Year
2024Credit points
10Campus offering
Prerequisites
SWTP620 Social Work Theories, Context and Fields of Practice AND SWTP633 Social Work, Mental Health and Wellbeing AND SWTP634 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Social Work
Unit rationale, description and aim
Social workers are required to intervene at organisational and governmental levels to effect changes in order to achieve social justice goals. This requires an understanding of how policies are made, implemented and changed, how policies impact vulnerable people in society and the types of roles that social worker adopt in policy practice. This unit analyses contemporary issues in social policy and social work practice in the Australian context. The impacts of policies on people from diverse and marginalised populations are explored. Students will be required to research and analyse social issues and policies within a broader ethical and theoretical social work practice framework. The aim of the unit is to equip students with the requisite knowledge, skills and understanding in advocacy, and the analysis of policy in relation to emerging social issues impacting vulnerable and diverse populations to develop competence in effecting change at a broader social policy level.
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.
| Learning Outcome Number | Learning Outcome Description | Relevant Graduate Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| LO1 | Critically examine the relationships between social policies and structures of power that impact social justice and human rights for marginalised and diverse populations | GC1, GC2, GC3, GC6 |
| LO2 | Acquire knowledge and skills that social workers need to advocate for human rights and social justice in a policy context, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, doing and being | GC1, GC5, GC8, GC9, GC11 |
| LO3 | Apply social work values, knowledge and skills in lobbying and advocacy in relation to contemporary social policy issues impacting social work practice | GC2, GC3, GC4, GC9, GC10, GC12 |
| LO4 | Apply critical analysis and ethical decision making in proposing social policy development and implementation strategies | GC2, GC3, GC6, GC7, GC9 |
AASW Practice Standards
This Unit has been mapped to the ACU Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes. The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes provided in the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards: https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/13565
1.Values and ethics |
2.Professionalism |
3.Culturally responsive and inclusive practice |
4.Knowledge for practice |
5.Applying knowledge to practice |
6.Communication and Interpersonal skills |
7.Information recording and sharing |
8.Professional development and supervision |
ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes
This Unit has been mapped to the ACU Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes. The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes provided in the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards: https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/13565
| Standard/Attributes/Criteria | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
1.1 Practise in accordance with the AASW Code of Ethics 1.2 Manage ethical dilemmas and issues arising in practice 3.1 Work respectfully and inclusively with cultural difference and diversity. 3.2 Respect, strive to understand and promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultures 4.1 Understand higher level systemic influences on people with respect to area of practice 4.3 Understand the role of research and evaluation in obtaining and generating new knowledge for practice 4.4 Understand and articulate how and when theories, knowledge bases and knowledge sources inform practice 6.1 Communicate with a diverse range of people | LO1 |
1.1 Practice in accordance with the Code of Ethics 3.1 Work respectfully and inclusively with cultural difference and diversity. 3.2 Respect, strive to understand and promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultures 4.1 Understand higher level systemic influences on people with respect to area of practice 4.3 Understand the role of research and evaluation in obtaining and generating new knowledge for practice 4.4 Understand and articulate how and when theories, knowledge bases and knowledge sources inform practice 6.1 Communicate with a diverse range of people | LO2 |
1.1 Practice in accordance with the Code of Ethics 4.1 Understand higher level systemic influences on people with respect to area of practice 4.2 Understand and articulate social work and other relevant theories and concepts 4.3 Understand the role of research and evaluation in obtaining and generating new knowledge for practice4.4 Understand and articulate how and when theories, knowledge bases and knowledge sources inform practice. | LO3 |
1.1 Practise in accordance with the AASW Code of Ethics 4.4 Understand and articulate how and when theories, knowledge bases and knowledge sources inform practice.5.4 Apply critical and reflective thinking to practice | LO4 |
Content
Topics will include:
Institutions and processes in social policy development and change
- Social policy making processes
- Neoliberalism Contemporary Social Policy issues impacting vulnerable and diverse populations
- The role of social work in the areas of social policy
- Critical, interactional and analytical skills for developing implementing and evaluating policy
- Advocacy and writing skills in policy
- Ethical social work practice in the policy context
Areas of social policy
- Family (including, Domestic and Family violence)
- Indigenous (including ways of knowing, being and doing)
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse populations (including refugees and asylum seekers)
- Disability
- Health
- Education and employment
Skills
- Research
- Critical analysis
- Writing skills
- Lobby and advocacy
Values and Ethics
- Social work values and Ethics
Theoretical frameworks
- Structural (including Feminist, Human Rights)
- Post-structural (including Critical Social Work, De-colonising, Feminist and Ecofeminist theories)
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
ON CAMPUS MODE:
This unit involves 150 hours of workshops, lectures and tutorials will incorporate small group, collaborative learning with students engaging in active discussion of the theoretical underpinnings of policy responses to contemporary social issues. Policy critique is undertaken from a social work perspective of human rights and social justice. Contemporary social issues are analysed allowing students to explore the process of advocacy and policy development and its relationship to social work practice and to apply knowledge and skills in social policy analysis and change to contemporary issues impacting marginalised and disadvantaged groups.
