Unit rationale, description and aim

Social workers are required to engage in policy to achieve the social justice aims of the profession. Policy practice requires an understanding of how policies are made, implemented, evaluated and changed, and how they impact people at the level of service delivery. In this unit, students will be introduced to models of policy making and relevant theoretical literature on the nature of policy processes within state and community sectors. Drawing on social work theories, students will be required to critically examine contemporary social policy issues in the Australian context and identify opportunities for influencing policy change. The overall aim of the unit is to equip students with the knowledge and skills required for critical social work policy practice to effect social justice change at the policy level.

2026 10

Campus offering

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  • Term Mode
  • ACU Term 1Online Unscheduled

Prerequisites

SWTP620 Social Work Theories, Context and Fields of Practice AND SWTP633 Social Work, Mental Health and Wellbeing AND SWTP634 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 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.

Critically examine the relationships between socia...

Learning Outcome 01

Critically examine the relationships between social policies and structures of power that impact social justice and human rights.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC6, GC7

Demonstrate understanding of policy making process...

Learning Outcome 02

Demonstrate understanding of policy making processes.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC5, GC8, GC9, GC11

Apply social work values, knowledge and skills in ...

Learning Outcome 03

Apply social work values, knowledge and skills in advocacy in relation to contemporary social policy issues impacting social work practice
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC6, GC7, GC8

Apply critical analysis and ethical decision makin...

Learning Outcome 04

Apply critical analysis and ethical decision making in proposing social policy development and implementation strategies
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC6, GC7, GC8

Content

Topics will include:

  • The role of government and the politics of policy
  • Social policy making models and processes
  • Contemporary social policy issues impacting social disadvantage
  • The role of social work
  • Critical analytical skills for developing, implementing and evaluating policy
  • Ethical social work practice in the policy context


Areas of social policy include, but are not limited to:

  • Family violence
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse populations
  • Health and Disability
  • Education and employment

 

Skills

  • Research
  • Critical analysis
  • Policy writing skills
  • Policy advocacy

 

Values and Ethics

  • Social work values and Ethics

 

Theoretical frameworks

  • Structural and post-structural (including feminist, human rights, critical theory and decolonising perspectives)

 

Assessment strategy and rationale

Assessment Task 1 enables students to demonstrate awareness and knowledge of policy and social work practice contexts.

Assessment Tasks 2 and 3 are authentic tasks designed to assess students' skills in policy analysis and development. Specifically:

  • Assessment Task 2 requires students to examine a policy problem and argue the case for why this is an important issue requiring policy reform.
  • Assessment Task 3 builds on Assessment Task 2 in enabling skills in preparing a substantial evidence-based work in the form of a policy proposal.


Evidence of competency and skill within these assessment tasks sets students on a path towards demonstrating sound understanding of and commitment to social work values and ethical practice.

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

Overview of assessments

Assessment Task 1 - Online Quiz Students demonst...

Assessment Task 1 - Online Quiz

Students demonstrate awareness and knowledge of policy and social work practice contexts.

Weighting

20%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 2 - Policy Analysis Students ide...

Assessment Task 2 - Policy Analysis

Students identify a social policy issue and explore and argue the case for policy reform with reference to the lives of the people impacted by the policy.

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 3 - Policy Proposal This assignm...

Assessment Task 3 - Policy Proposal

This assignment requires students to develop a proposal in response to a current policy issue. This includes analysing the policy context and agenda, proposing a policy response and making recommendations for policy implementation and evaluation.

Weighting

50%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

ON CAMPUS:

This unit involves 150 hours of a combination of lectures, online learning materials, tutorials and self-directed learning. Learning activities include reading, individual research, small group and class discussions. On-campus classes are designed to draw out understandings developed from learning materials to establish deeper and applied conceptual knowledge relevant to policy practice. 

ONLINE:

This unit involves 150 hours of a combination of online learning materials, discussion boards, weekly interactive online exercises, online collaboration opportunities, reading, individual research and self-directed learning. Students will discuss their understanding of learning materials in an online environment to establish deeper and applied conceptual knowledge relevant to policy practice.

Both modes draw on social work perspectives of human rights and social justice to critically analyse , contemporary social issues and identify opportunities for critical social work policy practice. Knowledge gained in this unit will prepare students for policy-practice in a variety of social work practice and policy settings to effect social justice change.

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).

  • 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

  • Relating to

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

    management

    Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

  • Relating to

    Can articulate the ethics underpinning their approach to decisions and actions

    Relevant learning outcomeLO3, LO4

  • Relating to

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

    Strait Islander cultures throughout Australia

    Relevant learning outcomeLO1

  • Relating to

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

    upheld

    Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

  • Relating to

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

    violence

    Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4

  • Relating to

    Promote public policy initiatives aimed at eliminating structural and systemic

    inequities experienced by people

    Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4

  • Relating to

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

    diversity

    Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

  • 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

  • Relating to

    Work from a clearly articulated framework for reflective practice

    Relevant learning outcomeLO1

  • Relating to

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

    Relevant learning outcomeLO3

  • 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

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

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

Althaus, C., Ball, S., Bridgman, P. and Davis, G. (2023). The Australian Policy Handbook: A practical guide to the policymaking process (7th edition). New York: Routledge.

Carson, E. and Kerr, L. (2020). Australian Social Policy and the Human Services (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Gal, J. and Weiss, I. (2023) When Social Workers Impact Policy and Don't Just Implement It: A Framework for Understanding Policy Engagement. Bristol: Policy Press.

Healy, K. and Mulholland, J. (2019). Writing Skills for Social Workers (3rd Ed.). London: Sage.

Jamrozik, A. (2009). Social Policy in the Post-Welfare State: Australian Society in a Changing World. Melbourne: Pearson Australia.

Jamrozik, A. and Nocella, L. (1998). The Sociology of Social Problems: Theoretical Perspectives and Methods of Intervention. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

McClelland, A., Smyth, P. and Marston, G. (Eds.). (2021). Social Policy in Australia: Understanding for Action, Docklands: Oxford University Press.

Martin, S., Schofield, T. and Butterworth, P. (2022). News media representations of people receiving income support and the production of stigma power: An empirical analysis of reporting on two Australian welfare payments. Critical Social Policy, 42(4): 648-670.

Mendes, P. (2017). Australia's Welfare Wars: The Players, the Politics and the Ideologies. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press.


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