Units
Political Economy and Policy Making
Unit code: SWN003
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit recognizes the importance of political and economic factors for professional practitioners in
the human service and social welfare sector. It describes and analyses the fundamentals of the
Australian political system including the Parliamentary structures and law making processes at different
levels of government. It explores the ‘real politik’ of political parties and vested interest groups in the
political process giving particular attention to the development of policy. It provides an overview of
public sector policy making process including the budgetary procedure. The unit encourages students to
be active actors in relevant political / economic processes.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Summer-2 | Yes |
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
| 2013 Summer | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Social workers must have a thorough appreciation of the forces which infuence and change society. This unit introduces the Australian political and economic systems and examines their influence on the social welfare sector and social work practice. It links political and economic forces to issues and values at the core of social work namely respect for human rights and human dignity, social justice, disadvantage, marginalisation, exclusion and discrimination. It contends that social workers must be actively engaged in broad political and economic policy debates which impact the wellbeing of individuals, families, groups and communities. It requires students to apply knowledge of political and economic systems into social activism.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to immerse students into the Australian political and economic systems, the structure and processes of government, the nature of the political policy process and to illustrate the importance of the politico-economic domain for professional practice and social activism.
Objectives
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Critically analyse the foundation, principles, structures, machinery and processes of the Australian political and governmental systems
- Scrutinise the relevance of Federal and State government political and budgetary process for social work practice
- Interrogate the relationship between significant vested interest groups and government decision making
- Apply high level research, analytical and collaborative skills to a contemporary social issue.
AASW Education and Accreditation Standards - 3.3; 4.2; 4.1.2; 4.1.6; 4.1.5;
AASW Practice Standards for Social Workers - 2.1; 2.3; 2.5; 3.1; 3.10; 4.3; 4.4; 4.5; 4.8; 4.9; 4.10
Content
This unit covers the following:
- the politics of social activism
- foundation, structure, processes, machinery and principles of government
- trends in governance arrangements
- political parties - structure, formal and informal decision making processes
- vested interest groups - role, pressure and influence
- the fourth estate - the media in political activism
- the bureaucracy - role in policy and political decision making
- budgets, economics and activists - no money no deal
- activism as a collaborative enterprise
- ICT tools for social activism.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The unit uses a purposely constructed blended environment integrating virtual and campus learning and teaching. With the support of teaching staff, students are required to work collaboratively with a small group of colleagues on a mutually agreed contemporary social issue. Students are expected to actively contribute to research, analysis and collaborative activities that mirror the real world of political and social activism. Learning will be enhanced by interaction with relevant agencies/persons in the broader social/political community. Students are expected to utilize a range of web-based interactive communication technologies to enhance internal group collaboration and interaction with relevant community sources. Students are required to maintain a strong current affairs watch and contribute to Blog discussions.
Assessment
This unit contains assessment items which link theory with the contemporary understanding and practice of social work and human services. There is a particular emphasis on ensuring the relevance of assessment to learning, practice and real world challenges and contemporary issues. The individual items of assessment are detailed below.You will be provided with formative and summative feedback on the various items of assessment. You will be able to incorporate constructive feedback into your assessment as the semester progresses. Further details on feedback will be provided at the commencement of the semester.
Assessment name:
Blog Contributions & Viva Voce
Description:
Written Blog Contributions and Viva Voce.
Students are assessed on knowledge of the foundations, principles, structures, machinery and processes of the Australian political and governmental systems through a critical analysis of a selected contemporary political issue. Students are required to write approximately 2000 words through contributions to two Unit contemporary affairs blogs and two public blogs or other agreed public forums. Students will then be tested on their knowledge through a viva voce.
This item is summative. Generic feedback and support will be provided by advice on the relevant Blogs
Due date: Vive Voce in final two weeks of semester.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3 and 4
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
External
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Throughout semester
Assessment name:
Project (research)
Description:
Students are required to work collaboratively on a selected contemporary social issue. The project work will include research, analysis, collaboration, the writing of a group summary professional report and a presentation by virtual or on-campus mode. [Note: Where possible the summary reports will be a submission to government consultations on social policy issues].
This item is summative. Specific feedback will be provided to each group as the project progresses.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3 and 4
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
Week 13
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
Students will have access to the unit Blackboard site which contains a wide range of contemporary information sources, relevant electronic databases and online sources related to Parliament, government, political parties, interest groups and media websites.
Students taking this unit are strongly advised to take a deep interest in current affairs particularly by listening to:
ABC Radio programs such as AM, The World at Midday, PM
Relevant Podcasts from Radio National at:
There are excellent current affairs programs on ABC and SBS TV including I View at :
Students should examine the official web sites of major political parties [
It is useful to look at the work of some policy / advocacy community organisations such as the Australian Council of Social Services at:
Suggested texts for reference:
Mendes, P. (2008). Australia's welfare wars revisited: The players, the politics and the ideologies (Rev. ed.). Sydney, NSW: University of New South Wales Press.
Sawer, M. Abojorensen, N. & Larkin, P. (2009). Australia: The State of Democracy. Sydney: Federation Press.
Vromen, A., Gelber, K., Gauja, A., & Katauskas, F. (2009). Powerscape: Contemporary Australian politics (2nd ed.). Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
Risk assessment statement
There are no particular risks associated with this unit.
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: 14-Dec-2012
