SCW2312 - Welfare Law, Rights & Ethics

Leader: Olga Bursian

Offered

Gippsland First semester 2007 (Day)
Gippsland First semester 2007 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

Social welfare workers require a knowledge of social justice, welfare legislation, and consumer and human rights as well as a critical awareness of their legal and ethical responsibilities towards service users (citizens, residents and refugees). This unit provides an overview of professional ethics and social and human rights legislation governing direct practice. It also examines the ways in which legal obligations and powers inform professional judgement.

Objectives

Understand the rule of law, distinguish social from other forms of justice, understand, the nature, scope and purpose of welfare rights, critically assess the AIWCW Code of Ethics, become familiar with consumer rights and responsibilities and practitioners' ethical obligations towards service users (citizens, residents and non-citizens), understand the principles of autonomy and heteronomy and analyse and debate practice dilemmas arising between them.

Assessment

Report (1500 words): 30%
Group presentation: 20%
Exam: 50% Report (1500 words): 30%
Case study (1000 words): 20%
Exam: 50%

Contact hours

2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prerequisites

GSC1305 or SCW1305