Responding to Violence, Abuse and Trauma unit (HGW631)

Cradle Coast, Hobart, Launceston

Introduction

This unit critically examines violence against women as a pervasive social and structural issue, preparing you to respond effectively across diverse practice settings. You will examine the gendered nature of violence against women and their diversity of experiences including the ways it is often misunderstood or hidden. Drawing on feminist and intersectional scholarship, you will analyse the prevalence, causes and impacts of violence against women in Australia. You will explore how gendered power relations and oppression operate at micro, meso, and macro levels to shape women’s and children’s experiences of harm and safety. You will critically examine theories, research evidence, policy frameworks and service responses, identifying where they support women's safety and where gaps, exclusions or harms may occur. In line with social work professional ethics you will learn how to undertake effective safety planning and how to advocate for systemic change.

Summary

Unit name	Responding to Violence, Abuse and Trauma
Unit code	HGW631
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Health Social Work Program
Discipline	Social Work
Coordinator	Doctor Bethany Wilkinson
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Postgraduate

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Cradle Coast	Semester 1
Hobart	Semester 1
Launceston	Semester 1

Note

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Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
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

• Critically analyse violence against women as a gendered and structural social phenomenon within Australian contexts to develop a position on their implications for social work practice and service responses.
• Evaluate complex and changing safety and risk dynamics for women and children experiencing male violence to develop interventions addressing the women and children’s wellbeing across micro, meso and macro spheres.
• Synthesise feminist theories and trauma-informed frameworks to develop responses to complex practice situations involving women and children experiencing male violence.
• Critically evaluate professional judgements about responses to complex circumstances affecting women and children experiencing male violence to inform decisions about safe and responsive practice.

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	$2,253.00	$1,057.00	$1,235.00

• 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.

Requisites

Prerequisites

HGW505, HGW512, HGW516, HGW527

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Weekly - 8 hours of online learning activities including readings. Weekly - 2-hour face-to-face skills lab
Assessment	Critical analysis of Violence Against Women (30%)|Critically Reflexive Practice (35%)|Safety Plan (35%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

All readings will be available via the units Reading List. The Reading List has been structured into weekly sections for ease of use.¿ You will need regular access to the following texts: Walsh, D., 2018, Working with Domestic Violence: Contexts and Frameworks for Practice, Routledge. Maidment, J., Egan, R., Tudor, R., & Nippress, S., (Eds), 2023, Practice Skills in Social Work and Welfare, Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

Recommended

All recommended readings will be available via the units Reading List. It is recommended your regularly consult the following texts: Rothschild, B., 2017, The Body Remembers: Revolutionizing Trauma Treatment, WW Norton & Company, New York. Featherstone, B., Gupta, A., Morris, K., & White, S., 2018, Protecting Children: a Social Model, Policy Press, UK.

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