HSW452 - Working in Uncertainty: Social Work Theory and Practice H
Unit details
Year | 2025 unit information |
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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: Joh Donkers |
Cohort rule: | This unit is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Social Work (H330) |
Prerequisite: | Completion of all Social Work core units from levels 1-3. (HSW314 as a prerequisite may be waived due to substantial relevant human service workplace experience as negotiated with the unit chair.) |
Corequisite: | Nil |
Incompatible with: | Nil |
Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 2 hour online or on-campus seminar per week |
Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 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: | Online students only: All online students must attend a compulsory 1 day intensive at the Geelong Waterfront Campus at which core practical learning requirements will be taught. 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. 2025 intensive dates and locations information will be available mid November. |
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. |
Note:*National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation (NIKERI) Institute students only. |
Content
This unit aims to help graduating students develop a vision of the professional social work role and identity within contexts of change (at local, national and international levels) and uncertainty. What challenges currently face social work, and how can we work proactively within changing contexts of practice? Topics include: globalisation; the professions in context (professional identity, managerialism, case management, industrial issues); technological developments and their effects on practice; post-colonialism and social movements (human rights, identity politics, work with migrants/refugees); social development and international social work; diversity and inclusivity; citizenship and the nature of community; ethics; lifelong learning and the contemporary professional; envisioning contemporary social work in uncertainty.
Learning Outcomes
ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
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ULO1 | Compose a considered analysis of uncertainty and contextual influence, which has a major role in shaping social work practice. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
ULO2 | Develop a personal statement of purpose and method in global and local contexts of social work practice. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
ULO3 | Document an informed and reflective sense of social work identity as lifelong learners in an uncertain world of practice. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
Trimester 1:Assessment description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
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Assessment 1: Short written assignment | 1600 words | 45% |
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Assessment 2: Written assignment | 2000 words | 50% |
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Assessment 3: Participation online and reflections | 400 words | 5% |
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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 intensive held during trimester at Waterfront (Geelong) campus.
2025 intensive dates and locations information will be available mid November.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for HSW452 can be found via the University Library.
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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