Course Title: Social Work Practice

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Social Work Practice

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

HWSS2091

City Campus

Undergraduate

330H Social Science & Planning

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006

HWSS2091

City Campus

Undergraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016,
Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

Course Coordinator: Christina David

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 39925 3137

Course Coordinator Email: christina.david@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: B8. L10

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Enforced Pre-Requisite Courses 
Successful completion of course 035665 HWSS2090 History & Trends Social Work

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course. 

For your information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage. 


Course Description

This course is designed to introduce you to the basic skills of social work practice. You will have the opportunity to develop confidence and skills in many basic social work tasks. You will gain an understanding of the micro-skills used in interviewing, and develop skills for engaging with others and to critically reflect on your own social work practice. You will be given an opportunity to learn and practice the skills needed to actively listen to what is being said, while being aware of and appreciating difference. 

You will also be introduced to a theoretical framework for gathering information and engaging in practice that recognises social disadvantage, oppression and its manifestation in attitudes such as ‘blaming the victim’. 

If you are enrolled in this course as a component of your Bachelor Honours Program, your overall mark will contribute to the calculation of the weighted average mark (WAM).  

See the WAM information web page for more information. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • apply a body of interdisciplinary knowledge, values and skills in working with and for society’s most vulnerable and marginalised individuals, families, groups and communities  
  • critically analyse, synthesise and reflect on issues of social disadvantage, marginalisation and oppression in both local and international contexts, and proactively work to promote social justice and human rights  
  • communicate using diverse formats and strategies to stakeholders within and external to your discipline 
  • work with others in a range of roles and contexts, demonstrating cultural, environmental and social awareness while promoting respectful, ethical and reflective practice  


Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:  
  1. Apply the knowledge and practice skills to work with and for society’s most vulnerable and marginalised individuals, families, groups and communities
  2. Analyse issues of social disadvantage, oppression and marginalisation from a socio-political and economic framework recognising the impact of capitalism on social relations
  3. Promote social justice and human rights within a global and international perspective
  4. Understand the strengths and limits of the state’s policy, legislative and institutional arrangements on the context and practices for addressing social disadvantage
  5. Acquire relevant interdisciplinary knowledge required for practice
  6. Apply their knowledge and practice skills in a manner that confronts structural disadvantage arising from cultural and religious difference, patriarchy, racism, disability, age and discrimination of the basis of sexual preference.
  7. Promote ethical, respectful, accountable and transparent practice processes


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities in this course may involve working in small groups, contributing to large group discussion and role plays. There will be extensive use of role plays and experiential learning designed to encourage you to actively engage with the skills, clarify personal values and viewpoints and un-pack the issues presented. This is a practice skills course and you are expected to attend both the lectures and workshops in order to develop your practice skills.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. There will be digitised readings and forms available for each week on the blackboard and you may be required to use a set text. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning. The University Library has extensive resources for social work students. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Assessments will include a critical self reflective task, a small group reflective analysis, and a recorded role play.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Critical self reflective journal submission, 25%, CLO 1,3, 5

Assessment Task 2: Small group reflective analysis, 25%, CLO 2, 3, 4, 6, 7

Assessment Task 3: Critical Reflection and Video Role Play, 50%, CLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.