Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2024

Course Code: LAW5735C

Course Title: Provide systems advocacy services

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5432 - Diploma of Community Services

Course Contact: Melinda Brown

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4580

Course Contact Email: Melinda.Brown@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 90

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

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to advocate and ensure that government, community and organisational systems broadly support and uphold human rights.

This unit applies to workers in a health, community services or advocacy settings who undertake a leadership role in influencing social and system changes. Workers at this level will also advocate for change and continuous improvement at the organisational level to improve client outcomes and service quality.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	CHCADV005 Provide systems advocacy services
Element:	1. Obtain, analyse and document information
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Research information about particular issues relating to client rights and interests and document accordingly 1.2 Conduct consultations with colleagues, clients, carers and other stakeholders to identify and define issues of concern 1.3 Collate information into appropriate format for communicating with, and distributing to, relevant agencies and stakeholders
Element:	2. Work with stakeholders to develop strategies to address identified needs
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Develop and maintain close working relationships and networks with relevant stakeholders 2.2 Organise formal meetings, working groups and other activities to develop policy statements, action plans, strategies, projects and programs to address identified needs 2.3 Document appropriate, relevant and agreed plans to address needs identified with stakeholder organisations
Element:	3. Advocate for and facilitate the implementation of strategies developed to address the rights and interests of clients
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Prepare submissions for resources to implement identified strategies, projects and action plans 3.2 Where appropriate, contribute to relevant government policy development 3.3 Work with consumers and other stakeholders to implement relevant projects and action plans 3.4 Pursue opportunities and provide comments on policy documents, legislation, project plans and other relevant documents relating to client rights and interests
Element:	4. Contribute to service improvements
Performance Criteria:	4.1 Gather feedback from key stakeholders on access, effectiveness of services, satisfaction, service gaps and areas for improvement 4.2 Consult with stakeholders to identify culturally appropriate systems and services, and compare to current practices 4.3 Respond appropriately to breaches of rights in service delivery in line with organisation and legal complaints processes 4.4 Provide information about identified needs, possible improvements and recommendations for change to organisation and other relevant parties 4.5 Provide progress and other reports and feedback to key people according to organisation requirements
Element:	5. Advocate to improve coordination between services
Performance Criteria:	5.1 Develop working relationships with other services and community groups to promote and advocate improved linkages and service coordination 5.2 Identify and develop appropriate strategic alliances and partnerships 5.3 Proactively participate in decision making forums, committees, working groups and other strategic opportunities to advocate for improved service provision 5.4 Collaboratively develop strategies that incorporate priorities of each organisation and address any barriers or areas of conflict 5.5 Collaboratively work to develop, implement and evaluate a framework for change
Element:	6. Evaluate outcomes
Performance Criteria:	6.1 Review advocacy outcome in line with organisation and stakeholder objectives 6.2 Identify lessons learned and areas requiring change 6.3 Identify opportunities for continued improvement and additional strategies

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

This course has a blended delivery.  Classes are delivered face to face with some online sessions. Types of learning activities include: 

• practical demonstrations
• online Discussion Forums, Groupwork and Quizzes
• analysis/critique of relevant reading material
• workshops, group discussion
• group activities/projects
• peer learning
• guest lecture/presentation
• research activities
• independent project based work
• group activities/projects
• simulated workplace activities

 

Teaching Schedule

Week	Topic	Due Dates
Week 1 Face to face workshop	Unit Overview What does this unit involve? Assessments Expectations Introducing Systems Advocacy What is Advocacy? What is systems advocacy? How is systems advocacy different? Why is systems advocacy important? Advocacy and power Systemic change and policy Kahn, S (2010), Creative Community Organising, Berret-Kohler, SF, ch 4.
Week 2  Online	Understanding the issues Importance of Research Mapping Issues Mapping Solutions Gathering evidence Assessment 2 Overview
Week 3 Online	Who are the Stakeholders and influences Stakeholders and advocacy Targets and advocacy Identifying targets Power Mapping Undertake AT2 in class	AT 2 Due
Week 4 Online	Advocacy Cycles The 4 common  advocacy types Political advocacy Public policy advocacy Key date advocacy Crisis advocacy Prepare for AT3
Week 5 Face to face	Advocacy Tactics and tips Setting up meetings Letter writing Press release Commence AT3 in class time	AT 3 Due
Week 6 Online	Campaign Evaluation Evaluating the Campaign Tips on what makes a campaign effective. Examples of successful campaigns. Evaluating and monitoring Reasons for evaluation and monitoring What we evaluate - outputs vs outcomes Models of evaluation Impact of evaluation Tools for evaluation Qualitative (e.g. case studies, stories, opinions, survey questionnaires); Quantitative (e.g. statistics or trends that indicate a changeover time). Prepare for AT4 in class time
Week 7 Online	Assessment - Role Plays (video) Completing assessment role plays	AT 4 Due
Week 8 Online	Unit review and finalise assessments	AT 1 Due

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

There are four individual assessment tasks consisting of a project and short answer questions. 

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1 - Knowledge task demonstrates students understanding about advocacy and to ensure that government, community and organisational systems broadly support and uphold human rights.

Assessment Task 2 -  Project Phase 1- In this task you will demonstrate through role plays how you obtain, analyse and document information about client rights and then work with colleagues to develop strategies to address this 

Assessment Task 3 - Project Phase 2 - In this task you will demonstrate through role plays how you obtain, analyse and document information about client rights and then work with colleagues to develop strategies to address this 

Assessment Task 4 - Project Phase 3 - In this task you will demonstrate through role plays how you obtain, analyse and document information about client rights and then work with colleagues to develop strategies to address this 

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix is located in canvas at the end of each assessment task.

Other Information

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

Course Overview: Access Course Overview