Bachelor of
Social Work

This subject introduces students to the purpose, values, and practice of social work in Australia. Students explore their own motivations and interests for studying social work as they embark on the journey of developing a professional social work identity. Students learn about social work history, practice domains, fields of employment, and key areas of social work concern, including social injustice, power imbalances and privilege. Students examine historical relationships between Australian Social Work and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the implications for current engagement. The importance of creativity and critical self-reflection in social work practice is examined, as students are supported to explore and demonstrate their own potential to be creative and critically self-reflective social workers in-training. Key expectations for social work professional behaviour are investigated, including ethical principles and personal qualities. Students initiate self-care practices that support their ability to be courageous and client-centred in practice. Presentations by social workers on their own social work practice and professional journeys are incorporated throughout the subject.

Subject Code: SWK111
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Educational Flyer, Group Presentation, Reflective Paper

Students will examine diversity in Australian society in relation to socio-economic status, gender identity, age, ethnicity, culture, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. Social structures, dominant values, norms, and discourses that privilege some groups over others will be analysed from critical and intersectional theoretical perspectives. Recognising how values, biases, and experiences are shaped by dominant cultural norms, students will reflect on their own positioning in relation to diversity, difference, privilege, and disadvantage. The values of respect, human rights, social justice, and inclusion are fundamental in this subject and underpin professional practice. Students develop a beginning understanding of how to practice in culturally safe, responsive, and appreciative ways. Students are expected to develop their appreciation of the value gained from inclusive celebration of diversity.

Subject Code: CSW101
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Group Presentation, Appreciative Enquiry Paper, Case Analysis Report

This subject introduces students to the key concepts, theories and models of interpersonal communication and their use in social work and community services practice. Students will learn how to recognise effective and ineffective communication in various contexts and environments and its impact on different relationships with individuals, families and communities. Students will reflect on their own interpersonal communication skills to establish a basis of awareness and throughout the subject to assess their development needs in becoming more effective communicators in professional practice. Students will be required to analyse various communication scenarios in a range of contexts across social work and community services and demonstrate their own skills including how to overcome communication challenges and apply appropriate cultural and other considerations with clients. This subject provides a foundational learning that will be expanded upon in future subjects.

Subject Code: CSW102
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Reflective Journal, Skills Demonstration, Skills Critique

Social workers work with complex problems in diverse practice settings that require a sound foundation of theories and ethics to inform and guide how they respond to their clients and broader social issues. This subject builds on the learning gained in first trimester and introduces students to foundational theories used in social work practice. Students will engage in critical discussions about the nature of ‘theory’ in social work and its application to practice.  The subject extends student learning about social work values to examine their relationship to key ideas and theories that underpin ethical social work practice. This subject also examines some of the fields of practice in which social workers work. It promotes the development of skills in critical analysis and reflection and the intersection of the personal and professional self. By the end of this subject, students will understand key social work and ethical theories and be able to apply these theories to scenarios from diverse fields of social work practice.

Subject Code: SWK112
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: SWK111 Social Work Purpose and Practice
Assessments: Concept Map, Digital Presentation, Case Analysis Report

See the ‘Electives’ tab for current elective options available.

Credit Points: 6

This subject introduces students to key sociological concepts, theories, and processes that help to understand and analyse society from a sociological perspective. Students will explore how individual experiences connect to larger social interactions, institutions, and structures. This subject introduces students to sociological critique, as students begin to develop the critical thinking skills needed to understand, examine, and analyse societies within Australia and globally. Key concepts will be explored including social trends, power, class structures, privilege, and disadvantage. The impacts of these social dynamics on individual, families, and communities will be examined. Students will have opportunities to consider and reflect on current social issues, movements, and processes of social change.

Subject Code: CSW105
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Educational Poster, Group Presentation, Practice Scenario Analysis

This subject provides students with a foundational understanding of the cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts shaping the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. From a position of cultural humility, the subject explores the diverse cultural practices, worldviews, and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, while also addressing the historical relationship between social work and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The life stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are honoured and celebrated. By fostering cultural awareness and sensitivity, the subject equips social work students with essential knowledge and skills for respectful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities.

