Course Title: Interpret and use legal information

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2017

Course Code: HWSS6122C

Course Title: Interpret and use legal information

School: 365T Global, Urban and Social Studies

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5360 - Diploma of Financial Counselling

Course Contact: Jo Wallwork

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 3983

Course Contact Email: mary-josephine.wallwork@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 65

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None.

Course Description

Course Description

This course describes the skills and knowledge required to assess and respond to the immediate and ongoing needs of clients in the context of a strengths-based and client-focused financial counselling model.

This course is clustered with four (4) other courses:

  • CHCFIN001 Facilitate the financial counselling process
  • CHCFIN002 Identify and apply technical information to assist clients with financial issues
  • CHCFIN003 Develop and use financial counselling tools and techniques
  • CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice

These five courses are delivered and assessed together.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCLEG002 Interpret and use legal information

Element:

E1. Identify legislative framework

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Identify legislation that applies to the situation based on client or broader work needs

1.2 Investigate the scope and coverage of the legislation and its relevance to the situation

1.3 Correctly interpret terms and definitions in the legislation

1.4 Seek assistance or clarification from relevant personnel or experts

Element:

E2. Interpret legislative provisions and regulations

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Research legislation and its provisions that apply to the situation

2.2 Correctly interpret the detail of provisions within scope of own role

2.3 Extract and distil information relevant to the situation

2.4 Clearly and accurately document information

Element:

E3. Use legal information

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Summarise and present relevant legal information in a way that is suited to the client or other audience

3.2 Analyse how legal provisions directly link to the situation

3.3 Identify and respond to challenges presented by the situation and associated legal information

3.4 Clearly communicate options for action and possible outcomes

3.5 Identify situations where referral to legal experts is required and take action accordingly

3.6 Take action that supports achievement of the best possible outcome

Element:

E4. Maintain knowledge of legal information

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Identify and use opportunities to maintain knowledge of current and emerging legal information

4.2 Share updated knowledge and information with peers and colleagues

4.3 Pro-actively engage in process of review and improvement


Learning Outcomes


 

On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements. By applying these skills and this knowledge you will be able to analyse and use technical and legal information and develop the appropriate written tools and resources to assist individuals to understand their rights and make informed decisions about financial issues within the context of a strengths-based and client-focused financial counselling model.


Details of Learning Activities

 

In-class activities

  • Group discussion
  • Industry speakers
  • Teacher directed group activities/projects
  • Class exercises to review discussions/lectures

Out-of-class activities

  • Independent project-based work
  • Online and other research
  • Independent study


Teaching Schedule

 

Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.

Workshop

Content

1

 

Introduction to Financial Counselling

Consent

Ethical considerations

  • conflict of interest
  • appropriateness of FC for client, i.e., is client seeing the right person?
  • Introduce FCA Code of Ethical Conduct

Role – client’s expectations

Role & responsibilities of both client and FC

Referrals – (this will be picked up further and in other units)

Legal requirements – such as confidentiality

2

 

 

How to collect financial information and other relevant information

Examine and analyse information/client material

Contracts

Highlight important features of financial position

Assist client to identify areas for action

Client’ s legal rights and responsibilities

Assessing client’s issues

3

 

Options (including debt)

Documentation (legal)

Debt and debt recovery

Introduction: credit reporting

  • (students access own credit report)

consequences of options for clients  - credit report

4

 

Options

Action plans

How to identify the need for legal advice

5

 

Consumer Law  CALC

Options

Consumer protection and legal rights

6

 

Bankruptcy – AFSA

Debt agreements

Options/actions

7

 

Resources and Referral

  • Finding and managing resource
  • Appropriate ones for client (referrals)

Introduce Reflective practice

8

 

Credit Law – CALC

Case Studies and Assessment

9

 

National Hardship Register

FC to speak re grants/benevolent funds etc

Micro-finance: Good Shepherd to present re NILS, STEP UP, etc.

Courts Process – Small Claims: where do clients go/ who attends this/ Home repossession Court

Reflective practice

10

 Review of practices including reflection of placement and learning activities/case studies

11

 

Industry speakers –

  • debt
  • bankruptcy
  • options
  • complex cases

referrals

12

 Review of Workshop 2 (now with knowledge) including reflection of placement and learning activities/case studies – Day 1

13

 

Review

Final Role Play Assessment – bringing all parts together

Groups: FC/Client/Observer

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

RMIT will provide learning resources for this course.  Students are expected to use Blackboard to access learning resources and assessment material for this course.


Overview of Assessment

 

Overview of Assessment

Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through:

  • Case study scenarios and questions
  • Knowledge questions
  • Research projects
  • Simulated activities such as role play activities
  • the 220-hour work placement


Assessment Tasks

This course is assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment.

 

To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete the following assessment tasks to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher when you have completed the assessment tasks.

 

This course will be assessed through WIL placement as well as through the tasks detailed below.

 

You should refer to the assessment plan which is available on Blackboard for details of each assessment task and for detailed assessment criteria. The dates noted below are provisional and may be subject to change.

