Recommended Study Sequence

This unit aims to promote an understanding of the theory and practice in the human services. Students will be provided with a critical analysis of the position of disadvantaged groups within their social, political, economic, historical and cultural context. This unit will provide an overview of social work; youth work; community welfare work and international social development.

This unit introduces students to the central concepts, theories and methodologies of sociology, and demonstrates the ways in which sociological thought contributes to a systematic and critical understanding of contemporary society. The unit draws upon case studies from Australia and other societies.

This unit familiarises commencing students with the institutions and ideas underlying and informing social policy in contemporary Australia, with particular emphasis on Australian social, economic and political culture and institutions. There is a particular emphasis on social change and the ways in which change comes about. It prepares students for further study of specific social and economic institutions and policy.

This unit aims to prepare students for work in community welfare, social work, international social development and youth work by equipping them with a wide variety of skills necessary for a range of intervention strategies. Given the breadth of this unit, the knowledge and skills will be covered at a baseline or foundation level. Later units will build on the level of skills covered in this unit. There are two components to the unit - interpersonal skills and computing skills. Both must be completed satisfactorily to pass the unit. Students need to demonstrate that they have satisfactory competencies in spoken and written English and basic computing skills in order to pass this unit and progress in their award.

This unit introduces some of the core concepts, models, theories and methods of inquiry in psychology as they apply to health. Assumptions of human behaviour are examined, showing how these assumptions form the four foundational models of psychology. Those models being psychobiological, learning, cognitive and social. The application of these models to issues of development, personality, motivation and clinical applications allows students to address health topics such as stress, resilience and coping, smoking, eating disorders, disability and health practices.

This unit introduces theories and skills in community work and community development. Students will develop an understanding of the breadth and scope of community work at a local, state and global level. Students will critically analyse political, economic and cultural issues in community development practice.

This is an introductory unit that builds upon 400188 Introduction to Welfare and 400504 Skills Development in the Human Services. It examines underlying theories of social welfare work, community work, youth work and international social development. Students will explore the ideological underpinnings of theories and discourses in the human services and social action. The contribution of other disciplines to knowledge and practice in these vocational areas will also be examined. Students will develop more advanced skills in working with individuals (casework) and working with groups.

This unit integrates knowledge of the processes of human development with understanding and awareness of the influences of the social context and human services policies and practices. This learning experience enhances understanding and skill acquisition in practice units and placements. Major approaches to describing and understanding human development are critically reviewed. Gender, class and cultural issues are considered. Contemporary age-related issues and problems such as youth unemployment, economic stresses on families, retirement, poverty and the aged are discussed.

This unit introduces students to the concept of social research (broadly defined) and to the problematic relationship between research and policy and equips them with some basic research skills required to work in a welfare context.

This unit introduces students to the theories and practice related to social work with individuals and families in diverse practice contexts. It builds on knowledge gained through the pre-requisite units. Students examine systems theory in relation to family work, and the contributions of feminist therapies and psychological themes. Relevant clinical and social issues such as cross-cultural casework, the impact of the stolen generation on indigenous people's access to social services, and working effectively with grief and loss are examined. This unit assists in preparing students for their first or second fieldwork placement.

This unit aims to provide knowledge of human rights issues and laws which are particularly relevant to social workers, youth workers and community welfare workers. It provides an opportunity for students to reflect upon their powers, responsibilities and obligations in their professional roles and acquire skills to promote justice for disadvantaged individuals and groups through advocacy and law reform.

In this unit students develop knowledge of group work theory and practice skills. Students develop skills in teamwork, effective participation in meetings and collaboration with colleagues. Effective facilitation of groups providing social support, therapeutic, psycho-educational and social action interventions are examined. Integration of theory and practice is developed through the use of role plays, planning and evaluation of group programs. Students are encouraged to develop critical perspectives on group work practice through awareness of factors such as cross cultural communication, gender, socio-economic class and power relations on group dynamics.

This unit aims to further inform and develop understanding of persons-in-context by focussing critically and in depth on psychological thought and knowledge relevant to social work. It argues that the most complete understanding of individual and interpersonal experience and behaviour can be achieved by being cognisant of the interaction of biological, psychological, interpersonal, reference group and societal influences. The experiencing, meaning-making, interacting self is introduced as the integrating dimension.