Subject Code: SWK113
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: SWK111 Social Work Purpose and Practice
Assessments: Group Presentation, Research Paper, Digital Storytelling

This subject addresses the foundational knowledge and skills required to engage in social work practice within a community. Students will be introduced to a range of theories, models, approaches, and skills for use in macro practice including assessing community need, community development and social action. The subject also explores the use of creative community-arts based approaches in community practice. Students will be required to analyse various community-based scenarios in a range of social work contexts within the community services sector and demonstrate their understanding and beginning skills in engaging communities, considering their positionality within the community, engaging in culturally appropriate social action activities that are aligned with community members needs and preferences.

Subject Code: SWK114
Credit Points: 6         
Pre-Requisite: SWK111 Social Work Purpose and Practice
Assessments: Community Portfolio, Project Proposal, Social Action Project

This subject explores the varied experiences of individuals, families and carers utilising mental health services in Australia, the scope of services, and areas in need of improvements in the system. Students will learn about how the conceptions of ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ behaviour have developed culturally over time and explore the historical emergence of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness (DSM) system of diagnosis, its justification, and criticisms. Students will learn to identify key signs and symptoms of common mental health disorders and will understand the role of community recovery programs. Students will learn how to talk about suicidality with those who may be at risk, and facilitate safety planning and postvention support.

Subject Code: SWK202
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Reflective Report, Practice Scenario Presentation, Case Analysis Report

See the ‘Electives’ tab for current elective options available.

Credit Points: 6

This subject will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage with clients and colleagues in diverse social work practice contexts. Students will develop foundational skills and knowledge in interpersonal helping, the helping relationship, engagement, initial assessment, giving and receiving feedback, reflecting on work and the values and ethical issues arising in various social work contexts associated with the application and use of foundational social work skills. Students learn how to identify and navigate power dynamics to foster collaborative approaches to conducting interviews with clients. Practice models underpinning these skills will be examined. Students will engage in creative and critical reflection to link models, ethics, and values to their experiential learning.  Experiential learning in this subject will include practice in foundational interpersonal, engagement, and assessment skills, alongside reflective practice through role-playing scenarios, case-based simulations, and reflective writing exercises. The aim is to prepare students with foundational interpersonal social work skills required to enter their first social work field placement and meet professional standards.

In-Person Learning: This subject includes mandatory in‑person attendance for all students. For online students, this is met as part of a five‑day on‑campus intensive designed to build essential skills for social work practice.

Subject Code: SWK211
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: CSW102 Foundations of Interpersonal Communication
Assessments: Reflective Video Diary, Initial Intake Assessment, Intake Interview

This subject introduces students to the legal dimensions of social work practice. Students build knowledge on the laws, legislative frameworks, system of courts and tribunals, and legal procedures that influence social work practice in a range of fields including mental health, child protection and custody, gender-based violence, elder abuse, human rights, and sudden death. The role of social workers in prisons is also examined. Students learn about their professional legal responsibilities in all areas of social work practice, including, record keeping, confidentiality, freedom of information, duty of care, and mandatory reporting. Students analyse the social work role in relation to other professionals involved in legal contexts, identifying and navigating ethical and value tensions that may present and critiquing the limitations and inequities in the Australian legal system. Students gain personal insights into the court environment through an experiential assessment task based on a visit to court. Using case scenarios and practitioner experiences to contextualise practice, students develop knowledge and skills in preparing evidence for court, writing social work records to meet legal requirements, and facilitating mediation and family conferencing as an alternative or adjunct to court.

Subject Code: SWK212
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Court Visit Report, Court Report, Case Analysis Report

This subject builds upon foundational knowledge of social systems to expand students’ understanding of the development, impact, and value of social policy in human services. Students analyse the theoretical, political and ideological aspects of social policy through a social justice lens and are introduced to policy-making models used in Australia. The potential for social work and community services practitioners to participate in social policy change is highlighted and students learn about and develop key policy practice skills for policy advocacy, development, implementation, and evaluation. Using a policy case study approach, students examine various social policy issues across contexts including healthcare, community support, income support, housing, migration, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and climate change policy, reflecting on areas for policy reform to address inadequacies and inequities.

Subject Code: CSW206
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: CSW105 Understanding Societies and Social Analysis
Assessments: Reflective Paper, Policy Pitch, Policy Brief

This subject explores the theory, practice, and ethics of psychoeducational and support group work. Students are introduced to planning, working with and leading support groups and psycho-educational groups in mental health, wellbeing, and human services contexts. Students will learn how to plan and facilitate groups, understand issues that arise in groups and respond to conflicts with consideration of power relations, group dynamics and the stages of group work. There will be opportunities to practice and develop groupwork skills, whilst recognising group processes, roles taken up by group members, group stages, and the implicit and explicit communication of group members. Students will build on the foundational knowledge and skills for interpersonal practice, in developing more advanced skills for working in groups and facilitating achievement of group outcomes. Students will develop an understanding of the skills, tasks, and responsibilities required of the group work leader.

