Unit rationale, description and aim
Youth workers are advocates for young people and are often acting as agents of change. Therefore, they must understand how their practice is influenced by the social policy of the Government of the time, as well as understand how to influence that policy. This unit will include an understanding of how policy is developed, the range of mechanisms utilised and how to engage in those mechanisms.
This unit will assist students to develop the skills to engage young people in policy and research processes. This unit will explore some of the key policy institutions and policy frameworks which impact young people's lives. The unit will enable students to critically analyse key aspects of historical and contemporary youth policy and consider the ways in which policy impacts the lives of young people and the practice of youth work.
The aim of the unit is to develop knowledge and skills that students will use in their youth work practice and learn how research informs program delivery, evaluation and policy development.
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.
Discuss key policy concepts, processes, institutio...
Learning Outcome 01
Apply critical analysis and research skills to eng...
Learning Outcome 02
Critically analyse how social, political, economic...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
- Policy-making processes in the youth work sector.
- Introduction to theoretical perspectives on policy.
- Contemporary trends in youth policy.
- How young people experience and interact with the state through examining youth policy. How youth is constructed as a category of policy, discussing contemporary issues such as youth homelessness, health and legal issues.
- how to increase young people's understanding of and engagement in policy making processes which impact on them.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessments in this unit are scaffolded to progressively develop the policy literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills essential for effective youth work practice.
The first assessment, a policy submission, introduces students to the core conventions of policy writing and advocacy, and equips them with the skills to articulate evidence-based positions on issues affecting young people. The second assessment requires a critical analysis of the historical, political, and social dimensions of youth policy, and fosters students’ ability to interpret and evaluate the broader forces that shape young people’s experiences. The final assessment requires students to apply this knowledge in a practical context by developing protocols for engaging young people around a specific policy issue, with emphasis placed on the importance of ethical, inclusive, and effective communication in the context of youth policy.
Together, these assessments mirror the tasks youth workers are expected to undertake in practice, which included understanding policy, evaluating its impact, and engaging with young people to support their participation and advocacy.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1: Policy Submission Students ar...
Assessment Task 1: Policy Submission
Students are required to develop a policy submission that utilises social, critical and/or political theory to advance the interests of young people.
30%
Assessment Task 2: Policy Analysis Student...
Assessment Task 2: Policy Analysis
Students are required to identify an Australian youth policy, map the policy context and policy process in which this policy is located, and discuss how it impacts on the lives of young people.
40%
Assessment Task 3: Oral Presentation The f...
Assessment Task 3: Oral Presentation
The final assessment requires students to apply this knowledge in a practical context by developing protocols for engaging young people around a specific policy issue, with emphasis placed on the importance of ethical, inclusive, and effective communication in the context of youth policy.
30%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This face-to-face unit is grounded in an Inquiry-Based Learning approach, which encourages students to actively question, investigate, and engage with real-world youth policy issues. This strategy supports the development of critical thinking and analytical skills essential for emerging youth workers.
Delivered in a face-to-face format, the unit provides a highly interactive and collaborative learning environment, which is consistent with professional youth work policy environments. Youth work is a practice-based discipline that relies heavily on interpersonal skills, critical reflection, and the capacity to navigate complex social systems and situations.
This unit provides students the opportunity to develop these skills through in-person discussion, debate, and collaborative problem-solving. Students will explore historical and contemporary youth policy and its impacts on young people and youth work practice.
Tutorials include active learning strategies such as debating, interpreting policy texts, group discussion, and collaborative problem-solving. Lectures provide foundational content and analytical frameworks to help students critically assess policy development and synthesise a broad range of materials.