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Unit description

Develops students' understanding of the legal context of social work practice. Provides an overview of the Australian legal system and develops skills in operating within statutory roles in areas such as child protection, family and domestic violence and mental health. Implications for social work practice in developing and maintaining appropriate documentation and the provision of evidence are explored.

Unit content

1. Overview of the Australian legal system, federal and state /territory jurisdictions.

2. Social work and the law: child protection and out of home care.

3. Social work and the law: social security and welfare rights.

4. Social work and the law:disability.

5. Social work and the law: youth justice.

6. Social work and the law: family and domestic violence.

7. Social work and the law: mental health.

8. Social work and the law: elder abuse.

9. Social work and the law: refugees and asylum seekers.

10. Multidisciplinary practice with lawyers and social workers.

11. Legal aspects of social work practice: record keeping, ethical issues and evidence. 

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:GA1GA2GA3GA4GA5GA6GA7
1demonstrate an understanding of the Australian legal system and the role of social work Intellectual rigourEthical practiceKnowledge of a discipline
2identify social work practice as grounded in an understanding of individual, family or groups within legal contextsIntellectual rigourKnowledge of a discipline
3identify the tensions and opportunities that a multidisciplinary approach offers, and articulate the benefits of an alliance between social work and the law Intellectual rigourEthical practice
4demonstrate an awareness of and capacity in appropriate record keeping, consideration of ethical issues and evidence in the context of legal proceedingsIntellectual rigourEthical practice
5demonstrate an understanding of social work and the law across a range of contemporary fields of practice including social security, child protection, disability, youth justice, family and domestic violence, mental health, elder abuse and refugees and asylum seekersIntellectual rigourEthical practiceKnowledge of a discipline

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. demonstrate an understanding of the Australian legal system and the role of social work
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA3: Ethical practice
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
  2. identify social work practice as grounded in an understanding of individual, family or groups within legal contexts
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
  3. identify the tensions and opportunities that a multidisciplinary approach offers, and articulate the benefits of an alliance between social work and the law
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA3: Ethical practice
  4. demonstrate an awareness of and capacity in appropriate record keeping, consideration of ethical issues and evidence in the context of legal proceedings
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA3: Ethical practice
  5. demonstrate an understanding of social work and the law across a range of contemporary fields of practice including social security, child protection, disability, youth justice, family and domestic violence, mental health, elder abuse and refugees and asylum seekers
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA3: Ethical practice
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline

Teaching and assessment

Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every session. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the study session.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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