Master of Social Work

This subject provides students with an introduction to the microskills of interpersonal communication for professional practice. It is an experiential subject designed to prepare students for entry into supervised agency-based practice. The subject focuses on the development of communication, basic interviewing and counselling, and critical self-reflection skills, for application in a variety of social work contexts. Cultural diversity is explored throughout. In addition to large group discussions and exercises, students engage weekly in role plays and class demonstrations to develop specific micro-skills - in particular, the skills of engaging, attending, listening, questioning, and responding.

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This subject examines the ways in which social work understands the inner and outer world dimensions of human vulnerability, adaptation and resilience across the lifespan. The usefulness of theories of grief, stress and trauma for understanding individuals’ capacity for coping with adversity is examined critically, as are understandings of diversity.

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The aim of this subject will be to enhance the theoretical and skill base of direct practice in social work. Emphasis will be given to innovative and advanced approaches in line with recent developments in professional practice with individuals. The subject will be taught using interactive groups as well as formal lectures. This will enable students to participate in an opportunity to integrate and advance theoretical and practice knowledge in relation to an evidence base for psychosocial practices in the field. Lecture topics will include an appraisal of professional expertise in social work, psychosocial assessment and the therapeutic alliance. New developments in key direct practice approaches such as psychodynamic, behavioural, group work and postmodernist paradigms will be explored both from a critical theoretical and skills based perspective.

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This subject aims to introduce students to theories and frameworks surrounding professional social work identity. It will enable students to begin a process of self-exploration and assist them to translate this knowledge of self into professional social work contexts. It will introduce students to the social work Professional Identity Framework and the use of e-portfolios as a way to collect and curate evidence of their emerging professional self in preparation for placement and the workforce. This subject will provide the scaffolding for students to develop their Professional Identity Framework while completing the course work and field placements of the Masters of Social Work. This subject is a prerequisite for Professional Identity 2 in which students will present their Professional Identity Framework and e-portfolio as an expression of professional social work identity, in preparation for graduate practice.

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Supervised field education provides a focused practice learning experience. Students will learn to integrate social work theory, knowledge, values, and practice, develop practice skills, increase their knowledge of the interface between policy, research and evidence-based practice and increase their understanding of the organisational contexts and fields of practice. The first placement is comprised of two subjects taken consecutively: SCWK90048 Supervised Field Placement 1A and SCWK90049 Supervised Field Placement 1B. This subject constitutes the first half (250 hours) of the first supervised field placement required within the Master of Social Work course.

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Supervised field education provides a focused practice learning experience. Students will learn to integrate social work theory, knowledge, values, and practice, develop practice skills, increase their knowledge of the interface between policy, research and evidence-based practice and increase their understanding of the organisational contexts and fields of practice. The first placement is comprised of two subjects taken consecutively: SCWK90048 Supervised Field Placement 1A and SCWK90049 Supervised Field Placement 1B. This subject constitutes the second half (250 hours) of the first supervised field placement required within the Master of Social Work course.

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This subject critically examines perspectives on risk and vulnerability relating to a range of psychosocial issues – mental health, child abuse, family violence, substance abuse, health, and disability. These experiences will be critiqued using a variety of practice, theoretical and consumer perspectives. The implications for social work assessment and practice will be explored.

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This subject provides an overview of social work ethics and the Australian and Victorian legal systems. It explores values and principles upon which human services law and social work ethics are based. The subject examines current legal and practice issues which practitioners can expect to encounter in such practice areas as child protection, family law, domestic violence, mental health, guardianship, and working with refugees.

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This subject is designed to introduce students to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues in the context of social work responses. The subject begins with an overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, including pre-contact, colonisation and contemporary developments. Specific attention will be paid to engaging communities - including practice principles, strategies and skills. This subject will emphasise the importance of critical self-reflection.

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The aim of the subject is to familiarise students with a range of approaches useful for researching social work practice. In this subject “practice” is defined broadly to encompass policy and organisational practice as well as practice with individuals, groups and communities.
Social work research methods are used in all aspects of social work practice from describing and attempting to understand the issues with which, and the people with whom we work, to establishing the effectiveness of what we do. There is increasingly an emphasis on evidence-based practice, which necessitates an ability to evaluate and use research evidence to inform practice. Social workers move in increasing numbers and earlier in their careers into roles requiring them to initiate as well as participate in practice based research. The organisations in which social workers work are increasingly promoting a culture of practice research in an attempt to plan and evaluate service delivery in a reflective and thoughtful way.
The lectures and seminars will present a range of practice research issues, broadly mirroring the research process in the field. They will also offer examples and identify opportunities for practice research and the challenges confronting practitioners in undertaking it.

