Theorising Social Work Practice unit (HGW512)

Introduction

This unit explores how contemporary social work ways of thinking define, shape, and inform social work practice. Historical and contemporary social work theories are examined, including multiple ways of theorising practice, such as First Nations knowledges, the history of knowledge development, and social work ethics and values. This will provide an important foundation for grounding your emerging framework for practice. 

In this unit, we ask you to be prepared to DISCOVER, THINK and SYNTHESISE. You will discover a range of ideas to think about practice (theorise) and consider what informs your practice (synthesise) your practice for now. We work on the assumption that this process is iterative and lifelong so that your framework for practice will evolve, grow, and change as the context in which we live does so also.  

This unit prepares you for Social Work Practicum 1 by supporting you in developing theoretical foundations for social work practice. The learning and teaching activities and assessment tasks in this unit will guide you in developing a framework for social work practice that is cognisant of regenerative ways of thinking, able to evolve and grow as you proceed through your life as a social worker and is congruent with decolonisation efforts, social justice, human and non-human rights. 

Summary

Unit name	Theorising Social Work Practice
Unit code	HGW512
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Health Social Work Program
Discipline	Social Work
Coordinator	Doctor Tina Kostecki
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Postgraduate

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Learning Outcomes

• Identify and critique the intersection of values, and theories, and their application in practice to consider how they support decolonisation efforts, social justice, human and non-human rights and contribute to transformative actions and strategies in practice, organisational and policy settings.
• Develop a theoretically informed social work framework drawing on relevant values, theories and skills that demonstrates how social workers can respond to oppressive and exploitative historical, cultural, social, geographic, economic, and political contexts.
• Apply and evaluate a theoretically informed and ethical practice framework to a social work assessment that supports achieving socially just change in the lives of people, communities, and institutions.
• Demonstrate and appraise the qualities of a critically reflective social worker by critically evaluating how your framework for practice enables or hinders social work ethics, values, and decolonisation efforts.

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	You will complete one hour of online learning activities (including lectures, videos, podcasts, and other activities) and approximately one hour of required reading per week. You will also attend two hours weekly on-campus tutorials.
Assessment	Weekly Journal (20%)|Case Study (40%)|Professional Practice Framework (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	All readings will be available via the Reading List link in MyLO or the unit Reading List on the University Library website
Recommended	All readings will be available via the Reading List link in MyLO or the unit Reading List on the University Library website

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