This unit examines what social policy is and explores models of policy development, with a focus on Australian case studies. It looks at input into the policy process and the impact of government and organisational structures on this process.

This unit enables students to participate in a structured and supervised field experience. The broad aim of this unit is to provide students with the opportunity to extend their knowledge and experience in linking theory with the realities of practice and extend their skills for social work practice. Students will be able to choose placements in direct service work, the community and organisational context of social work practice as well as community development and research. A variety of social work and related agencies in and around Sydney will be utilised. The Field Education Coordinator will be responsible for the selection and arrangement of placements according to AASW guidelines.

This unit builds on the pre-requisite unit through examining the nature of research as a mode of social practice. It critically examines the type of research carried-out in a range of social work settings, from small community groups to learge government departments. These include needs analysis, program evaluation, and action research. Issues relating to gender, class, disability and race are examined by looking at specific examples of the ways research are carried out on, rather than by particular communities such as Aboriginal communities. The consequent impact on social policy and service provision is also addressed.

In this unit we will critically examine sociological perspectives on the family, building on the approaches and theories introduced to you in your first semester of sociology study. The familiarity of family life will be thrown into question and students will be asked to examine their beliefs, decode the meaning, and discard the myths of the ‘naturalness’ of family life. The family will be viewed as part of the wider social structure, its constitution shaped by history, economic factors, and cultural systems. The unit will primarily focus on Australia, but we will also consider material from other Western and non-Western societies in order to demonstrate the historical specificity of the nuclear family and the many different forms of the family as they occur in different cultural contexts.

This unit focuses on health services as a major area in which to consider social policy and organisational issues relating to service delivery. A key area for the employment of social workers, examination of the health services provides a useful example for understanding the questions and issues to consider in understanding the development and implementation of policy into other areas.

The welfare state has been a key feature of industrialised capitalist societies for more than 50 years. Yet today, profound social, political and economic challenges threaten the continuation of state intervention in health, education, social welfare, and in economic development more generally. This unit examines historical and contemporary economic theories, which firstly encouraged governments to pursue social equity objectives, and now see them retreating from this role. Using a political economy framework, this unit provides an understanding of the complex of local and international factors influencing the provision of social services and the development of welfare state institutions.

This unit enables students to participate in a structured and supervised field experience. The broad aim of this unit is to provide students with the opportunity to extend their knowledge and experience in linking theory with the realities of practice and extend their skills for social work practice. Students will be able to choose placements in direct service work, the community and organisational context of social work practice as well as community development and research. A variety of social work and related agencies in and around Sydney will be utilised. The Field Education Coordinator will be responsible for the selection and arrangement of placements according to AASW guidelines.

This unit extends students practical and theoretical application of critical social work practice as used in direct service fields of practice. The unit examines a variety of critical principles and process including, reflexiveness, reflexivity and positioning personal troubles in a wider context. A focus on direct practice including casework, family and group work extends student skills in these areas.

This unit is designed to support the process of completion of an honours degree and the production of an honours thesis. It is only available to students who have been accepted into the honours programmes for the following Bachelors degrees – Aboriginal Studies, Adult Education, Community Welfare, Health Science, Policing and Social Science. It is delivered in three main components – workshops and seminars, topics in research and theory and a mini-conference

This unit is designed to support the process of completion of an honours degree and the production of an honours thesis. It is only available to students who have been accepted into the honours programmes for the following Bachelors degrees – Aboriginal Studies, Adult Education, Community Welfare, Health Science, Policing and Social Science. It is delivered in three main components – workshops and seminars, topics in research and theory and a mini-conference

In this unit we will critically examine sociological perspectives on the family, building on the approaches and theories introduced to you in your first semester of sociology study. The familiarity of family life will be thrown into question and students will be asked to examine their beliefs, decode the meaning, and discard the myths of the ‘naturalness’ of family life. The family will be viewed as part of the wider social structure, its constitution shaped by history, economic factors, and cultural systems. The unit will primarily focus on Australia, but we will also consider material from other Western and non-Western societies in order to demonstrate the historical specificity of the nuclear family and the many different forms of the family as they occur in different cultural contexts.

