Unit rationale, description and aim

Social workers are required to understand and respond to human experiences in the context of socio-political, cultural and environmental factors. In this unit students will be introduced to community development work as a method of social work practice. Students will develop advanced level capacities to identify, analyse and critically evaluate the role of social work in professional practice with communities in Australia and internationally. Through critical examination of various community projects, campaigns and initiatives, students will identify, and evaluate the theoretical foundations, methodological approaches, ethical considerations and values involved in social work with communities. The overall aim of this unit is to equip students with the requisite knowledge and skills in community work, to meet the profession’s commitment to wellbeing and social justice.

This unit is one of four social work professional skills units. To meet AASW accreditation criteria, 100% attendance is required.

2026 10

Campus offering

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  • Term Mode
  • ACU Term 2Campus Attendance
  • Term Mode
  • ACU Term 2Online Unscheduled
  • Term Mode
  • ACU Term 2Campus Attendance

Prerequisites

(SWTP634 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Social Work AND SWTP620 Social Work Theories, Context and Fields of Practice ) AND SWTP632 Social Policy, Contemporary Issues and Social Work

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.

Explain contemporary community work approaches and...

Learning Outcome 01

Explain contemporary community work approaches and trends in social work practice in a variety of community contexts, including urban, rural, ethnic, Indigenous and international
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC5

Critically appraise the key theoretical principles...

Learning Outcome 02

Critically appraise the key theoretical principles and models of community work and their applicability to different practice contexts.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC3, GC4, GC5, GC6

Evaluate and reflect on the use of self and the in...

Learning Outcome 03

Evaluate and reflect on the use of self and the influence of personal values and ideologies on community practice
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC7, GC8, GC10

Design and evaluate community work practice drawin...

Learning Outcome 04

Design and evaluate community work practice drawing on social work values and ethical principles.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC3, GC6, GC7, GC8, GC12

Critically assess the roles of social workers in, ...

Learning Outcome 05

Critically assess the roles of social workers in, and with, communities in the promotion of human rights and social justice.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC9, GC11, GC12

Content

The Concept of Community 

  • The relationship between community work and social work 
  • Ethical issues in community work 
  • Differences between  
  • community development 
  • social development 
  • social action 
  • community organization 


Contextualising Community 

  • Historical development of community work 
  • Community as arena for social policy 
  • Emerging and innovative initiatives in community practice,  


Social Action 

  • Radicalism and community work 
  • Social movements and activism role of social media 


Social Development 

  • Integrated development 
  • Concept of social planning 
  • International development and Aid programs
  • Role of agencies 
  • Civil Society in Development 


Community Organising 

  • Understanding community organisations 
  • Legitimacy 
  • Accountability 
  • Representativeness 
  • Engaging with a community, including in ways that are culturally sensitive
  • Participation and power 
  • Identifying inequality and discrimination in communities 
  • Strategies for working together 


Intersectional Community Development

  • Understanding a community and self as practitioner 
  • Local and international communities 
  • Engaging and partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities 
  • Engaging and partnering with communities experiencing marginalisation


Doing Community Work 

  • Models of community practice  
  • Capacity Building 
  • Asset-Based Community (ABCD approach) 


Community Development Roles and Skills in Social Work Strategies: 

  • using the media 
  • lobbying 
  • funding 


Evaluation in Social Work with Communities 

  • Program planning 
  • Evaluation in community organisations 

Assessment strategy and rationale

This unit takes an authentic assessment approach allowing students to develop their learning and competency in social work practice with communities.

Assessment 1 (Reflective task) enables students to demonstrate their ability to evaluate and reflect on the use of self and the influence of personal values and ideologies on community practice.   

Assessment 2 (Group presentation) enables students to participate in a simulated community project in a small group and present the project to their peers and educators. Students will demonstrate their critical appraisal of key concepts, theories and frameworks when working in communities. 

Assessment 3 (Critical analysis) enables students to research, critically analyse and evaluate a community project on the basis of:

  • The degree of community participation with particular reference to community strengths and social capital building 
  • The roles of social workers and/or other professionals involved 
  • The theoretical principles employed 
  • Ethical issues and considerations


To pass this unit students must demonstrate that they have met the attendance requirements, achieved each learning outcome and obtained a total mark of 50% in the unit as a minimum standard.

Overview of assessments

Assessment 1: Reflective Task: Students concept...

Assessment 1: Reflective Task: Students conceptualise a community work approach and develop their ability to evaluate and reflect on the use of self, personal values and ideologies on community practice.

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5

Assessment 2: Group Presentation: To enable stud...

Assessment 2: Group Presentation: To enable students to communicate key community development concepts applied to a community project. 30 minute presentation.

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment 3: Critical Analysis: Two parts (Par...

Assessment 3: Critical Analysis:

Two parts (Part A) Identification of community project (Part B): Critical analysis of community project, applying key community development concepts and theoretical frameworks

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO2, LO4, LO5

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit involves 150 hours of a combination of lectures, online learning materials, interactive tutorials, simulation activities and independent learning. Learning activities include reading, individual research, reflective and critical thinking activities, small group and class discussions.

The unit adopts an authentic learning approach where students work in small groups to identify a community issue, plan a community work response and implement some community work strategies. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively in class and with simulated community project activities.

The simulated community project has been designed to ensure knowledge and skills for community development are synthesised, practiced and applied, preparing students for professional community work practice.  

The unit has a prescribed attendance requirement deemed necessary to achieve the intended learning outcomes and skill development.

Students enrolled On-Campus are required to attend all on-campus classes.

Students undertaking the unit Online are required to attend a compulsory 5-day on-campus intensive.

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Forde, C. & Lynch, D. (2015) Social Work and Community Development, London: Palgrave/MacMillan.  

Ife, J. (2016) Community Development in an Uncertain World (2nd Ed), Melbourne: Cambridge University Press 

Kenny, S. & Connors, P. (2022) Developing Communities for the Future (6th ed), Melbourne: Cengage Learning Australia. 

Kickett-Tucker, C., Bessarab, D., Coffin, J., Wright, M., & Gooda, M. (2017). Mia Aboriginal Community Development : Fostering cultural security. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press 

Howard, A. & Rawsthorne (2019). Everyday Community Practice: Principles and Practice. Crows Next: Allen & Unwin. 

Kirst-Ashman, K., & Hull, G. H. (2018). Generalist Practice with Organisations and Communities ( 7th  Ed.). Belmont, CA: Thompson Brooks/Cole. 

Long, D., Tice, C., & Morrison, J. (2006). Macro social work practice: A strengths perspective. Belmont, CA: Thompson, Brooks/Cole. 

Smith, R. (2008). Social work and power. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Twelvetrees, A. (2017). Community Development, Social Action and Social Planning. Basingstoke: Macmillan. 

Weil, M. (2013). Handbook of community practice. (2nd Ed.)Thousand Oaks, CA: Sag 

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