 

Assessment Task 1: Case study scenario and questions & written task

Due date: March 2017

Assessment Task 2: Case study scenario (financial assessment) & written questions

Due date: end of March 2017

Assessment Task 3: Case study scenarios and written questions

Due date: 15 May 2017

Assessment Task 4: Short answer questions & Case study scenarios

Due date: 30 June 2017

Assessment Task 5: Short answer questions & research report

Due date: 20 August 2017

Assessment Task 6: Group activity and Short answer questions

Due date: In-class 20 & 21 September 2017

Assessment Task 7: Role play (simulated financial counselling session)

Due date: In-class 1 & 2 November 2017

WIL Assessments will include: reflective journal,; third-party supervisor report; written report; oral questioning

Due date: after completion of work placement

 

Grades that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:

CA: Competency Achieved
NYC: Not Yet Competent
DNS: Did not Submit for Assessment


Assessment Matrix

 

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These matrices are available through BlackBoard.

Other Information

 

This is a Work Integrated Learning course in which you will complete a 220-hour placement in an organisation, undertaking the kinds of professional tasks you could expect in your work after graduation.

Police Check

You must obtain evidence of a satisfactory National Police Records Check before undertaking work placements and will need to pay the associated costs.

 

You may be required to obtain a satisfactory Working with Children Check at the request of their placement agency.

 

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: rmit.edu.au/students

Cover Sheet for Submissions
You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of work submitted in hardcopy. For every piece of work submitted online you will complete an e-Declaration. The signed cover sheet or e-Declaration acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.

 

Examples of other information that could be included in this section are listed below.  Please discuss with your Program Coordinator/Manager. Information needs to be consistent across the whole program.

 

Attendance
It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.


Applying for Special Consideration

If you are seeking an extension of more than seven calendar days (from the original due date) you must lodge an Application for Special Consideration form, preferably prior to, but no later than two working days after the official due date. Late applications will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances. For information about Special Consideration and how to apply, see: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration

 

Assessment Appeals

If you believe your assessment result or final result is wrong please contact the course coordinator and provide the reason why you think your result is incorrect. Valid reasons for seeking a review of results include:

  1. a) You believe an error has occurred in the calculation of the grade; or,
  2. b) You believe the assessment did not comply with criteria published in the Course Guide; or,
  3. c) You believe the assessment did not comply with University Policies on Assessment (i.e. an error in process has occurred).

Full details of the procedure (including appeals procedure) can be located at this RMIT site: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/policies/academic#assessment

 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship through respecting the work of others whilst having the freedom to build new insights, new knowledge and ideas. RMIT University upholds the values of academic integrity as fundamental to the scholarship undertaken by all members of its community. Whenever you refer to another person’s research or ideas (either by directly quoting or paraphrasing them) you must acknowledge your source.

If you are even in doubt about how to properly cite a reference, consult your lecturer or the academic integrity website: http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity

The RMIT library provides tools to assist with your referencing http://www1.rmit.edu.au/library/referencing

 

Plagiarism and Collusion

Plagiarism and collusion constitute extremely serious academic misconduct, and are forms of cheating. You are reminded that cheating, whether by fabrication, falsification of data, or plagiarism, is an offence subject to University disciplinary procedures. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data, and oral presentations. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. Plagiarism is not acceptable.

Examples of plagiarism include:

  • Copying sentences or paragraphs word-for-word from one or more sources, whether published or unpublished, which could include but is not limited to books, journals, reports, theses, websites, conference papers, course notes, etc. without proper citation;
  • Closely paraphrasing sentences, paragraphs, ideas or themes without proper citation;
  • Piecing together text from one or more sources and adding only linking sentences;
  • Copying or submitting whole or parts of computer files without acknowledging their source;
  • Copying designs or works of art and submitting them as your original work;
  • Copying a whole or any part of another student's work; and
  • Submitting work as your own that someone else has done for you.
  • Enabling Plagiarism: the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work is also an offence.

For further information, please see the RMIT Plagiarism Policy –  http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=sg4yfqzod48g1 (unresolved) – and the RMIT Student Conduct Regulations – http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=r7a7an6qug93

 

Plagiarism Software

The originality verification software Turnitin may be used in this course. For details, see: http://www.turnitin.com

 

Complaints Procedure:

RMIT University is committed to providing a harmonious study and work environment for all students and staff. The University recognises your right to raise concerns about academic, administrative or support services without recrimination and has policies and procedures to assist in the resolution of complaints.

Most issues are resolved at the local level and you are encouraged to take steps to resolve your issue locally. The student complaint procedure details steps to take if your problem is not resolved or you believe the response you received is unreasonable.

Student Complaints Policy: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/policies/studentcomplaintspolicy

Student complaints Procedure: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=i1lexipvjt22

Student Complaints Form: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/v4ujvmyojugxz.pdf

 

Working with Children Check – This course requires a Working with Children Check

Police Check – This course requires a satisfactory police check

 

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview