Course Title: Implement community development strategies

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2015

Course Code: HWSS5693C

Course Title: Implement community development strategies

School: 365T Global, Urban & Social Studies

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5330 - Diploma of Community Services Work

Course Contact : Zaina Nehme

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4552

Course Contact Email:zainaindira.nehme@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Julian Silverman: +61 3 9925 4578

julian.silverman@rmit.edu.au


Anne Fitzpatrick: +61 3 9925 0329

anne.fitzpatrick@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 70

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

Not applicable.

Course Description

This course describes the knowledge and skills required to work with individuals, groups and the community to identify issues and develop cooperative processes to facilitate change. This course is intended for application within a community work or community development work context within the community services sector.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCCD514B Implement community development strategies

Element:

1. Work with individuals and groups to identify issues

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Use appropriate interpersonal skills with individuals and groups to ensure that their story is heard and understood and to test that there is common understanding
1.2 Respond to individual and group concerns in a manner which shows respect and a commitment to assist in their resolution
1.3 Provide appropriate referrals to assist in the resolution of issues
1.4 Identify and address barriers to moving private concerns into public action

Element:

2. Work with groups to establish cooperative processes

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Identify relevant models of work that may address group issues and needs
2.2 Identify and establish mechanisms and actions to address group issues and needs
2.3 Organise a range of opportunities to facilitate community participation
2.4 Establish common goals and coordinate strategies for a cooperative group process
2.5 Engage key stakeholders in planning, implementing and evaluating strategies for community empowerment and action
2.6 Address organisation's reporting requirements

Element:

3. Support group processes and skills development

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Identify and access available resources to facilitate successful group and community work strategies and activities
3.2 Assist in facilitation of effective group meetings and enhance outcomes
3.3 Support and maintain group processes to facilitate achievement of identified outcomes by the group
3.4 Monitor effectiveness of group processes and provide information to the group to enable improvement and change as required

Element:

4. Reflect on practice

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Reflect on own practice
4.2 Regularly participate in a review mechanism as a commitment to upgrading skills and knowledge
4.3 Work with group to regularly undertake review mechanisms
4.4 Work with group to reflect on group practice and processes


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.


Details of Learning Activities

The learning activities for this course will be supported and complemented by RMIT’s learning management tool "Blackboard". Other essential learning activities will take place during the workshops, and you will also be required to undertake independent studies. Some of the learning activities that you will undertake are: participating in group discussions, presentations from teaching staff and working individually and in small groups on discussing and learning to document a real or proposed community development project.


Teaching Schedule

This course has been grouped for delivery and is part of a cluster called: Working in Community. The other courses forming this cluster are: CHCLD514B Analyse impacts of sociological factors on clients, community work and services and CHCAD504B Provide advocacy and representation service.

Lesson
Topic
Content
1 Introduction to Sociology
  • An introduction to Sociological factors
2 Sociological Factors and impact on the community
  • Sociological factors in Australian society
  • Four Corners – On the brink video - Newstart and living in poverty
  • Impact of Sociological factors (e.g.: unemployment, housing, poverty)
  • Impact of sociological factors on the community
  • Impact of sociological factors on services
3 Introduction to models of community development: working with individuals and groups to identify collective issues
  • What is community development ?
  • Theories of community development
  • Key principles of community development
  • Planning a community development project
4 Working with community groups to establish collaborative processes
  • Developing a funding application:
  • Identifying relevant models of work that may address group issues and needs
  • Facilitating community participation
  • Engaging key stakeholders in planning, implementing and evaluating strategies for community empowerment and action
5 Strengthening community capacity and supporting group processes and skills development
  • Resourcing successful group and community work strategies and activities
  • Assisting in facilitation of effective group meetings to enhance outcomes
6 Reflect on our community development practice
  • Work with stakeholders and participants to monitor our community development practice
  • Work with stakeholders and participants to effectively evaluate our community development practice
7 Advocacy
  • What is advocacy?
  • Impacts of advocacy on the community
  • Planning a project with the community
  • Community consultation
  • Consulting with your organisation and local organisations to support the – developing partnerships
8 Community Development and Advocacy
  • Advocacy – understanding the issues impacting on the community and community services delivery, including policy development and – bringing about change to reflect the communities’ interests
  • Individual and systemic advocacy
9 Community Development and Advocacy
  • Working with local organisations and new
  • Representing the community, representing the organisation
10 In class assessment tasks  


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

No prescribed text required.


References


Other Resources

You will be provided with the resources and tools for learning in this course. These resources will also be available through Blackboard. You will also have access to the resources in the library.
 


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is based on completing a simulated funding application, community project meeting minutes and on completing a self-assessment of your ability to chair a meeting in a simulated community development workplace context.


Assessment Tasks

For this course you will be required to complete the following tasks:

Assessment task-Section one: Simulated funding application- Written responses to questions about your community development contained in a funding application including examples of relevant workplace documentation as specified.

Assessment task- Section two: Responding to a scenario- Conducting meetings with your (hypothetical) project team and documenting the process and outcomes in the form of meeting minutes Short answer written responses in the form of completed meeting minutes for one agenda item within the scenario

Assessment task -section three: Self assessment of your meeting chairing skills - Completion of a self-assessment of your ability to chair a simulated community development project planning meeting involving a range of stakeholders from community organisations


Assessment Matrix

This course is delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment, grades include:

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

Other Information

Assessment Tasks Submission Cover Sheet
You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work, including online submissions. This signed sheet acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.

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

Feedback
You will receive verbal and written feedback by teacher on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your competency. Information regarding student feedback can be found at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=9pp3ic9obks7

Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. The Student progress policy can be found at:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=vj2g89cve4uj1

Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. Information regarding application for special consideration can be found at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. For more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity Web site: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kw02ylsd8z3n
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview