Courses & Units

Contexts of Social Work Practice HGW308

Introduction

The unit focuses on key contexts of social work practice in the human services. By developing this understanding, you will gain knowledge of how you can practice effectively and influence these contexts to enhance outcomes for social work clients. Through a critical lens, you will examine ethical decision-making models, policy frameworks, legal and justice models and organisational theory. You will consider their relevance to contemporary human service organisations and for informing social work practice. Importantly, the unit emphasises lived experience and cultural diversity as key considerations for all practice contexts. This includes examining the need to decolonise institutional arrangements and on-the-ground practices using a diverse range of knowledge, including First Nations perspectives. Critical analysis and reflection is consistently used throughout the unit to challenge you to work respectfully with each other and in culturally relevant ways as a part of team projects. At all times, you are expected to demonstrate your commitment to professional standards that are presented in the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW) Practice Standards and the AASW Code of Ethics.

Summary

Unit name Contexts of Social Work Practice
Unit code HGW308
Credit points 12.5
College/School College of Arts, Law and Education
School of Social Sciences
Discipline Social Work
Coordinator Doctor Kate Vincent
Available as an elective? No
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Advanced

Availability

Location Study period Attendance options Available to
Hobart Semester 1 On-Campus International Domestic
Launceston Semester 1 On-Campus International Domestic
Cradle Coast Semester 1 On-Campus International Domestic

Key

On-campus
Off-Campus
International students
Domestic students
Note

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Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.

Key Dates

Study Period Start date Census date WW date End date
Semester 1 20/2/2023 21/3/2023 10/4/2023 28/5/2023

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2023 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2023 will be available from the 1st October 2022. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

  • Use the diverse range of lived experience knowledge for advocating reforms to discriminatory social policies, laws, service systems and service delivery methods.
  • Apply digital technology creatively, ethically and responsibly to progress the goals of social working all practice domains and settings.
  • Examine the foundations of relational and self-reflective practices that facilitate respectful access and application of culturally relevant knowledge in social work.
  • Examine the foundations of ethical decision-making by engaging in reflective practices that are culturally and professionally relevant.
  • Analyse experiences of ethical and moral dissonance that occur in organisational, policy and legal settings and consider their resolution.

Fee Information

Field of Education Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 Domestic Full Fee 4
090501 $1,892.00 $888.00 $1,037.00 $2,213.00

1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Prerequisites

100 credit points at Introductory level and 100 credit points at Intermediate level

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

Each week, you will complete an hour of online learning activities (including lectures, videos, podcasts and other activities). You will also have approximately one hour of prescribed reading to complete each week. In addition, you will attend weekly 2-hour face-to-face tutorials. In total, you will need to allow 8-10 hours per week to complete all of the learning and assessments for this unit, including independent study. There is an 80% attendance requirement to meet accreditation standards. 

AssessmentDevelop and respond to a social work ethical dilemma (30%)|Group class presentation and individual written summary of agency visit (30%)|Blog post of social policy analysis (40%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.

LinksBooktopia textbook finder

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