Availabilities:

LocationDomesticInternational
Online
Session2
N/A

Unit description

Builds knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues facing children, families and communities, fostering attitudes of compassion and engagement in ECEC. This unit is concerned with the complexity, diversity and changing nature of contemporary childhood and families within the community. The influence of historical, social, political, economic and socio-economic factors will be considered as an influence upon children’s everyday lives.

Unit content

Module One: Children and Families

  • The Australian context
  • Establishing relationships with children
  • Supporting wellbeing: Social and emotional learning
  • Connecting with families: Collaborative partnerships
  • Linking policies to practices

Module Two: Communities

  • The Australian context
  • Community collaborations
  • Cultural competency
  • Identifying fragile contexts
  • Linking policies to practices

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
1examine the historical construction of childhood and familiesIntellectual rigourLifelong learningCultural competence
2discuss and compare contemporary constructions of childhood and families, including those pertaining to Indigenous childhoodsIntellectual rigourLifelong learningCultural competence
3use research and theory to explain the diverse range of issues affecting children, families and communitiesIntellectual rigourLifelong learningCultural competence
4critically analyse of key social and educational policies and their impact upon service provision for children and families Intellectual rigourLifelong learningCultural competence
5critically analyse texts, images, and songs in terms of the construction of childhood, and familiesIntellectual rigourLifelong learningCultural competence

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

  1. examine the historical construction of childhood and families
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA5: Lifelong learning
    • GA7: Cultural competence
  2. discuss and compare contemporary constructions of childhood and families, including those pertaining to Indigenous childhoods
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA5: Lifelong learning
    • GA7: Cultural competence
  3. use research and theory to explain the diverse range of issues affecting children, families and communities
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA5: Lifelong learning
    • GA7: Cultural competence
  4. critically analyse of key social and educational policies and their impact upon service provision for children and families
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA5: Lifelong learning
    • GA7: Cultural competence
  5. critically analyse texts, images, and songs in terms of the construction of childhood, and families
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA5: Lifelong learning
    • GA7: Cultural competence

Prescribed texts

  • Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2009, Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework, 1st edn, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
  • Grace, R, Hodge, K & McMahon, C, 2017, Children, families and communities, 5th edn, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Vic. ISBN: 9780190304461.
Prescribed texts may change in future study periods.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method
Structured online learning Self paced (10 weeks)
Tutorial online 1 hour (10 weeks)
Assessment
Workbook50%
Workbook50%
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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