Units

---

Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit focuses on human services and social work with children and families with an emphasis on providing support and services to parents so that they are better able to identify and meet their children's needs. It introduces students to the history and current context of child and family welfare services in Australia, the theoretical bases for State intervention in family life and structural, relational and individual dimensions of family life and family adversity. Students will critically analyse several approaches relevant to work with children and families in need.

Aims

The unit aims to develop the following professional competencies and dispositions:

• to critically reflect on the influence of students' own experiences and values for practice, and


• to develop commitment to the dignity, value and uniqueness of individuals and communities and to enhancing the self-determination of individuals and communities.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of legislative, policy and service contexts for social work and human services practice with children and families, including past and current government and non-government child and family services in Australia (GV1 - 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7);


2. Demonstrate knowledge of children in the context of their families and communities, including a beginning knowledge of child development, children's rights, family process and the social construction of childhood (GV1 - 1.7, 1.8, 1.9; GV2 - 2.1);


3. Critically evaluate selected practice approaches work with children and families (GV1 - 1.9, GV3 - 3.1); and


4. Demonstrate beginning level skills for practice with children and families including the ability to reflect on values, attitudes and expectations in relation to family life, with particular reference to cultural and gender sensitivity (GV1 - 1.2, 1.9; GV2 - 2.1).

AASW Education and Accreditation Standards: 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1.1, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.4, 4.2.1, 4.2.2
AASW Practice Standards for Social Workers: 1.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.10, 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.9
AIWCW Competencies: 1.2, 1.6, 4.1, 4.4, 7.1, 7.2, 7.4

Content

Your learning in this unit begins with a consideration of a number of assumptions held about families, children and family life. This is followed by consideration of government and community responses to the needs of children and families, including Indigenous families. You will also study family forms and dynamics and theories that can assist understanding of parent-child relationships. Specific topics related to child wellbeing addressed include child maltreatment, domestic violence and the impacts of living in poverty. In the second part of the unit you will study the application of several intervention approaches to work with children and families.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit is conducted through weekly two hour lectures and one hour of group learning activities such as discussion, reflection on experience, practice skill development, case analysis, and small group work. Teaching approaches are designed to encourage and support active learning and the development of critical analysis. Reading, questioning, talking, listening, reflecting, writing and identifying and dealing with problems are integral activities in the learning process.

The Blackboard site offers a range of resources including lecture materials and tutorial activity sheets; Course Material Database of set readings as well as extension readings, additional readings for essays and past exam papers; links to government and community agency websites and study resources. Materials are provided as adjunct to attendance at lectures and tutorials. Students are advised to visit the notices pages at least once a week, preferably prior to the lecture.

Generic skills essential for effective study and work are also enhanced through an approach to teaching and learning that encourages the student:

• to become a more effective communicator, both orally and in written work, and


• to expand their ability to access and use a range of information sources to support informed decision-making.

Assessment

There are three assessment pieces overall and these include both formative and summative items. The tutorial exercises have been designed to be undertaken in the tutorials and handed in at the completion of the session, there will also be some that will be able to be undertaken online/off campus. The unit also has an exam at the end of the semester.Students will receive formative feedback for each of the tutorial exercises and essay through written comments. Formative and summative feedback will be provided throughout the semester.

Assessment name: Tutorial Exercises - various
Description: Notes and comments recorded during and/or at the end of activity sessions. These aim to demonstrate your skills for practice with children and families and to provide evidence of your ability to reflect on values, attitudes and expectations in relation to family life, with particular reference to cultural and gender sensitivity.
Relates to objectives: 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weeks 1-4 and 6-11

Assessment name: Essay
Description: This 1,000 word essay will reflect the understanding students have developed from the study of theories and practices relevant to contemporary services for Australian children and families. Your ability to seek out and critically evaluate current literature and to communicate their understandings in a written, academic format will also be evaluated.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 8

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: This centrally administered 2 hour short answer exam will assess your knowledge of material covered in lectures, tutorials and set readings, predominantly for the second part of the unit. A practice exam will be available to focus your revision.
Relates to objectives: 3, 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

The required text for the unit is:
Elliot, B., Mulroney, L., & O'Neil, D. (2000). Promoting family change: The optimism factor. St. Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin.

This text will mainly be used in the final part of the unit. Readings for the early weeks of the unit will be available via the Course Materials Database.

Risk assessment statement

It is not envisaged that this unit will involve any significant workplace health and safety issues.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 15-Nov-2012