Unit Outline

This unit explores how social work theories and contexts inter-relate as a basis for a framework for identifying the purpose and practice of social work. Historical and contemporary social work theories are examined, relying on diverse knowledges, including First Nations knowledges that are reshaping how social work is defined and practiced. This provides an important foundation for grounding your emerging frameworks for practice. Moral theories will help ground you in your understanding of principled and theoretically informed frameworks for action. You will consider the relationships between theories and practice as they apply to case scenarios each week. This unit prepares you for Social Work Practicum 1.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Compile and critique social work frameworks for practice that can inform transformative actions and strategies in practice, organisational and policy settings
2	Elaborate how social workers can respond to oppressive and exploitative historical, cultural, social, geographic, economic and political dynamics and contexts in grounded, decolonising and principled ways.
3	Build and trial a framework for social work practice as a life-long learning project through ongoing discussions with peers, supervisors and mentors, by keeping up-to-date with scholarly literature, and engaging in professional development activities.
4	Construct and appraise culturally sensitive and relevant frameworks for social work practice that demonstrates your commitment to decolonising social work.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

This unit's content has been simplified and improved as a result of student feedback. The assessment tasks have been updated and simplified, and the task descriptions and rubrics have been changed since 2024.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Online quiz	Week 2	10 %	LO1
Assessment Task 2:	Summary of Online Discussions	Week 6	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Weekly portfolio of evidence of developing a culturally responsive framework for practice	Week 6	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Online quiz

Task Description:

Online quiz

Task Length:

Online quiz

Due Date:

Week 2 (27/Jun/2025)

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Accurately answer set questions on unit content Weeks 1-3.	LO1

Assessment Task 2: Summary of Online Discussions

Task Description:

At the commencement of HGW512, you will be placed in a MyLO group with up to four other students. Each week from weeks 2-5, you will discuss a 'provocation' that is found in the weekly MyLO content. In your group, you must demonstrate leadership and a collaborative approach to learning by deciding how to conduct your discussions. You must decide on a structure for your discussions by the end of Week 1.
As your group discusses the provocations from Weeks 2-5, you should (personally) record your reflections on these discussions.
At the end of Week 6, you will submit these reflections along with a 250 word summary. While the group discussions are collaborative, your submission in Week 6 will be entirely your own work, and will be independently assessed.

Task Length:

4 x Reflections (max 250 words) 1 x Summary (250 words +/-10%)

Due Date:

Week 6 (25/Jul/2025)

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify the most powerful learning that occurred and evaluate how it can inform knowledgeable, principled and ethical social work practice.	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	A considered approach to using theory to inform a framework for practice by: engaging with new ideas and knowledge in a meaningful way; and critically and thoughtfully considering the relevance of new ideas and knowledge for social work.	LO1, LO4
3	Communicate in accordance with academic and professional standards.	LO2

Assessment Task 3: Weekly portfolio of evidence of developing a culturally responsive framework for practice

Task Description:

This assessment task requires you to choose a theory from the unit and apply it to a chosen case study. While the case you will apply the theory to remains the same, your approach to it will change based on your learning. In total, you will apply your chosen theory four times between Weeks 2 and 5. You will then write a short plan for further development to complete the portfolio.

Task Length:

2000 words

Due Date:

Week 6 (25/Jul/2025)

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Assemble a theoretically informed and theoretically congruent framework for social work practice (25%).	LO1, LO2
2	Illustrate how a theoretically informed social work framework for practice could support change across micro, meso and macro contexts (25%).	LO1, LO2
3	Propose an approach for ongoing development of your framework for practice that incorporates a focus on decolonising social work (30%).	LO3, LO4
4	Communicate in accordance with academic and professional standards (20%)	LO2

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.