Unit rationale, description and aim

All social workers can expect to work with children, young people and families, whether they practice directly with clients, or are in advocacy, policy, community development, or research roles.  

In this unit, students will be provided with the knowledge and skills to practice competently and ethically as social workers with children, young people and families from diverse backgrounds, in different contexts. The unit revises knowledge of developmental stages and analyses the progress of social work practice with families and children through consideration of a number of theories and models. The unit includes development of advanced knowledge and skills in working directly with children, young people and families including working with families at various points in family and life stages. Emphasis is given to the principles of collaborative practice, strengths based practice, child and family centred practice, and child safety and protection. 

This unit will provide students with an essential area of competency, as outlined by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), in working with children, young people and families. The aim of this unit is to provide an evidence informed theoretical foundation as well as the development of ethical skills for future social work practice in the area of child and adolescent wellbeing and protection, and for working collaboratively with families. 

2025 10

Campus offering

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  • Term Mode
  • ACU Term 3Online Unscheduled
  • ACU Term 4Online Unscheduled

Prerequisites

Nil

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Examine and discuss issues experienced by children...

Learning Outcome 01

Examine and discuss issues experienced by children, young people and families from diverse backgrounds in a range of contexts
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC5, GC9

Apply knowledge of social work ethics in practice ...

Learning Outcome 02

Apply knowledge of social work ethics in practice with children, youth and families from diverse backgrounds
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC6, GC8

Assess and respond effectively to complexities of ...

Learning Outcome 03

Assess and respond effectively to complexities of social work practice with children, young people and families, including issues of child protection and family and domestic violence
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC3, GC4, GC7

Apply understanding of the use of self and use of ...

Learning Outcome 04

Apply understanding of the use of self and use of theory and research to social work practice with children, young people and families from diverse backgrounds
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC3

Apply a wide range of advanced assessment and inte...

Learning Outcome 05

Apply a wide range of advanced assessment and intervention skills in social work practice with children, young people and families, demonstrating use of effective oral and advanced written communication skills
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC10, GC11

Content

Topics will include: 

Specialised knowledge 

  • Theories of childhood, development, adolescence and family 
  • Systems  
  • Child protection/safety, including knowledge of state based legislation and relevant mandatory reporting requirements 
  • Family and domestic violence 

Practice theories and approaches 

  • Solution focused approaches 
  • Child centred practice 
  • Family centred practice 
  • Collaborative practice and pro social modelling 
  • Psychodynamic theory 
  • Attachment 
  • Crisis Intervention 
  • Post-structural approaches (Narrative, Strengths) 
  • Practice frameworks which are informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural knowledge and perspectives 

Contemporary contexts of practice with children, young people and families 

  • Culturally diverse context of families 
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, children and young people 

Ethics 

  • Social work ethics, social justice and human rights framework in work with families, children and young people 

Skill development 

  • Effective communication skills in conducting assessment and intervention 
  • Critically reflective use of self 

Assessment strategy and rationale

This unit takes an authentic assessment approach enabling students to engage with relevant practice scenarios. The assessments are designed to give students the opportunity to develop their knowledge of social work theories, skills in critical reflection of self and holistic assessment and intervention with children, young people and their families.

Ungraded Hurdle Task (Discussion forum post) requires students to engage with a key reading from the unit regarding social work practice with families and present this information in a coherent and professional manner to their colleagues.

Assessment Task 1 is a quiz. After viewing a recording of a social work session, students will be quizzed on their ability to identify practice theory approaches.

Assessment Task 2 is a written report based on a Practice Analysis.

In Assessment 3, students are to prepare a 20 minute E Presentation in case discussion style. Students will be required to assess client needs and respond with appropriate strategies and case planning. Students are required to demonstrate and apply knowledge of relevant theory to assessing needs and developing an intervention plan for a complex family scenario with children. They are also required to reflect on ethical issues, as well as professional and personal values when responding to the case study, ensuring a thoughtful approach to practice that can manage bias, consider alternative perspectives, and assess and respond to risk.  

