Unit Outline

This unit explores how contemporary social work ways of thinking define, shape, and inform social work practice. Historical and contemporary social work theories are examined, including multiple ways of theorising practice, such as First Nations knowledges, the history of knowledge development, and social work ethics and values. This will provide an important foundation for grounding your emerging framework for practice.

In this unit, we ask you to be prepared to DISCOVER, THINK and SYNTHESISE. You will discover a range of ideas to think about practice (theorise) and consider what informs your practice (synthesise) your practice for now. We work on the assumption that this process is iterative and lifelong so that your framework for practice will evolve, grow, and change as the context in which we live does so also.

This unit prepares you for Social Work Practicum 1 by supporting you in developing theoretical foundations for social work practice. The learning and teaching activities and assessment tasks in this unit will guide you in developing a framework for social work practice that is cognisant of regenerative ways of thinking, able to evolve and grow as you proceed through your life as a social worker and is congruent with decolonisation efforts, social justice, human and non-human rights.

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	Identify and critique the intersection of values, and theories, and their application in practice to consider how they support decolonisation efforts, social justice, human and non-human rights and contribute to transformative actions and strategies in practice, organisational and policy settings.
2	Develop a theoretically informed social work framework drawing on relevant values, theories and skills that demonstrates how social workers can respond to oppressive and exploitative historical, cultural, social, geographic, economic, and political contexts.
3	Apply and evaluate a theoretically informed and ethical practice framework to a social work assessment that supports achieving socially just change in the lives of people, communities, and institutions.
4	Demonstrate and appraise the qualities of a critically reflective social worker by critically evaluating how your framework for practice enables or hinders social work ethics, values, and decolonisation efforts.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback both informally during the delivery of the unit in 2026, and formally through the University of Tasmania’s Unit Survey following your completion of the unit. This unit is a revised iteration of its predecessor, expanded from a 6 week online format to a 12 week on campus offering. The content has been restructured and refined in direct response to student feedback.

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:	Weekly Journal	Week 5	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Case Study	Week 10	40 %	LO1, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Professional Practice Framework	Week 12	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Weekly Journal

Task Description:

Each topic in the first 5 weeks of the unit will provide critical questions on which to reflect upon in a journal. You will use your journal responses to assist you in developing a Professional Practice Framework in Assessment 3. You will be invited to share your explorations and insights in tutorials.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrates insightful reflection, providing analysis and personal insights.	LO1, LO4
2	Connects journal entries to course material, showing a thorough understanding.	LO1, LO2
3	Demonstrates critical thinking and analysis, questioning assumptions and exploring multiple perspectives. Entries are original and creative.	LO1, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Case Study

Task Description:

You will be provided with a range of case studies from which you will select one that provides an opportunity to apply theory to a practice example. Your chosen case study will enable you to demonstrate how the application of theory is used to assess the issues/context including a plan for action. Your application of theory to practice will draw from the theories explored in the unit and link to/ justify your approach.

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Provides thorough and insightful assessment of the issues and context, using theory to support analysis.	LO3
2	Applies theory to practice with insight, clearly demonstrating how theory informs the assessment and action plan.	LO1, LO3
3	Provides justification for the chosen approach, clearly linking it to relevant theories.	LO1, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Professional Practice Framework

Task Description:

Develop a beginning Theoretical Framework for Practice, drawing on insights from your weekly journal and discussions in class, which demonstrates the way theory informs your social work practice guided by the following questions:

How does the theory framework contribute to your social work practice?

How does your theory framework reflect a decolonised approach to practice?

What are areas for development?

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrates understanding and integration of social work ethics and values, clearly articulating their application in the chosen case study.	LO1, LO2, LO4
2	Integrates multiple theoretical perspectives, demonstrating an understanding of their relevance and application to practice.	LO2, LO3
3	Presents insightful reflections on how the framework contributes to decolonised practice. Demonstrates critical thinking and analysis, questioning assumptions and exploring multiple perspectives.	LO2, 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.