Diploma of Community Services

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

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

This subject introduces the community services sector in Australia. Students gain an overview of the historical, political, and cultural background to welfare support in Australia and how this evolved into the current landscape of the community services sector. The purpose of community service practice is examined, and the different fields of professional practice are overviewed. Students are introduced to the diverse range of community service roles with individuals, families, and communities, and to key theories, models, principles, and steps of the helping process, gaining a beginning understanding of community service practice approaches. Some of the challenges and factors impacting community service provision in Australia will also be explored. This subject is a foundation for further learning in key areas of case management, advocacy, program planning, and service coordination. Students learn and apply the principles of reflective practice, examine personal values and professional ethics, and start to form their own professional practice framework.

Subject Code: CSW103
Credit Points: 6

Ethics in professional practice is a key component of effective work in community services. This subject introduces students to the ethical principles and theories that underpin professional practice in community services and provides opportunities to apply these principles and theories in practice to resolve ethical challenges across various topics and contexts. Students will identify and reflect on their own personal values and will identify how these can and will impact the development of their own professional practice. They will also be expected to analyse and reflect on how ethical principles and decision-making can shape their practice and ongoing development as a professional. This subject will explore the nature of social justice, human rights, ethical activism, and advocacy as they relate to welfare support in community services and other relevant industries. Students will learn about interprofessional ethics, e-professionalism, and how to incorporate their own ethical principles and values into their professional framework.

Subject Code: CSW104
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisite: CSW103

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

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
Pre-Requisites: CSW103

This subject builds on foundational knowledge developed through successful completion of CSW102 Foundations of Interpersonal Communication and provides further opportunities to learn about and develop interpersonal skills for effective relationships. Students will learn how to apply the foundational interpersonal skills needed to effectively support and communicate with clients presenting concerns on a wide range of social welfare matters. It provides a practical approach to professional practice with an emphasis on developing effective techniques and skills to work with clients of different ages and cultural backgrounds in a range of settings. Students will have the opportunity to develop their interpersonal skills and client assessment skills in an interactive and supportive learning environment with feedback from others.

Subject Code: CSW107
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: CSW102

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