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LocationDomesticInternational
Gold CoastSession 1Session 1
OnlineSession 1Session 1

Unit description

Develops students' understanding of skills in social work practice in groups and communities. Encourages students to identify the potential of both community development and group work in addressing social justice and human rights issues as they impact on a range of different communities. Enables students to consider different modes of group work practice, including support groups and therapeutic groups.

Unit content

1. Understanding and theorising group work
2. Group development and group processes
3. Support, therapeutic and psycho-educational groups
4. Responding to conflict in groups and communities
5. Conceptualising community, including location-based and identity-based communities
6. Community development models and practices, including assets-based community development
7. Community education and community consultation
8. Linking the global and local: the potential of social work practice in groups and communities

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
1explain different theoretical approaches to group work and community development practice in social workKnowledge of a discipline
2analyse the potential for group work and community development strategies to address social justice and human rights concerns, particularly with respect to linking the local with the globalKnowledge of a discipline
3critically reflect on the characteristics of diverse communities, including culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and strategies to engage effectively with these communitiesCommunication and social skills
4analyse different modes of group work practice in social work, including therapeutic groups and support groupsKnowledge of a discipline
5demonstrate skills in group work and community development.Communication and social skills

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

  1. explain different theoretical approaches to group work and community development practice in social work
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
  2. analyse the potential for group work and community development strategies to address social justice and human rights concerns, particularly with respect to linking the local with the global
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
  3. critically reflect on the characteristics of diverse communities, including culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and strategies to engage effectively with these communities
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
  4. analyse different modes of group work practice in social work, including therapeutic groups and support groups
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
  5. demonstrate skills in group work and community development.
    • GA6: Communication and social skills

Prescribed texts

  • Hardina, D, 2013, Interpersonal Social Work Skills for Community Practice, Springer, New York. ISBN: 978 8261 0811 1.
  • McDermott, F, 2002, Inside Group Work: A Guide to Reflective Practice, Allen & Unwin, Sydney. ISBN: 1 86508 892 7 (paperback).
Prescribed texts may change in future study periods.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method
Workshop on-site 3 hours (8 weeks )
Assessment
Discussion board20%
Report30%
Case study50%
ParticipationSR
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.
Commencing 2020 Commonwealth Supported only. Student contribution band: 1

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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