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This subject introduces a number of approaches to program planning and evaluation, and highlights both practical aspects of the program design and evaluation process, and more conceptual or theoretical aspects. The subject focuses on macro social work interventions at the program/ organisational level. It includes how to develop new human service programs and/or how to modify existing programs to address identified needs. It further examines how to evaluate programs to assess if a program is meeting the identified needs and achieving intended outcomes. Each week of the subject focuses on a specific stage of the program planning/design process from needs assessment, program design, budgeting, implementation through to evaluation. As part of the subject assessment students will design a new human service program and also develop an evaluation plan for the program idea they have developed.

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This subject is designed to introduce students to social work practice through the interventions of group work and community work. Several theoretical frameworks for group and community work will be explored and this will be contextualised in the current policy and political climate. Using case studies and field examples the subject will explore issues of marginalisation, power, culture and diversity and how this impacts work with groups and communities. The subject aims to develop knowledge and skills in creating change through effective group work and community work practice

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This subject builds on the theoretical and skill base of SCWK90069 Researching Social Work Practice 1, with students learning to apply the research method of a scoping review. Students will be encouraged to select a field of social work practice of interest, and to explore, organise and develop an overview of the existing published evidence base. This subject will introduce students to each phase of the research method, including establishing a research question, identifying relevant studies, selecting appropriate studies and collating summarizing and reporting the results of the review of literature. The subject concludes with a focus on preparing research findings for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

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This subject introduces students to family-centered practice and engaging with families across the life course. Theories of family engagement are explored in the context of contemporary social work practice. The course will have a particular emphasis on the development of practice skill.

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This subject will give students a foundational understanding of the policy context in which they live and practice, and develop their capacity to critically read, analyse and evaluate the impact of policy in everyday lives. It will give an overview of the historical development of social policy and engage students in critical debates about the systems and policy solutions produced. It will introduce key concepts and intellectual debates in contemporary social policy and provide a framework for policy analysis that can be used in critical policy assessment. The role of social workers in social policy development and advocacy will be explored. Students will develop an increased awareness of the influence of the broader policy environment and develop the capacity to advocate for change in their work with individuals, groups and communities.

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Supervised field education provides a focused practice learning experience. Students will deepen their practice experience in areas including the integration of social work theory, knowledge, values, and practice, further develop practice skills, increase their knowledge of the interface between policy, research and evidence-based practice and increase their understanding of the organisational contexts and fields of practice. The second placement is comprised of two subjects taken consecutively: SCWK90050 Supervised Field Placement 2A and SCWK90051 Supervised Field Placement 2B. This subject constitutes the first half (250 hours) of the second supervised field placement required within the Master of Social Work course.

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Supervised field education provides a focused practice learning experience. Students will deepen their practice experience in areas including the integration of social work theory, knowledge, values, and practice, further develop practice skills, increase their knowledge of the interface between policy, research and evidence-based practice and increase their understanding of the organisational contexts and fields of practice. The second placement is comprised of two subjects taken consecutively: SCWK90050 Supervised Field Placement 2A and SCWK90051 Supervised Field Placement 2B . This subject constitutes the second half (250 hours) of the second supervised field placement required within the Master of Social Work course.

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This course explores the interface of policy and practice in the delivery of aged care services. The responses to policy shifts in aged care over time will be explored. The course will then focus on the present day impact of health care, mental health, income security, housing, and employment, educational and recreational policies on the delivery of services to older citizens collectively and as individuals. Case studies will be used to illustrate both the theoretical and practical aspects of designing and delivering services.

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Child and family welfare is a long-established field of practice for professional social workers, and this subject provides a foundation in the field of service to children at risk of harm, in the context of their family, carers and communities. Practice frameworks including public health and child rights approaches are considered, for understanding and responding to serious risk. Key legislation, policies, and previous and current efforts to reform the child protection systems, within Australia are studied, with reference to international approaches. Students will learn about the functions and skills required of social workers practicing in this particular area.

The subject is delivered online with weekly online tutorials, combining the flexibility of self-directed learning with peer discussions.

