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SWK1000 Landscape of Social Work and Human Services

Semester 1, 2023 External
Units : 1
School or Department : School of Psychology and Wellbeing
Grading basis : Graded
Course fee schedule : /current-students/administration/fees/fee-schedules

Staffing

Course Coordinator:

Overview

This is a foundational course undertaken as a compulsory face-to-face five-day residential school. It is purposefully positioned at the beginning of the program to introduce students to the dynamic landscape of social work and human services practice. To inspire and provide students a sense of the ethical profession they have chosen, there is essential learning about the diversity of fields of practice and populations served by social work and human services practitioners.

Specifically, the course will provide an introduction to key concepts, theories, and frameworks that practitioners use as change agents when undertaking emancipatory work with individuals, groups, and communities within their social contexts. In the socio-political context of neoliberalism, the need for systemic change is considered with careful critical examination of the roles practitioners can play.

The historical development of social work and human services will be discussed to inform contemporary underpinnings of services including ethics, values, concepts of power, oppression, privilege, and positionality. Students will develop a critical approach to practice early in the degree, necessary to ground them in a strong professional identity that promotes social justice and social change.

This course includes a compulsory five-day residential school that introduces students to the foundations of social work and human services practice. The aim of this intensive workshop is to develop foundational practical skills to help develop professional identity and inspire students to continue their studies. In addition to an introduction to foundational professional knowledge, theory and skills, students will undertake seminars on: academic literacy, an introduction to use of library databases and search strategies, critical thinking and critical writing, and how to reference. They will be given opportunities to meet the academics who will teach then in the coming years.

An examination of the historical development of the professional identity of social work and human services professionals will be explored. Contemporary social work and human services practice fields, including methods for intervention across micro, meso and macro environments will be illustrated. Critical perspectives will be used to shed light on contemporary social issues presenting in Australia and globally; and subsequent ways of `doing' in social work and human services practice. Students will have developed contextual knowledge about the roles and ethical obligations of social work and human services practitioners, and the purpose and mission of the profession in striving to attain social justice, social cohesion, empowerment and liberation of people (IFSW, 2014). Students will complete the course having developed a clear understanding of the purpose and domains of social work and human services practice, an introduction to ethical and professional standards, social work and human services knowledge and interpersonal and communication skills.

The five-day compulsory residential school will take place in the middle of the course. There will be practical opportunities to acquire and gently practice knowledge and skills but also strategic opportunities to network and connect with other students and teaching staff.

This course contains a mandatory residential school for all students. The residential school is foundational to the first-year experience.

Course learning outcomes

On completion of this course students should be able to:

  1. Recognise the role of history in the development of social work and human services with relevance to contemporary practice and demands of the 21st century.
  2. Discuss the diversity and complexity of social work and human services practice, including an examination of key fields of practice including health, disability, aging, housing, justice, and employment.
  3. Analyse foundational theories, frameworks, concepts, ethical values, and standards that underpin social work and human services practice.
  4. Develop a sensitivity to how inequalities or power and privilege are constructed by utilizing critical social work theories and critical analytical skills including awareness of 鈥渟elf鈥.
  5. Have a beginning ability to apply practical interpersonal communication skills in a range of simulated social work and human service contexts.
  6. Be aware of a range of social work interventions and problem solving in an interprofessional context.
  7. Apply information literacy skills to coursework and utilize USQ support services and academic staff to enhance study skills.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. History of Social Work and Human Services 10.00
2. Fields of Practice 20.00
3. Discourses in Social Work and Human Services 20.00
4. Critical Social Work, Anti-oppressive and Emancipatory Practice 20.00
5. Skills for Social Work and Human Services Practice 20.00
6. Context Responsive Practice 10.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

Chenoweth, C. & McAuliffe, D 2020, The Road to Social Work and Human Service Practice, 6th edn, Cengage.

Student workload expectations

To do well in this subject, students are expected to commit approximately 10 hours per week including class contact hours, independent study, and all assessment tasks. If you are undertaking additional activities, which may include placements and residential schools, the weekly workload hours may vary.

Assessment details

Approach Type Description Group
Assessment
Weighting (%) Course learning outcomes
Assignments Written Quiz No 20 1,2,3
Assignments Practical Practical A1 of 2 No 20 4,5,6,7
Assignments Written Reflection (personal/clinical) A2 of 2 No 20 4,5,6,7
Assignments Written Essay No 40 2,4,6,7
Date printed 9 February 2024