In-Person Learning: This subject includes mandatory in‑person attendance for all students. For online students, this is met as part of a five‑day on‑campus intensive designed to build essential skills for social work practice.

Subject Code: CSW207
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: SWK211 Engagement and Assessment Skills for Practice
Assessments: Pre-Group Screening Report, Written Report, Group Process Report

This subject provides a foundation of learning essential for the development of social work practitioners and success in field placement. It emphasises the theoretical understanding, practical skills, and professional behaviours essential for effective engagement in professional and reflective social work practice, preparing them for their first field placement experience. Students practice the integration of knowledge and practice skills field educators expect student social workers to exhibit on field placement in diverse contexts. Students will also prepare for professional supervision, which is an essential part of critically reflective social work practice and the vehicle through which students will demonstrate their learning and achievement of field placement requirements. Additionally, students will develop and map a professional practice framework that integrates values, ethics, personal interests, theoretical concepts, and practice skills.

In-Person Learning: This subject includes mandatory in‑person attendance for all students. For online students, this is met as part of a five‑day on‑campus intensive designed to build essential skills for social work practice.

Subject Code: SWK213
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: SWK211 Engagement and Assessment Skills for Practice
Assessments: Professional Practice Framework, Reflective Journal, Social Work Portfolio

This subject is an introduction to theories of individual human development and change across the lifespan. Students examine development and transitions across the lifespan from a range of theoretical perspectives. Reflections on lived experiences of transitions through life stages are also drawn upon as a source of learning. Stages of the human lifecycle are briefly overviewed from individual perspectives (biology and psychology) and from broader social perspectives, highlighting key areas for attention by social workers and community service workers. Students examine the political, cultural, and economic factors that shape human experience, opportunities, development, and wellbeing. The roles and approaches that social work and community services workers may adopt to support people at different stages in life are identified.  Themes of grief and loss across the lifespan are examined. Students develop critical insights into the responsibility to challenge discrimination and dominant discourses about what is ‘appropriate’ at different life stages and to promote social equality, diversity, choice, and inclusion.

Subject Code: CSW203
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Reflective Essay, Character Analysis Report, Community Event Promotion

This first social work field education subject provides students with a placement in a social work organisational setting. Students are required to apply and integrate social work values, ethics, knowledge, and skills as they engage in supervised practice in a specific field of social work practice. Learning is assessed in terms of progress toward the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Practice Standards. Field placement tasks will vary, dependent upon the nature of the organisational context. In addition to completing the placement tasks to a satisfactory standard, students must demonstrate professional and ethical behaviour, a critically reflective approach to practice, and the integration of class-based learning. Learning is demonstrated through participation in professional supervision sessions and in the completion of field education assessment tasks.

Subject Code: SWK333
Credit Points: 18
Pre-Requisites: All Level 100 Core Subjects, SWK202, CSW203, CSW207, SWK211, SWK213
Assessments: Learning Agreement, Mid-Placement Review, End-Placement Review

This subject is assessed as an ungraded Pass or Fail.

This subject builds on students’ knowledge of disability policies and supports. Students will develop an understanding of the importance of disability advocacy across community services in Australia and build their own advocacy skills for practice in diverse contexts, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and in response to the Disability Royal Commission. Students critically examine the various roles of disability advocacy and have opportunities to develop understanding of lived experience of disability in relation to key issues including accessibility, engagement, inclusion, and participation. Students will also critically reflect on their own role as a disability advocate and their skills for both individual advocacy and planning and promoting accessible and inclusive services and communities.

Subject Code: SWK305
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: SWK111 Social Work Purpose and Practice
Assessments: Reflective Paper, Advocacy Campaign, Program Plan

This subject will introduce students to core concepts and principles of trauma informed care. The nature and impacts of single instance trauma, multiple exposure related trauma and infant attachment trauma will be examined. This subject draws on the theoretical literature related to trauma and attachment to provide a framework for safe and effective community services practice. Students will learn to recognise causal factors, impact, emotion dysregulation and symptoms of trauma. Experiences and responses to trauma amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, children and young people, survivors of war and refugees, and survivors of violence and natural disasters experience and respond to trauma will be explored. Students will learn to recognise triggers of re-traumatisation, and work within the client’s window of tolerance. Weekly practice sessions in the second half of the subject will support students to practice and develop skills.