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This subject focuses on social work practice in the mental health field and examines the variety of practice perspectives that inform mental health service delivery in Australia. Topics covered include the nature of mental illness and how consumers, their relatives and friends experience it, and contemporary approaches to treatment and recovery. Also, examined are the national and state policy context, how services are organised and the particular contributions of social work practitioners within the different settings that they operate. There is a focus on psychosocial understandings of mental health and the importance of lived experience perspectives. Students will develop skills in psychosocial and risk assessments, approaches to trauma-informed practice, and working with complex forms of distress. The elective will utilise guest speakers to provide practitioner and consumers perspectives.

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This subject critically examines contemporary trauma theories, including psychodynamic, narrative, and anti-oppressive approaches. It explores their application to working with individuals, families and communities in a variety of practice settings.

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This 1 week, face to face intensive subject draws on international best practice guidelines for measuring violence against women. It is an applied research subject designed to equip students with skills to collect data or conduct research and evaluation with women who have experienced violence. The subject will support students to understand the theory behind the research methods and develop appropriate skills to measure the prevalence, nature and extent of women’s experiences of violence; and to evaluate prevention and response programs to inform evidence-based practice and support funding applications. It will cover skills required to conduct and/or commission research in this sensitive area safely and ethically, thereby preventing further harm to families.

Specific topics that will be covered include: understanding the different ways that data is collected to measure women’s experience of violence including prevalence, reported incidents of violence, and qualitative reports of the nature, severity and impact of the abuse; understanding the important standard co-variables generally collected in order to obtain a more complete picture of the women’s circumstances; skills in conducting ethical and safe research in this area including recruiting, interviewing and post interview support; the strength of triangulating research to gain multiple perspectives; and realistic expectations of how to measure impact of a program and change in a woman’s life.

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Australia has introduced the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The NDIS represents a fundamental social change in the provision of disability support services. This change places the consumer at the centre of service delivery. This subject will explore the introduction of the NDIS, exploring why this change was implemented, how it is being used by consumers and their families, and different service arrangements that are emerging as private, not for profit and public agencies seek to meet the needs of people with disabilities across the life span.

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This provides foundational knowledge in understanding domestic and family violence (DFV) and the intervention for workers in the human services sector. An analysis which draws from an ecological and a public health framing of the cultural, structural, relational and individual understandings of DFV informs the content of the course. An approach which recognises the gendered patterns of DFV and which also recognises the impact on children of living with violence and abuse provides the parameters of the subject. Issues of diversity will be woven throughout the subject.

Specific topics that will be covered include: prevalence and incidence of DFV and what this tells us about children, gender and intersectionality; risk assessment and risk management; accountability for men who use violence; strengthening the mother-child relationship in the aftermath of violence; supporting collaborative inter-agency practice; specific issues for child protection workers; the prevention agenda and strategies for earlier intervention.

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This subject aims to build on the skills of current social work, and health and human service practitioners as they engage, assess and manage risk for children and families experiencing maltreatment, and work collaboratively with colleagues from other sectors who deal with the complexities emerging from child maltreatment.

It explores the ways in which welfare systems define and respond to child wellbeing and protection needs and understand the immediate and lifelong impacts of maltreatment. It considers a multi-dimensional approach to intervention from policy, cross sector, and community viewpoints.

Each week students will draw on contemporary evidence, hear from those who currently work with children and families and have the opportunity to apply knowledge to case situations.

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This subject explores the theoretical paradigms and introduces practice skills for students interested in psychosocial practice, and supportive care in both hospital and community services for people with cancer. Advances in cancer care, and the relevance of these in relation to life stresses and quality of life, have resulted in the increased importance of psychosocial issues on assessment, intervention and recovery. The subject will include the impact of cancer on the developmental stage of the individual, including family and interpersonal relationships, as well as issues related to survivorship and the management of cancer as a chronic illness. Allied health professionals (such as social workers, physiotherapists, music therapists, occupational therapists) and nurses working in multidisciplinary cancer care teams are in a unique position to respond to the needs of people who have been diagnosed with cancer and their carers. This subject aims to strengthen their capacity to respond effectively and appropriately from a psychosocial service perspective.

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This subject aims to continue students’ process of self-exploration and theory/practice integration, enabling them to progress a knowledge of self from Professional Identity 1 into a knowledge of professional self in multiple social work contexts. Students will draw on their previous course work, field education placements and emerging e-portfolio to create and curate a consolidated personal Professional Identity Framework. They will use this framework to articulate their professional social work identity across academic and multiple workplace settings.

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