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LocationDomesticInternational
Gold Coast
Online

Unit description

Introduces the legal and social policy contexts of social work practice. Identifies the ways in which the law and social policy can be used to promote the rights and needs of clients and community members. Examines the legal obligations of social works and strategies for social workers to use the law and policy in their practice.

Unit content

  1. Social policy and legislation in Australia
  2. Policy analysis and policy advocacy
  3. Children, young people, families and ageing
  4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
  5. Mental health, health and disability
  6. Immigration, refugees and asylum seekers

 

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.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1explain the ways in which the law and social policy provide both opportunities for and constraints on social work practice
2explain the legal obligations of practising social workers in Australia
3analyse legal and policy processes in relation to particular fields of social work practice, including mental health, domestic violence, and social security
4identify and critically evaluate social work practice strategies that make use of legal and policy knowledge

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

  1. explain the ways in which the law and social policy provide both opportunities for and constraints on social work practice
  2. explain the legal obligations of practising social workers in Australia
  3. analyse legal and policy processes in relation to particular fields of social work practice, including mental health, domestic violence, and social security
  4. identify and critically evaluate social work practice strategies that make use of legal and policy knowledge

Prescribed Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts
  • Rice, S., Day, A., & Briskman, L. , 2018, Social Work in the Shadow of the Law , 5th Edition, The Federation Press , Sydney. ISBN: 9781760021610.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment
  • The materials for this unit of study are presented  via the Blackboard site for the unit.

Prescribed Texts
  • Rice, S., Day, A., & Briskman, L. , 2018, Social Work in the Shadow of the Law , 5th Edition, The Federation Press , Sydney. ISBN: 9781760021610.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment
  • The materials for this unit of study are presented  via the Blackboard site for the unit.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method
Tutorial 2 hours (Weekly)
Workshop 1 hour (Weekly)
Assessment
Policy Analysis Report40%
Policy Advocacy Proposal60%

Teaching method
Tutorial 2 hours (Weekly)
Workshop 1 hour (Weekly)
Assessment
Policy Analysis Report40%
Policy Advocacy Proposal60%
Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every teaching period. 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 teaching period.

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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