This unit focuses on health services as a major area in which to consider social policy and organisational issues relating to service delivery. A key area for the employment of social workers, examination of the health services provides a useful example for understanding the questions and issues to consider in understanding the development and implementation of policy into other areas.

The welfare state has been a key feature of industrialised capitalist societies for more than 50 years. Yet today, profound social, political and economic challenges threaten the continuation of state intervention in health, education, social welfare, and in economic development more generally. This unit examines historical and contemporary economic theories, which firstly encouraged governments to pursue social equity objectives, and now see them retreating from this role. Using a political economy framework, this unit provides an understanding of the complex of local and international factors influencing the provision of social services and the development of welfare state institutions.

This unit introduces social work students to the ethical justifications of their practice. It is comprised of three parts: an introduction to normative ethics; grounding in contemporary political philosophy; and an exploration of the relationship of moral and political philosophy to the commitments and ethics of the social work profession. This unit encompasses instruction in aspects of basic moral theory, such as teleology and deontology; issues such as cultural relativism and gender; and the relation of moral justifications to social work.

This unit examines various ideologies that inform social and political analysis and identify the underlying philosophies. Philosophies such as liberalism, socialism, feminism, anti-racism and their explanation for social problems and prescriptions for social change are examined in relation to the methods of social work practice. Social work practice is not a neutral activity arising from an objective viewpoint but is inextricably bound to varying ideologies and propositions that are concerned with human conduct that takes place in both personal and social terms.

This unit extends students practical and theoretical application of critical social work practice as used in direct service fields of practice. The unit examines a variety of critical principles and process including, reflexiveness, reflexivity and positioning personal troubles in a wider context. A focus on direct practice including casework, family and group work extends student skills in these areas.

This unit extends students practical and theoretical application of critical social work practice as used in indirect fields of practice. The unit examines a variety of critical principles and process including, reflexiveness, reflexivity and positioning personal troubles in a wider context. A focus on indirect practice including policy, research and some community development activity extends student skills in these areas.

This unit builds on material presented in previous social work core units and examines the evolution of government and non-government welfare service delivery generally, and in Australia specifically. The major debates about public versus private provision of welfare service are a focus for discussion in relation to the roles of social workers.

This unit is the second and final social work placement and will consolidate experiences gained from Field Education 1. This unit consists of 600 hours of supervised practice in a variety of social work and related agencies. The aim of this unit is to extend students ability to link social work theory with practice and practice with theory at a more advanced level. Students will be able to choose placements in direct service work, community and organisational context of social work practice as well as community development, research and social; policy. A critical framework for understanding social work practice will be utilised.

This unit examines various ideologies that inform social and political analysis and identify the underlying philosophies. Philosophies such as liberalism, socialism, feminism, anti-racism and their explanation for social problems and prescriptions for social change are examined in relation to the methods of social work practice. Social work practice is not a neutral activity arising from an objective viewpoint but is inextricably bound to varying ideologies and propositions that are concerned with human conduct that takes place in both personal and social terms.

This unit comprises one part of the Honours programme in the Bachelor of Social Work. To qualify for the Honours programme students must have achieved a credit (or above) average in the first three years of their BSW course. In this stage of their Honours programme students will undertake the analysis of a body of research data and the writing of an academic thesis under the supervision of an academic supervisor.

This unit comprises one part of the Honours programme in the Bachelor of Social Work. To qualify for the Honours programme students must have achieved a credit (or above) average in the first three years of their BSW course. In this stage of their Honours programme students will undertake the analysis of a body of research data and the writing of an academic thesis under the supervision of an academic supervisor.

This unit is the second and final social work placement and will consolidate experiences gained from Field Education 1. This unit consists of 600 hours of supervised practice in a variety of social work and related agencies. The aim of this unit is to extend students ability to link social work theory with practice and practice with theory at a more advanced level. Students will be able to choose placements in direct service work, community and organisational context of social work practice as well as community development, research and social; policy. A critical framework for understanding social work practice will be utilised.