HSW402 - Critical Approaches to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice G

Unit details

Year:

2024 unit information

Enrolment modes:

Trimester 1: Waterfront (Geelong), Online with significant campus requirements (see scheduled learning activities), Community Based Delivery (CBD)*

Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Sophie Goldingay
Cohort rule:

This unit is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Social Work or Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)

Prerequisite:

HSW313 and HSW314

Corequisite:Nil
Incompatible with: Nil
Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

1 x 3 hour lecture per week supported by weekly online independent and collaborative learning activities.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment:

Online students only: Online independent and collaborative learning activities will support learning across the trimester.

NIKERI-CBD students only: Online independent and collaborative learning activities including online practical experiences (workshops).

In-person attendance requirements:

Campus students only: 1 x 3 hour lecture per week. Campus students are required to attend at least 9 out of the 11 lectures.

Online students only: All online students must attend a compulsory 1 day intensive during Week 7 of Trimester 1 at the Geelong Waterfront campus at which core practical learning requirements will be taught.
Click here to view intensive dates and locations.

NIKERI-CBD students only: There are compulsory intensives for all students at the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation (NIKERI) Institute, Geelong-Waurn Ponds Campus. These intensives are arranged by year-level.

Please contact the NIKERI Social Work Course Team for more information on 1800 063 383.

Note:

*National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation (NIKERI) Institute students only.

Content

This unit aims to develop students' generic skills and practice theories for ongoing professional development in the workplace. It takes a critical reflective approach and explores what some of the newer developments in social theory (feminism, critical postmodernism) offer in drawing up frameworks and strategies for critical practice. The unit also aims to assist students to develop ways of dealing with complex settings and issues, and to develop a process and framework for continuing learning from their own practice. Students will be asked to discuss critical incidents from their own practice experience to explore their own processes of theory/practice development.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1

Develop an understanding and awareness of power relations operating in social service delivery settings.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO3: Digital literacy
GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO2

Develop strategies to address power relations in the workplace that negatively impact on the self and on service users and colleagues.

GLO2: Communication
GLO5: Problem solving
GLO6: Self-management
GLO7: Teamwork
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO3

Develop a framework for critically reflective practice (i.e. how to improve own practice through critical reflection).

GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving
GLO6: Self-management

ULO4

Develop a sense of professional identity.

GLO5: Problem solving
GLO6: Self-management

Assessment

Trimester 1:
Assessment description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1: Guided written reflection 1000 words 30%
  • Week 5
Assessment 2: Essay 2500 words 60%
  • Week 11
Assessment 3: Participation in class activities and written reflection on group process Maximum 500 words 10%
  • Written reflection: Week 10

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Hurdle requirement

Online students only

  • Attendance at a 1 day seminar held during trimester at Waterfront (Geelong) campus.

Click here to view intensive dates and locations.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: HSW402 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

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