Subject Code: CSW306
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: SWK202 Mental Health and Wellbeing
Assessments: Research Evidence Summary, Trauma Informed Care Plan, Self-Care Plan

See the ‘Electives’ tab for current elective options available.

Credit Points: 6

This subject focuses on the role that research and evidence play in ensuring quality social work practice and high standing of the profession. Students build on their capacity to locate and review research literature by developing knowledge and skills to critically assess research evidence, interpret findings, and identify implications for social work practice. Understanding of the practice of social research and evaluation is developed as students are prepared for their professional responsibility to contribute to the generation of social work knowledge. Students learn about different theoretical paradigms that guide approaches to research and the key role that a research question plays in shaping a research project. Students gain basic skills in designing a research project, including selecting appropriate data collection methods that align with research questions and methodological approach. Students examine their ethical responsibility to engage in evidence-informed practice and to identify and respond to ethical issues that emerge when undertaking practice-based social research. 

Subject Code: SWK311
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Research Question Presentation, Research Appraisal Report, Research Proposal

In this subject, students build on their foundational interpersonal skills and knowledge on social work theory, child development, and law to develop as competent, ethical, reflective practitioners with children and families. The concepts presented in this subject are critically analysed as students consider socially constructed and contested ideas about family, child abuse, child neglect, child safety, wellbeing, protection, resilience, and risk. The integration of prior learning on cultural diversity and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is important for this analysis and for practice with children and families. Learning focuses on communication, assessment, stages of intervention, therapeutic responses, and case planning and management relevant to working with children and families. Work with children and families is contextualised in non-government and statutory practice settings. Areas of practice include family support, family therapy, child safeguarding and protection, and domestic and family violence. Students learn about social work practice theories and models to guide engagement, assessment (including risk assessment), and work with children and families. These approaches include participatory, collaborative, crisis intervention, strengths-based, child-centred, feminist, and narrative approaches. Students examine the role of research evidence in intervention planning with children and families. Professional writing skills for statutory settings is also explored.

In-Person Learning: This subject includes mandatory in‑person attendance for all students. For online students, this is met as part of a five‑day on‑campus intensive designed to build essential skills for social work practice.

Subject Code: SWK312
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Weekly Learning Log, Intervention Plan, Practice Scenario Interview

The organisations in which social workers are employed influence their social work practice. This subject develops students’ knowledge of how organisations are shaped by internal and external influences and the part that social workers can play in developing anti-oppressive and culturally safe human service organisations. Drawing on their own experiences on field placement and prior theoretical knowledge, students analyse external factors impacting human service organisations, including government policies, funding sources, inter-organisational relationships, and social values and expectations. Students also analyse internal organisational factors, including organisational culture, values, structure, decision-making and goal setting practices, policies, and procedures. Students are encouraged to view organisations as targets of their social work practice interventions as they advocate for and facilitate organisational changes that reduce disadvantage and oppression and enhance wellbeing for clients, staff, the social work profession, and the wider community. Students will learn and apply anti-oppressive practice principles, incorporate social work skills, including interpersonal and groupwork skills, deal with barriers and resistance, and develop strategies for social justice oriented organisational social work practice. 

Subject Code: SWK411
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: SWK333 Field Education 1
Assessments: Organisational Analysis, Change Proposal, Co-Design Project Demonstration

This is an advanced social work practice subject that focuses on social work roles and practice in diverse, multidisciplinary health settings. Students are introduced to the Australian health care system, key aspects of the social work role in health, and some of the diverse areas of practice. Students draw on their prior learning from their first field placement and their knowledge of social work practice skills, ethics, theories, methods, and approaches, applying this to practice in health services. Case scenarios are the focus for assessment tasks. These tasks require students to role-play and analyse a single session intervention, participate in professional supervision to reflect upon and learn from their own practice, and conduct a multidisciplinary team meeting in which the social work role is navigated and the goals of social justice and wellbeing are advanced. Students will learn about the importance for effective social work practice of a critical analysis of the social constructions of health and illness, the social determinants of health, and the impacts of health and illness. Students also learn about strategies for collaboration and partnerships with service users, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and colleagues from a diversity of disciplines in the design and delivery of health services.