In order to pass this unit students must demonstrate achievement of every unit learning outcome, pass hurdle tasks, and obtain a minimum mark of 50% in graded units

Overview of assessments

Hurdle Task - Discussion Board post – Enables stu...

Hurdle Task - Discussion Board post – Enables students to engage with a key reading from the unit and share this in an online discussion forum.

Weighting

Hurdle Task

Learning Outcomes LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 1 Practice Analysis Quiz Critique...

Assessment Task 1

Practice Analysis Quiz Critique of a session - Enables students to further develop their ability to analyse an engagement session, assess client needs and respond with appropriate strategies and case planning.

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5

Assessment Task 2 Written Report based on Practic...

Assessment Task 2

Written Report based on Practice Analysis - Enables students to identify and develop the key social work skills necessary for conducting social work assessments and interventions with families. 

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO2, LO4, LO5

Assessment Task 3 E Presentation Students choose ...

Assessment Task 3

E Presentation Students choose one of several case studies, and deliver a non-synchronous oral presentation in the form of a case presentation. Students are required to demonstrate and apply knowledge of relevant theory to assessing needs and developing an intervention plan for a complex family scenario with children

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit involves 150 hours of learning. It will be delivered in an online mode using an active learning approach. Students will have access to self-paced learning modules, contemporary literature, multi-media resources and collaborative discussion forums. Real-world examples of practice with children, young people and families will be provided by a range of practitioners. Online discussion forums will facilitate learning by sharing critical reflections with a focus on case-based learning relating to social work with children and families. This flexible and inclusive learning approach will allow students to meet the aim, learning outcomes and graduate attributes of the unit, as well as professional practice standards.

AASW Practice Standards

This Unit has been mapped to the ACU Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes. The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes provided in the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards: https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/13565  

Standard/Attributes/Criteria

Standard/Attributes/CriteriaLearning Outcomes

1.Values and ethics

2.Professionalism

3.Culturally responsive and inclusive practice

4.Knowledge for practice

5.Applying knowledge to practice

6.Communication and Interpersonal skills

7.Information recording and sharing

8.Professional development and supervision

ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes

Standards/Attributes/Criteria

Standards/Attributes/CriteriaLearning Outcomes

4.2 Understand and articulate social work and other relevant theories and concepts 

LO1

Practice in accordance with the Code of Ethics (2020) 

4.2 Understand and articulate social work and other relevant theories and concepts 

LO2

5.1 Conduct an assessment and analysis of needs to inform the services being offered 

5.3 Use a range of specific social work methods and techniques appropriate to area of practice 

LO3

Manage ethical dilemmas in practice 

2.1 Represent the social work profession with integrity and professionalism 

4.4 Understand and articulate how and when theories, knowledge bases and knowledge sources inform practice 

5.4 Apply critical and reflective thinking to practice 

LO4

3.1 Work respectfully and inclusively with cultural difference and diversity 

3.2 respect, strive to understand and promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultures 

6.1 Effectively communicate with a diverse range of people. 

LO5

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Arney, F. & Scott, D. (Eds) (2013). Working with Vulnerable Families: a partnership approach (2nd ed), Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.  

Australian Association of Social Workers (2020). Code of ethics. Canberra: AASW. 

Briskman, L. (2014). Social Work with Indigenous Communities (2nd ed), Sydney: Federation Press. 

Collins, D.,Jordan, C. & Coleman, H. (2013). An introduction to Family Social Work (4th ed). California: Brooks/Cole 

Featherstone, B., White, S. & Morris, K. (2014). Re-imagining Child Protection: Towards humane social work with families. Bristol UK: Policy Press.  

Geldard, K., & Geldard, D (2016). Counselling adolescents: The proactive approach for young people. London: Sage 

Harms, L. (2020). Understanding Human Development: A multidimensional approach (3rd ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. 

Lindsey, J. & Dempsey, D. (2014). Families, Relationships and Intimate Life (2nd ed), Melbourne: Oxford University Press.  

Mainstone, F. (2014). Mastering whole family assessment in social work: Balancing the needs of children, adults and their families. London. Jessica Kingsley. 

Trotter, C. (2020). Collaborative Family Work, Sydney: Allen & Unwin. 

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