Course Title: Analyse impacts of sociological factors on clients in community work and services
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2015
Course Code: HUSO5213C
Course Title: Analyse impacts of sociological factors on clients in community work and services
School: 365T Global, Urban and Social Studies
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5331 - Diploma of Youth Work
Course Contact: Dianne Mackay
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4454
Course Contact Email: dianne.mackay@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Anne Fitzpatrick
9925 0329
Monday - Friday 9 - 5 pm
Nominal Hours: 100
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
In this course you will develop the skills and knowledge required to better understand client groups and the issues that impact on their lives. This understanding will enable you to function independently and to plan and undertake community work and associated services. You will focus on the broad social and cultural context in which work is planned and implemented in the community services industry.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CHCDEV002 Analyse impacts of sociological factors on clients in community work and services |
Element: |
1. Identify social and cultural issues impacting on clients in Australian society |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Identify major social and cultural institutions in Australian society and their societal functions |
Element: |
2. Analyse impacts of social and cultural factors on clients |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Use available information to identify and analyse social and cultural factors impacting on individual clients, groups or communities |
Element: |
3. Monitor impact of social and cultural factors on community work and services provided to clients |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Monitor impact of work undertaken and/or services provided to clients, in line with scope of own work role and organisational policies and procedures |
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 include the following:
- class discussions
- case study analysis
- group work
- media clips
- reading of texts
Teaching Schedule
The teaching schedule for this course is as follows:
Week 1 Sociological factors in Australian society
- Identifying social issues in Australian society
- Why study sociology?
- Social issues impacting on young people and their families
- What do people say are the causes of social issues?
- What impact does public opinion on the social issues have on young people and families who are experiencing social disadvantage?
- Impacts of social issues on the health and well being of young people and their families
- Impacts of social and cultural institutions – family, law and religion
- How does social theory explain:
- Social inequality, and
- Ways of addressing social inequality through government and economic policies
- Compare a social justice approach and an economic rationalist approach to addressing social issues
Week 2 Skills and knowledge for providing youth work services to address social issues; Evaluation of access to youth services in Victoria and strategies to evaluate service provision with young people
- Social inequality in Australia
- Poverty and unemployment – facts and impacts
- Social determinants of health
- Young people’s evaluation of the issues impacting on their lives – Mission Australia report
- Attitudes to social inequality in Australia
- Impacts of social stereotypes on young people
- Youth services available to young people in Victoria for recreation and to address social issues – Building the Scaffolding – Youth Affairs Victoria and Victorian Council of Social Services
- Analyse access to services for access to young people in different parts of Victoria and the barriers faced by young people in some areas
- Skills for the youth worker to provide services, information and support
- Consulting young people about their needs and interests
- Addressing cultural diversity
- Complying with organisational policies and procedures
- Strategies for evaluating the effective needs of services with young people
- Strategies to revise services provided to young people based on feedback
- Referring young people to specialist services – skills and knowledge
- Services gaps and impacts on young people
Week 3 Identifying social and cultural issues and youth work agencies in your work placement
In this session students will undertake a research project in a computer lab to compile a community profile and availability of community services in the area where they are doing work placement
- Identify the social issues impacting on young people and their families in the local government area where you are doing placement (you can access a copy of your local government ‘Health and Well Being report from the Internet)
- Identify the social issues impacting on the community by looking at demographic data available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics available on the Internet
- Identify the family structures, religion and cultural background of the community where you are doing field placement
- Identify the services provided by the community organisation where you are doing field placement
- Identify the gaps in services that address social issues by comparing the services provided by your work placement agency and the social issues identified in the community profile and the local government Well Being report
- Identify agencies in your area where young people can be referred to address the social issues that they are experiencing.
- Identify if your agency needs to develop a new program or activities for young people to addres their social issues
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Additional resources will also be available in ‘Blackboard’. A set of readings will be made available to you including journals and texts that may support you in the program.
Overview of Assessment
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Assessment one Written responses to research, reports and documentary viewed and discussed in class |
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Assessment two Written responses to case study scenarios |
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Assessment three Work place assessment including 240 hours of WIL placement, role play, demonstration of skills in a simulated work environment, written response to questions, work placement report, WI workplace supervisor report, and assessment by the RMIT supervisor in the workplace |
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Assessment four Observation in a simulated and /or workplace environment |
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 the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.
A student charter http://www.rmit.edu.au/about/studentcharter summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.
Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for review online:http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=c15i3ciaq8ca
Assessment Tasks
1. Social issues in Australian society and their impact on young people and their families:
Students will respond to a case study on social issues in Australian society and identify the social issues experienced by young people and their families, the impact they have on their health and well being, and access to education and housing. Students will also analyse the impacts of social policy on families who are unemployed and families on high incomes.
2. Research into the social and cultural factors addressed by the community services agency where you are doing placement
Background information - Students will outline the activities and services provided to young people at the community services agency where they work and the duties undertaken in their role as a youth worker.
A research activity will be undertaken in a computer lab in class where students use demographic data provided by local government, the Australian Bureau of statistics, and other relevant community based organisations to provide a community profile to identify social issues in the community.
This will allow the student to identify service gaps provided to young people that can be addressed through referral to local community services agencies.
3. Impacts of a social justice and an economic rationalist approach to social policy that address social inequality
A group based activity will identify the social justice approach and the economic rationalist approach to social policy to address social issues impacting on young people. The impacts of these approaches in addressing social inequality experienced by people living on benefits will also be evaluated.
4. A group based activity will identify impacts of stereotypes on young people experiencing social issues
5. Access to youth services in Victoria
A group based activity to identify the impacts of funding arrangements for Community Services Organisations and education institutions across Victoria and the impacts on young people accessing services and seeking employment.
6. A work placement report on providing young people with youth work services to address social and cultural issues that includes:
Services provided by the agency where you are working as a youth worker,
Your role as a youth worker
The support, information or referral that you provided to three clients to address social and cultural issues,
Strategies to get feedback from the young person to evaluate the effectiveness of the services you provided, and
The changes you made to your service delivery as a result of feedback to meet the needs and interests of the young people,
Specialist community services agencies in the area that address social issues
Referral processes to agencies to meet the needs of young people who attend your work placement agency
Reflect on your work to determine what worked well when you provide youth services and what you could improve upon.
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant course. These are available from the Program Co-ordinator.
Other Information
Cover Sheet for Submissions: 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: The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. 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.
Feedback: You will receive verbal and written feedback on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.Student feedback at RMIT : http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=9pp3ic9obks7 (unresolved)
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 (unresolved)
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 (unresolved)
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism: RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity : http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kw02ylsd8z3n (unresolved)
- A Police Check and Working with Children Check – This course requires both documents before placement can begin
Course Overview: Access Course Overview