In-Person Learning: This subject includes mandatory in‑person attendance for all students. For online students, this is met as part of a five‑day on‑campus intensive designed to build essential skills for social work practice.

Subject Code: SWK412
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: SWK333 Field Education 1
Assessments: Single Session Intervention, Viva Supervision Session, Multidisciplinary Team Meeting

See the ‘Electives’ tab for current elective options available.

Credit Points: 6

In this subject, students will select a social work practice or related topic of interest as a focus for in-depth study. The project topic may be a practice issue they encountered during field placement or an aspect of social work they would like to investigate more deeply. Throughout the subject, students will be guided in examining their chosen topic from contextual, cultural, theoretical, and ethical perspectives. Students will also conduct a review of literature to ensure their exploration of the project topic is grounded in contemporary social work knowledge and research. Students experience the process of knowledge translation as they translate research knowledge and theoretical knowledge into practice implications. The assessment tasks are designed to model how social workers contribute to professional knowledge through conference presentations and journal articles on their areas of practice interest.

Subject Code: SWK413
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: SWK333 Field Education 1, SWK311 Research and Evidence in Social Work
Assessments: Conference Abstract, Conference Presentation, Journal Article

In this subject, students draw on prior learning about social work assessment and interventions and apply critical reflection skills and theoretical and ethical knowledge to social work decision-making. Social workers make decisions daily about how to respond to complex presenting practice issues. Students will demonstrate their critical thinking, power analysis, and reflective skills. They will improve their ability to make practice decisions, plan appropriate interventions, and justify their interventions. There is a focus on contextual analysis, ethical decision-making, theoretical decision-making, and research-informed decision-making, with a requirement to integrate these approaches in response to practice scenarios. Students draw on their own field placement experiences and work with other complex practice scenarios, including those that require culturally safe and responsive approaches. The presentation and justification of intervention plans is integral to learning in this subject.

Subject Code: SWK414
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: SWK333 Field Education 1, SWK312 Children and Families: Assessment and Practice
Assessments: Intervention Plan, Case Analysis Report, Case Discussion

In this capstone experience, students demonstrate consolidation and application of class-based learning to social work practice in real-world contexts. Students will apply social work values, ethics, knowledge, and skills to social work practice as they engage in supervised practice in a field of social work practice that is different to their first field placement in SWK333 Field Education 1. Learning is assessed in terms of attainment of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Practice Standards at the level of a graduating social worker. Field placement tasks will vary, dependent upon the nature of the organisational context. In addition to completing the placement tasks to a satisfactory standard, students must demonstrate professional and ethical behaviour, a critically reflective approach to practice, and the integration of class-based learning. Achievement is demonstrated through participation in professional supervision sessions and the completion of assessment tasks.

Subject Code: SWK444
Credit Points: 18
Pre-Requisites: All Level 100-300 Core Subjects, SWK333, SWK411, SWK412, SWK414
Assessments: Learning Agreement, Mid-Placement Review, End-Placement Review

This subject is assessed as an ungraded Pass or Fail.

Choose one of the following:

ART104 Qualities of Art Making and Arts Media

This subject focuses on the lived experience of the art-maker in response to a wide variety of art media. Through interactive lectures and experiential learning, students will investigate a range of 2D and 3D art materials with an emphasis on experiencing their different qualities and the physical and emotional responses they elicit in the art-maker. Students will experience working with both traditional and non-traditional art materials, including ready-made imagery, found objects, natural objects and the human body.  They will experience making art in response to external sensations as well as from internal experience.  They will make public art and collaborate in constructing an art installation.  Students will use the Expressive Therapies Continuum to understand how an artwork emerges from their own art-making process.

Subject Code: ART104
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Creative Process Map, Artwork Process Documentation, Written Reflection

CSW106 Principles and Practice of Case Management

This subject establishes the principles and practice of case management, introducing students to various case management models and elements of person-centred practice in community services. The process and practice of case management will be covered in depth across various contexts in the community services industry. Students will have opportunities to develop case management plans for clients with various needs, backgrounds and capacities, applying theory to practice within an ethical framework to empower individuals and families. This subject will ensure students know and understand case management standards of practice and recognise the importance of reflective practice and ongoing professional skills development.

