Units
Health, Wellbeing and the Human Condition
Unit code: SWN005
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit considers the contested and changing understandings of human well being across the life cycle. Key aspects of wellness and health are examined for their impact on individuals, groups, and community well being. It explores selected psycho‐social theories and looks at their utility for social work practice
particularly in relation to mental health, child and family welfare, and disability services. The unit views health and wellbeing from a holistic perspective, and critiques the dominant bio‐medical model and challenges perceptions that quality of life is determined merely by acquisition and consumption.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
The AASW Practice Standards require that all Social Workers will have as a core value, commitment to the enhancement of the quality of life and development of the full potential of each individual, family, group and community in society. This unit engages with the knowledge required of human development and quality of life so that students can analyse and process this core value and act accordingly. Social Workers represent a strategic part of the health system workforce, and this unit addresses core knowledge and skills required to be effective practitioners in this context.
Aims
This unit aims to provide theoretical understanding, fundamental information and critical tools essential for informed professional practice with clients from diverse backgrounds.
Objectives
On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Critically analyse the social determinants of health and wellbeing and be able to specify an appropriate set of health improvement strategies responsive to those determinants
2. Apply and evaluate knowledge and skills relevant to the practice of Social Workers employed within the health system.
3. Utilise theoretical frameworks to inform social work practice in relation to a range of context areas relevant to health and wellbeing
4. Evaluate and apply knowledge and skills relevant to the complex needs of culturally diverse clients
5. Integrate concepts of quality of life with social work core values regarding social justice and ethical practice.
Content
The unit will provide a strong grounding in the following areas:
- social determinants of health and wellbeing
- prevention, early intervention and therapeutic intervention
- roles of social workers in the health system
- social work practice within a multidisciplinary health context
- theories and skills relevant to health social work practice
- psychosocial assessment
- mental health
- drug and alcohol use
- disability
- chronic health conditions
- trauma
- health consumer perspectives
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
- health within culturally and linguistically diverse contexts
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The unit uses a purposely constructed blended environment integrating virtual and campus learning and teaching. Students will engage in weekly on-line lectures and tutorials. In addition, a small number of on campus sessions will be provided to support development of skills.
Assessment
Written and oral formative and summative feedback will be provided prior to and following assessment submission.
Assessment name:
Project (Group)
Description:
Working in small groups students will undertake the preparation of a detailed submission to a commonwealth ministerial taskforce advocating a strategy for health improvement for a particular client group.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
Week 13
Assessment name:
Literature Review
Description:
This assessment item involves preparation of a literature review on an aspect of the group project.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3, 4, & 5.
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
week 5
Assessment name:
On-line tutorial engagement
Description:
On-line self-paced tutorials are available on the unit blackboard site spanning a wide cross section of relevant content areas. Evidence of your engagement with these tutorials via Blackboard will be used as the basis for this assessment.
Weekly contributions throughout the semester.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3, 4, & 5.
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
weekly
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
Recommended texts:
Baum, F (2007) Cracking the nut of health equity: top down and bottom up pressure Promotion and Education 14(2) 90-95
Germov, J., (2008) (ed) Second Opinion: An Introduction to Health Sociology (5th ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Harms, Louise. (2006) Understanding human development: a multidimensional approach South Melbourne, Vic. : Oxford University Press.
Whiteside, M (2004) The challenge of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the social determinants Australian Social Work(0312-407X), 57 (4), 381-393
ABC Health and Wellbeing Podcasts http://www.abc.net.au/health/subscribe/
Web based resources:
Students will have access to Databases including Social Work Abstracts, Australian Public Affairs, Family and Society Plus, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts.
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: 25-Mar-2013
