Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 400193

Coordinator Teddy Nagaddya Opens in new window

Description This is an introductory subject which examines underlying theories of social welfare work, community work, youth work and international social development. Students will explore the ideological underpinnings of theories and discourses in the human services, particularly with regard to the impact of poverty, inequity and the experience of vulnerable populations. The contribution of other disciplines to knowledge and practice in these fields of practice will also be examined. This subject will focus on developing beginning assessment and intervention skills in working with individuals, groups, and communities. Students will also develop an understanding of ethical issues related to social work practise and working in human service organisations as a member of a team.

School Social Sciences

Discipline Social Work

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 1 subject

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: 1665 Bachelor of Community Welfare, 1666 Bachelor of Social Work, 1709 Bachelor of Criminal and Community Justice, 1713 Bachelor of Criminal and Community Justice/Bachelor of Social Work, 1735 Bachelor of Humanitarian and Development Studies, 1874 Postgraduate Bridging Program (Social Work), 2767 Bachelor of Criminal and Community Justice/Bachelor of Laws, 6027 Diploma in Social Science/Bachelor of Humanitarian and Development Studies or 7170 Undergraduate Certificate in Counselling and Mental Health..

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Describe theories, concepts and models underpinning social work and community welfare work.
2. Develop assessment and intervention skills or working with individuals, groups and communities within a context of the inequitable distribution of wealth and power.
3. Apply ethical issues related to working with individuals, groups and communities.
4. Apply professional decision making in the organisational contexts.

Subject Content

- Basic concepts underlying human service practice.
- Human Rights.
- Empowerment.
- Advocacy.
- Self-determination.
- Self-help.
- Social Justice.
- Democratic Participation.
- Anti-Oppressive Practice: gender, ethnicity, class, politics, Aboriginality, culture, religion, (dis)ability, age and sexual orientation.
- Theories underlying human services practice.
- Different ways of understanding the world.
- Different levels of theory: formal and informal.
- Working with individuals.
- An overview major models of casework.
- Assessment and intervention.
- Working with groups.
- Types of groups facilitated by human service workers.
- Principles of working for and with groups.
- Group dynamics and group processes.
- Stages of group development.
- Community Work.
- Personal, professional and organisational power and social control.
- Issues related to accountability.
- The inter relationship of the worker’s personal, professional values and those of their agency.
- Understanding of ethics and professional practice in the welfare sector and the role of training and supervision in supporting this.
- A Brief Introduction to Human Services in Contemporary Australia.
- The New ‘helping era’- Social Innovation in Human Service Practice.
- Human services within rural and remote regions of Australia.