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.

Content

Topics will include:

Institutions and processes in social policy development and change

• Social policy making processes
• Neoliberalism Contemporary Social Policy issues impacting vulnerable and diverse populations
• The role of social work in the areas of social policy
• Critical, interactional and analytical skills for developing implementing and evaluating policy
• Advocacy and writing skills in policy
• Ethical social work practice in the policy context

Areas of social policy

• Family (including, Domestic and Family violence)
• Indigenous (including ways of knowing, being and doing)
• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse populations (including refugees and asylum seekers)
• Disability
• Health
• Education and employment

Skills

• Research
• Critical analysis
• Writing skills
• Lobby and advocacy

Values and Ethics

• Social work values and Ethics

Theoretical frameworks

• Structural (including Feminist, Human Rights)
• Post-structural (including Critical Social Work, De-colonising, Feminist and Ecofeminist theories)

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

ON CAMPUS MODE:

This unit involves 150 hours of workshops, lectures and tutorials will incorporate small group, collaborative learning with students engaging in active discussion of the theoretical underpinnings of policy responses to contemporary social issues. Policy critique is undertaken from a social work perspective of human rights and social justice. Contemporary social issues are analysed allowing students to explore the process of advocacy and policy development and its relationship to social work practice and to apply knowledge and skills in social policy analysis and change to contemporary issues impacting marginalised and disadvantaged groups.

Social workers need to be prepared to undertake advocacy and practice within the Australian policy context. Knowledge gained in this unit will prepare students for policy-practice in a variety of social work practice and policy settings to effective positive social change for marginalised and disadvantaged people.

ONLINE:

The unit involves 150 hours of study, involving online lecture material, discussion boards, interactive online exercises and regular online collaboration opportunities. Students will engage in analysis and discussion of the theoretical underpinnings of policy responses to cotemporary social issues. Policy critique is undertaken from a social work perspective of human rights and social justice. Contemporary social issues are analysed allowing students to explore the process of advocacy and policy development and its relationship to social work practice and to apply knowledge and skills in social policy analysis and change to contemporary issues impacting marginalised and disadvantaged groups.

Social workers need to be prepared to undertake advocacy and practice within the Australian policy context. Knowledge gained in this unit will prepare students for policy-practice in a variety of social work practice and policy settings to effective positive social change for marginalised and disadvantaged people.

Graduate Attributes and the Practice Standards (ASWEAS, 2024)

This Unit has been mapped to the ACU Graduate Capabilities and the Graduate Attributes and the Practice Standards (ASWEAS, 2024) . The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and the Graduate Attributes and the Practice Standards (ASWEAS, 2024).

• 1.1

  Relating to

  Have a clear sense of accountability for their actions and accept responsibility for the

  decisions they make and their professional actions

  Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• 1.2

  Relating to

  Recognise and take responsibility for what is within their power, control or

  management

  Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• 1.4

  Relating to

  Can articulate the ethics underpinning their approach to decisions and actions

  Relevant learning outcomeLO4

• 2.1

  Relating to

  Are aware of the diversity among, and differences between, Aboriginal and Torres

  Strait Islander cultures throughout Australia

  Relevant learning outcomeLO1

• 3.1

  Relating to

  Ensure that the rights of the people they work with are promoted, protected, and

  upheld

  Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• 3.3

  Relating to

  Support action to enable people to live a life free of abuse, neglect, exploitation and

  violence

  Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4

• 3.6

  Relating to

  Promote public policy initiatives aimed at eliminating structural and systemic

  inequities experienced by people

  Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4

• 4.1

  Relating to

  Apply an intersectional lens in their approach to complexities around culture and

  diversity

  Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• 4.3

  Relating to

  Adapt and modify their practice on the basis of a critical awareness of how their

  personal values, cultures and beliefs impact on their interactions with people

  Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• 5.1

  Relating to

  Work from a clearly articulated framework for reflective practice

  Relevant learning outcomeLO1

• 6.4

  Relating to

  Make decisions aimed primarily at achieving the best possible outcomes for people

  Relevant learning outcomeLO3

• 7.2

  Relating to

  Articulate and promote the unique scope and contribution of social work to the

  people they serve, including within interdisciplinary settings

  Relevant learning outcomeLO3