Understanding and Responding to Interpersonal Violence unit (CPS103)

Online

Introduction

In this unit you will examine interpersonal violence as a complex public health and safety issue across individual, relational, community, organisational and systemic levels. You will explore forms of interpersonal violence such as family violence, sexual violence, child abuse, elder abuse and other forms of harm, with a focus on how public health and safety agencies understand, respond to and seek to prevent violence.

You will critically examine the ethical challenges involved in responding to interpersonal violence. Through a public health lens, you will explore issues such as victim safety, perpetrator accountability, cultural responsiveness, barriers and enablers of disclosure, trauma-informed practice, and the potential for systems to cause further harm. Further, you will consider the role of police, health, emergency services, legal, social support and community organisations, highlighting the need for collaborative and prevention-focused approaches across the broad public health continuum, rather than isolated incident-based responses.

Through case studies and contemporary examples, you will analyse how organisational culture, policy, practice and interagency decision-making shape responses to interpersonal violence. The unit encourages students to apply ethical judgement when considering how public safety systems can better protect individuals and communities, support long-term health and wellbeing, and address the broader conditions that allow violence to occur.

Summary

Unit name	Understanding and Responding to Interpersonal Violence
Unit code	CPS103
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Health School of Paramedicine and Public Safety
Discipline	Policing and Emergency Management
Coordinator	Doctor Jess Woolley
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Introductory

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Online	Semester 1
Online	Semester 2
Online	Trimester

Note

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Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 2	05/07/2027	27/07/2027	30/08/2027	24/10/2027
Trimester	01/11/2027	23/11/2027	23/12/2027	13/02/2028
Semester 1	22/02/2027	16/03/2027	19/04/2027	13/06/2027

* 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 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Explain interpersonal violence as a public health issue, considering how social determinants of health shape the distribution of violence and influence public safety systems.
• Analyse how social determinants of health feature in patterns of interpersonal violence, vulnerability and harm.
• Critically evaluate prevention-focused, early intervention and interagency strategies' capacity to reduce interpersonal violence and how they fit in public safety and health systems.

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
061399	$1,235.00	$1,235.00	not applicable	$3,065.00

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

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 UniConnect 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.

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	1 x 1 hour lecture, weekly. 1 x 30 minutes discussion forums, weekly. 2 x 1 hour drop in sessions, per semester. 8 x hours of independent learning, weekly.
Assessment	Responding to scenarios (25%)|Practice analysis (35%)|Legislative Application + Ethical Tension Analysis (40%)
Timetable	View 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.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.