Subject Code: CSW106
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Examination Quiz, Case Management Report, Case Management Plan

CSW108 Program Planning and Coordination

This subject introduces students to the program development and coordination process including how to plan, develop, implement and modify service programs in community services. Students will have the opportunity to plan a program from start to finish, incorporating consultation and collaboration with peers to support client engagement in the analysis of service needs. This subject will build on students’ basic knowledge of community services programs and provide additional theory and opportunities for practice to further the knowledge and skills required for professional practice in program planning and coordination in community services.

Subject Code: CSW108
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Consultation Report, Program Proposal, Program Evaluation Plan

Choose two of the following (one per year):

ART202 Expressive Modalities in Arts Therapy

Students will learn a range of expressive art modalities such as storytelling, movement, dance, voice, music, drama, and sand tray, in a variety of different combinations in order to express thoughts, feelings, communicate non-verbally, achieve insight and experience the healing potential of the expressive process. Students will learn to apply the Jones (2005) eight core processes common to expressive arts therapies, to use expressive modalities to concretise inner experience, and will have firsthand experience of how expressive arts can be used multimodally to process both implicit and explicit psychological content. Students will also learn how a ‘state of play’ is essential to facilitating expressive arts.

Subject Code: ART202
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Essay, Therapeutic Expressive Artmaking, Reflective Essay

ARTE202 Sandplay and Symbol Work with Children and Adults

Exploring the historical development of a range of expressive approaches using sand and miniatures, students will gain an understanding of the symbolic thinking and meaning making, mythology, archetypes and complexes and therapeutic progression of Jungian psychology central to this subject. In preparing to work in a Jungian way with children, students will become familiar with the child developmental stages of Neumann and examine case material of child sandplay where they will observe and analyse these stages in the sand.  Students will learn to facilitate an adult sand and symbol process by experientially engaging with the sand, water, and figurines, by examining case material of adult sandplay, and by engaging with the archetypal meaning of symbols. Undertaking their own personalised process of four sand trays in the “safe and protected space” provides an opportunity for students to attune to emotional experience and life narrative through the sand pictures. 

Subject Code: ARTE202
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Archetypal Symbol Exploration, Essay, Sandplay Practice Analysis

ARTE206 Arts Therapy for Grief and Loss

This subject explores the integration of movement into psychotherapy practice. Students will explore the philosophical and historical foundations to how the body has been perceived in society and its present-day implications and learn the fundamental concepts of body-psychotherapy and movement-based therapies. Students will practice movement-based interventions, how to integrate them into psychotherapeutic contexts and examine the ethical considerations for movement-based interventions. Students will explore the phenomenological, neurobiological, and developmental aspects of movement and the developing body, and engage in experiential explorations into their own phenomenology with special interest applied to memory, intersubjectivity, aesthetics, embodiment, and agency. Additionally, students will explore ideas such as embodied affectivity and inter-bodily resonance as it relates to the embodied therapeutic relationship.

Subject Code: ARTE206
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Reflective Essay, Essay, Report

COUE201 Embodied Psychotherapy (Dance)

This subject explores the integration of movement into psychotherapy practice. Students will explore the philosophical and historical foundations to how the body has been perceived in society and its present-day implications and learn the fundamental concepts of body-psychotherapy and movement-based therapies. Students will practice movement-based interventions, how to integrate them into psychotherapeutic contexts and examine the ethical considerations for movement-based interventions. Students will explore the phenomenological, neurobiological, and developmental aspects of movement and the developing body, and engage in experiential explorations into their own phenomenology with special interest applied to memory, intersubjectivity, aesthetics, embodiment, and agency. Additionally, students will explore ideas such as embodied affectivity and inter-bodily resonance as it relates to the embodied therapeutic relationship.

Subject Code: COUE201
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Written and Symbolic Works, Essay, Movement-Based Session Video

CSW205 Human Services Systems and Contemporary Service Delivery

This subject builds upon foundational knowledge of the welfare system and social services in Australia. Students examine historical and social contexts and critique contemporary issues in the human services system. Students explore the different funding and support models in Australia and how they are evolving to shape human services including in the areas of income support, employment, aged services, disability and services to families. Key concepts and principles underlying human service provisions will be examined. Students will analyse current issues and make recommendations for improvements that impact individuals, families, and communities. Students will reflect on the values involved in human service provision and make connections to their own values as they prepare for careers in human services.

