This unit of study emphasises applied learning and provides opportunities to engage with and develop reflexive practice. Students will develop an understanding of theory/practice relationships, social work values and ethical practice. Students will also develop an understanding of professional practice and begin to develop their identity as social workers using the professional Code of Ethics and Practice Standards. Recognising and building upon skills and knowledge they already have, students will develop capabilities in core social work practice skllls which can be used in all fields of practice. The unit of study is undertaken prior to Field Learning 1 and provides significant exposure to practice situations and issues.

Social workers work with individuals, families and communities experiencing poverty and other forms of social exclusion. This unit introduces the historical and contemporary role of social work in assessing and addressing poverty, inequality and social disadvantage. The significance of theories of social justice, social welfare and social change is explored. Students will develop policy analysis and policy development skills, and engage critically with policy and practice responses to poverty and social exclusion at local, national and global levels. Particular attention is paid to those groups in Australian society most affected by poverty and social exclusion.

This unit addresses the range of factors from poverty to positive parenting that contributes to safe, healthy and happy childhoods. This means addressing sociological and psychological aspects of childhood and current International and Australian literature. This unit of study introduces students to the theories and definitions of child abuse and neglect as well as the psychological and social consequence of child abuse and neglect. Within this unit emphasis is given to the ethical and legal responsibilities of practitioners as mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect.

Field education is a core component in all social work degree programs. The 60 days of this first placement, the fortnightly classes and peer support and accountability groups provide a forum in which to explore issues concerning the integration of practice and theory, the development of core social work practice knowledge, skills and values as well as opportunities for support and consultation with other students and Faculty staff. Written assignments and oral presentations allows students to demonstrate their placement learning.

Field Education is a core component in all social work degree programmes. The 80 days of second placement comprising of SCWK5005 Practice Learning 2A and SCWK5006 Practice Learning 2B, the fortnightly classes and peer support and accountability groups provide a forum in which to explore issues concerning the integration of practice and theory, the development of core advanced social work practice knowledge, skills and values as well as opportunities for support and consultation with other students and Faculty staff. Written assignments and oral presentations allow students to demonstrate their placement learning.

This unit is a continuation of SCWK5005 Practice Learning 2A. Students will attend their allocated field placement agency 9 days per fortnight for 17 days. In addition they will attend two 3 hour seminars fortnightly based over the period of placement. This unit will be supported by an interactive eLearning

This unit of study ains to collapse the boundaries between 'them' (old people) and 'us' (everyone else) by examining how age is historically and socially constructed and experienced. The unit will examine social policies and social work practices and skills in relation to old people, their families and communities, with particular emphasis on diversity and inequality.

Students will have the opportunity to examine current practices and practice theories in light of competing ideas espoused and employed in social work and community services. This unit will take an interdisciplinary approach to professional practice issues. It aims for the development of knowledge for reflexsive practice in contemporary sites of social work and community services endeavours.

The purpose of this unit of study is to introduce students to the various, often competing discourses both constituting and challenging notions of self around death, dying and mourning. An important focus is sociological approaches to these issues as they reflect broader cultural understanding of such issues as community relations and continuity, sex and sexuality, disease, stigma and social control. This unit is also available as a single unit of study to professionals who wish to undertake this as a stand-alone unit.

This unit of study introduces students to a range of research methods and focus on quantitative and qualitative methods. Many other research issues in developing a research proposal will be addressed through the semester. It is intended that, at the conclusion of this unit, students will have developed a research project able to implement through either further study or in workplaces. It will include a focus on research in relation to violence against women and children.

This unit aims to provide students with a sound understanding of the key institutional components of the Australian welfare system and the key issues and debates associated with the theory and practice of contemporary social policy. The target audience for this unit includes participants from a diverse range of organisations involved in human service provision. All human service work takes place in the context of social policy: social policy provides the mandate and the resources for human service work, and the activities of workers are extensively defined and shaped by social policy. In turn, human service workers are increasingly involved in the shaping of policy, or policy action. The rationale for this unit is to provide an opportunity for students to develop an advanced understanding of social policy frameworks in order to inform policy action.

This unit provices theoretical foundations of group work processes. The sessions are interactive, using role-plays and demonstrations to provide opportunity for experimental learning of the information being presented. The sessions are developmentally structured such that later sessions build on knowledge acquired from earlier sessions. Topics to be covered include: context for group work; goals; hidden agendas; communication in groups; models of group development; leadership styles; co-leading; group task versus group maintenance; group membership; role differentiation; group norms; group process and dynamics; use of power in groups; trust; cohesion; managing conflict in groups; mediation; intervention strategies; focal conflict model; pre-group procedures; group programme design and ethics of group work practice.

In this unit we will examine community work in Australian and international contexts. We will critically examine the philosophical underpinnings of community work and the historical development of community work practices. We will consider a range of approaches to community work policy and practice including community service, community capacity building and community activism. Issues in, and practical strategies for, evaluating community work practice will also be looked at. This unit will also include a focus on community work in relation to violence against women and children.

This unit will critically review Australian responses to violence against women over the past quarter century and identify emerging issues and debates. It will include comparative analysis of criminal and civil law responses to domestic violence and an exploration of the claims of restorative justice approaches. It will address critical debates about the function and role of legislation and policy in the construction of domestic violence as a social problem and critique selected policy and practice responses. This unit will also examine both the representation and impact of an increasing awareness of the impact of domestic violence on children and young people.

This unit of study focuses on: the National Practice Standards; the theoretical underpinnings; the policy framework; the implications for practice; multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working; mental health workforce issues (e.g. stress in the workplace advocacy); Mental Health Workforce new skills development and the multidisciplinary health context. This unit is also available as a single unit of study to professionals who wish to undertake this as a stand-alone unit.

There is a well-established scholarship and governmental interest in both the impact of globalisation on social policy and the emergence of what is increasingly termed 'global social policy' which is a direct response to global social problems. It is a field that is growing in the areas of social policy and social work research and practice and can be clearly linked to increased employment opportunities for social workers and social policy graduates in the international/global arena. A key perspective of this unit of study is from non-government organisations' partcipation in the development of a global civil society and their contribution to global social policy. It also examines the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and how NGOs have contributed to both the ambitions of the goals as well as the outcomes for different countries. This unit provides opportunities for students to deepen their understanding and knowledge of core global concerns such as poverty, health, education, environment, NGO corporate engagement and gender equality and make links to the vital role of NGOs in these areas.

This unit targets social workers and other human service professionals who are thinking about moving into leadership and management positions. It will aim to help practitioners identify the skill sets that are needed to make this transition effectively. The course will also aim to encourage reflection and understanding of individual leadership styles and abilities and how they may be used effectively within their organisation context. The content will be based on in depth understandings of professional practice and the desire to identify career opportunities that are compatible with both professional goals and those developed as part of organisational career development plans

This unit of study is designed to provide students with the opportunity to undertake in-depth, guided study with a supervisor. Students must initially develop a short proposal and discuss this with the unit coordinator. A suitable supervisor will then be appointed to work intensively with students, providing the opportunity to explore up-to-date Australian and international literature on theoretical and practice issues of interest to the student. Approval from coordinator is required prior to enrolling in this unit.

This unit enables students to demonstrate their learning across all MSW (Q) units and contribute to knowledge building and practice in the profession. Material will be of a standard for publication and dissemination through conferences, journals and other professional fora.