Social workers need to be prepared to undertake advocacy and practice within the Australian policy context. Knowledge gained in this unit will prepare students for policy-practice in a variety of social work practice and policy settings to effective positive social change for marginalised and disadvantaged people.
ACU ONLINE:
The unit involves 150 hours of study, involving online lecture material, discussion boards, interactive online exercises and regular online collaboration opportunities. Students will engage in analysis and discussion of the theoretical underpinnings of policy responses to cotemporary social issues. Policy critique is undertaken from a social work perspective of human rights and social justice. Contemporary social issues are analysed allowing students to explore the process of advocacy and policy development and its relationship to social work practice and to apply knowledge and skills in social policy analysis and change to contemporary issues impacting marginalised and disadvantaged groups.
Social workers need to be prepared to undertake advocacy and practice within the Australian policy context. Knowledge gained in this unit will prepare students for policy-practice in a variety of social work practice and policy settings to effective positive social change for marginalised and disadvantaged people.
Assessment strategy and rationale
ON CAMPUS MODE:
The aim of this unit is to prepare students to develop research, critical analysis, advocacy and writing skills for a range of audiences.
The first assessment task enables students to demonstrate awareness and knowledge and key legislation and policy impacting social work practice contexts.
The remaining assessments are authentic tasks, adopting reflexive approaches key to social work advocacy.
The second assessment task asks students to explore historical developments of policy and legislation over time in order to understand contextual factors that shape policies. This provides background knowledge for the final assessment, the policy briefing paper.
The final assessment task, a policy briefing paper, allows students to deepen their knowledge of the issue (or another social issue) through identifying a significant gap in current policy in Australia.
Evidence of competency and skill within these unit assessment tasks sets students on a successful path towards demonstrating sound understanding of and commitment to social work values and ethical practice.
ACU ONLINE:
The aim of this unit is to prepare students to develop research, critical analysis, advocacy and writing skills for a range of audiences.
The first assessment task enables students to demonstrate awareness and knowledge and key legislation and policy impacting social work practice contexts.
The remaining assessments are authentic tasks, adopting reflexive approaches key to social work advocacy.
The second assessment task asks students to explore historical developments of policy and legislation over time in order to understand contextual factors that shape policies. This provides background knowledge for the final assessment, the policy briefing paper.
The final assessment task, a policy briefing paper, allows students to deepen their knowledge of the issue (or another social issue) through identifying a significant gap in current policy in Australia.
Evidence of competency and skill within these unit assessment tasks sets students on a successful path towards demonstrating sound understanding of and commitment to social work values and ethical practice.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
Online Quiz Students demonstrate awareness and knowledge and key legislation and policy impacting social work practice contexts. | 30% | LO1, LO2 |
Policy Analysis Students identify a social issue and explore and discuss the changes in legislation over time and the impact of these changes on the lives of the people impacted by the legislation. 2000 words. | 30% | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
Policy Proposal Briefing Paper This assignment requires students to develop a proposal in response to a current policy issue. This includes analysing the policy context and agenda, proposing a policy response and making recommendations on the possible implementation. 2000 words. | 40% | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
Representative texts and references
Althaus, C., Bridgman., P., & Davis, G. (2018). The Australian Social Policy Handbook (6th Ed.). Crows Nest, NSW: Allen and Unwin.
Bessant, J., Watts, R., Dalton, T. & Symth, P. (2006). Talking policy: How social policy is made. Sydney: Allen and Unwin
Brayne, H., & Carr, H. (2010). Law for social workers (11th ed.) Oxford University Press.
Forrester, K., & Griffiths, D. (2010). Essentials of law for health professionals (3rd ed.). Sydney: Mosby Elsevier.
Healy, K., & Mulholland, J. (2007). Writing skills for social workers. London: Sage.
Jamrozik, A. (2009). Social policy in the post welfare state. (3rd ed.) Sydney: Pearson Education Australia Port Melbourne
Maddison, S., & Denniss, R. (2013). An introduction to Australian public policy: Theory and practice. (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press
McClelland, A. & Smyth, P. (2010). Social Policy in Australia – Understanding for Action (2nd Ed), Melbourne: Oxford University Press
Mendes, P. (2017). Australia’s Welfare Wars : The Players, The Politics and The ideologies, (3rd ed). UNSW.
Kennedy, R., Richards, J., & Leiman, T. (2013). Integrating human service law, ethics and practice. (3rd ed.). South Melbourne, Victoria Australia: Oxford University Press.
Rice, S. & Day, A. (Eds.) (2014). Social work in the shadow of the law (3th ed.) Annandale, NSW Australia: The Federation Press.