Subject Code: CSW205
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: CSW105 Understanding Societies and Social Analysis
Assessments: Media Critique, Case Study Analysis, Media Post

CSW302 Working with Young People

In this subject, students expand knowledge, skills, and theoretical understanding to prepare for working effectively with young people in scenarios and settings across the community services sector. Students examine the ethics and values central to working with young people, such as autonomy and participation, and apply these to practice scenarios. This subject provides opportunities to critically analyse and reflect on practice and skill development, focusing attention on creative engagement and relationship building with young people. Students will further develop their readiness for professional practice and decision-making about supports, interventions, and services appropriate to young people facing a range of complex circumstances.

Subject Code: CSW302
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Podcast, Initial Assessment Report, Engagement and Intervention Plan

CSW303 Conflict Management

This subject introduces students to key models and approaches to conflict management and resolution in community services practice. Students will explore their own values and approaches to conflict and further develop their practical skills across mediation, negotiation, problem solving, and communication. Students will critically reflect on and evaluate their own practical skills and enhance ability to incorporate feedback from peers and supervisors to support personal and professional development. The subject offers students opportunities to evaluate different conflict resolution techniques through case studies, role plays, and assessments, including preparing a conflict management plan.

Subject Code: CSW303
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Practice Scenario Analysis, Practice Roleplay, Conflict Management Plan

Choose one of the following:

ART301 Responding to Trauma with the Arts

This subject deepens the content that students have engaged with in previous subjects, bringing together integrative understandings of trauma and its effects, and provides theoretical and practical knowledge of trauma-informed approaches in arts therapy.  Students will gain an understanding of the historical background of the arts as a means of symbolising and integrating traumatic experience and will gain a deeper understanding of integrative processes. Polyvagal understanding of autonomic nervous system functioning and co-regulation as a means of creating therapeutic safety will be studied.  Students will consider constructivist and sensorimotor approaches in art therapy practice. working with children will be addressed as well as cultural considerations in trauma treatment.  Finally, students will explore ways in which therapist safety in working with trauma can be maintained.

Subject Code: ART301
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Multimodal Educational Text, Reflective Essay, Case Study Presentation

ART304 Arts Therapy with Children

Students will be introduced to working with children using relational and attachment focused expressive arts therapy. Building on child development theory knowledge, the subject looks at children in infancy, early childhood, and middle childhood experiencing adversity, trauma, grief, social, emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties, and/or neuro-divergence. Students will learn practice methods to support children to access, and express thoughts, feelings, and experiences through using visual arts, drama, play, sand tray, music, and movement.

Subject Code: ART304
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Podcast, Intervention Plan, Treatment Plan

CSW301 Introduction to Management in Community Services

Small community service organisations often require graduates early in their career to take on management roles. This subject prepares students for management roles in community service organisations as part of their career planning. The subject introduces students to key concepts, roles, structures, and skills of management in community services. Students will have opportunities to develop their knowledge of leadership styles and reflect on their own. In addition, students develop practical skills for working in and with management in community services. This subject offers students the opportunity to apply their skills to practice scenarios in managing a team and in developing a grant application to address an organisational issue related to funding.

Subject Code: CSW301
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: CSW206 Social Policy in Human Services
Assessments: Practice Scenario Analysis, Critical Self-Reflection, Grant Application Proposal

CSW302 Working with Young People

In this subject, students expand knowledge, skills, and theoretical understanding to prepare for working effectively with young people in scenarios and settings across the community services sector. Students examine the ethics and values central to working with young people, such as autonomy and participation, and apply these to practice scenarios. This subject provides opportunities to critically analyse and reflect on practice and skill development, focusing attention on creative engagement and relationship building with young people. Students will further develop their readiness for professional practice and decision-making about supports, interventions, and services appropriate to young people facing a range of complex circumstances.

Subject Code: CSW302
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Podcast, Initial Assessment Report, Engagement and Intervention Plan

CSW303 Conflict Management

This subject introduces students to key models and approaches to conflict management and resolution in community services practice. Students will explore their own values and approaches to conflict and further develop their practical skills across mediation, negotiation, problem solving, and communication. Students will critically reflect on and evaluate their own practical skills and enhance ability to incorporate feedback from peers and supervisors to support personal and professional development. The subject offers students opportunities to evaluate different conflict resolution techniques through case studies, role plays, and assessments, including preparing a conflict management plan.

Subject Code: CSW303
Credit Points: 6
Assessments: Practice Scenario Analysis, Practice Roleplay, Conflict Management Plan