Home  /   Course Handbook  /  Social Policy Practice in Social Work (SWRK4005)

SWRK4005

Social Policy Practice in Social Work

10 Units 4000 Level Course

Available in 2013

Callaghan Campus Semester 1

Previously offered in 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008

In this course students will examine historical, social, cultural and political events and processes that influence policy practice. Students develop knowledge about government policy and legislation as it relates to different fields of practice, agencies, and communities, and explore the place of social workers and social work skills in policy practice. This includes use of research, community consultation and technology to influence the policy process. The course includes a particular focus on social policy as it relates to Indigenous Australians.

Objectives At the completion of the course students should be able to:
1. Describe historical, social and political impacts on contemporary social policy, theories that inform policy practice, and the policy making process.
2. Critically analyse, discuss and debate examples of social policy, in terms of intentions, impacts, development processes, and the interests of individuals, families and communities.
3. Engage in political processes about policy using a range of information, awareness, engagement, networking and consultative initiatives.
4. Describe and demonstrate the role of social workers in the policy process and social work skills related to policy practice.
5. Discuss and analyse the interaction between social policy, ethics and research from different perspectives including human rights.
6. Use literature, research evidence and media resources to analyse, inform, and challenge or support policies.
7. Prepare a range of written and visual materials for commenting on, informing, and changing or promoting policy.
8. Identify the relevance and use of group theory and practice in policy practice and related processes.
Content Topics include:
1. Historical, social, cultural and political influences on social policies, policy practice and social services.
2. Social policy development processes.
3. Analysing and debating social policy.
4. Contemporary policy initiatives.
5. Social policy and Indigenous Australians.
6. Links between economics, law, politics and social policy.
7. Activism and the policy process.
8. Ways in which policy and services address equality, social justice and human rights.
9. How social work skills, practice and intervention methods are applied to policy practice.
Replacing Course(s) SWRK3004: Social Work and Family Policy - 10 units
Transition SWRK3004 will not be offered in Semester 2, 2007. Any student who fails this course in semester 2, 2006 will undertake the new course in Semester 1, 2008. Other changes being made to the social work program to accommodate the honours requirements will mean that any student from 2006 carrying this course will undertake courses in accordance with the revised program structure and will not take any longer to complete their program than they otherwise would under the existing program structure given program progression rules.
Industrial Experience 0
Assumed Knowledge Completed SWRK2001, SWRK2002, SWRK 2004, SWRK3001, SWRK3002, SWRK3003, SWRK3005 and SPSW3070
Modes of Delivery Internal Mode
Teaching Methods Self Directed Learning
Student Projects
Workshop
Assessment Items
Essays / Written Assignments Graded Tasks: 2 x 2000 word written assignments worth 50% each
Projects Projects/Group Tasks - There are ungraded assessment tasks in this course (satisfactory/unsatisfactory). Students must successfully complete these assessment tasks to pass the course.
Contact Hours Workshop: for 3 hour(s) per Week for Full Term
Compulsory Components
Requisite by Enrolment Bachelor of Social Work
Timetables 2013 Course Timetables for SWRK4005