. The unit makes concrete links between theory and practice in the youth work sector. The aim of this unit is to examine the principles of participation, empowerment, advocacy, decolonizing anti-oppressive practice and has a sustained focus on reflective and ethical practice.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Describe some of the major ethical issues facing w...
Learning Outcome 01
Critically reflect on their personal ideology, val...
Learning Outcome 02
Critically analyse aspects of youth work practice,...
Learning Outcome 03
Explain the principles and theoretical frameworks ...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
- Principles and theoretical perspectives that inform contemporary youth work practice.
- Approaches, including, advocacy, empowerment, participation, decolonizing and anti-oppressive practice.
- Major ethical issues for youth workers e.g., power imbalances, confidentiality, trust and boundaries
- Reflective practice.
Assessment strategy and rationale
There are three assessments for this unit that are designed to enable you to meet the Learning Outcomes. Each assignment is designed to prepare you for subsequent tasks.
Case studies: The purpose of this assignment is to critically reflect on ethical youth work practice and to respond to case studies using the Youth Work Code of Ethics as a guide.
Practice Framework This assignment enables the student to consider the role that youth workers play in young people’s lives and to identify how theory fits into this. It asks students to articulate their own practice framework in working with young people.
Reflective Responses The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate how students have applied the knowledge gained in the unit, and their critical reflexive ability on the experience of being a youth worker.
Overview of assessments
Assessment 1: Case Studies Students will be giv...
Assessment 1: Case Studies
Students will be given 3 case studies and asked to respond to the questions making reference to youth work skills, knowledge and practice.
30%
Assessment 2: Practice Framework Students will ...
Assessment 2: Practice Framework
Students will develop their practice framework for professional youth work practice.
40%
Assessment 3: Reflective Responses Students are...
Assessment 3: Reflective Responses
Students are required to write a reflective piece using the set questions and readings from specified weeks.
30%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This 10-credit point face-to-face unit provides hands-on learning, including collaborative learning. It takes the form of a face-to-face class incorporating activities through which students will gain a deep understanding of principles and theoretical perspectives that inform contemporary youth work practice. Key learning activities in tutorials will include debating, learning to ‘read’ and interpret major ethical issues for youth workers, writing and other primary sources, reading, writing, group discussion, finding scholarly sources, and problem-solving. The lectures provide students with content and analytical frameworks necessary for understanding and analysing approaches, including advocacy, empowerment, participation, decolonizing and anti-oppressive practice and assist students to synthesise a broad range of material.