Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Course

The course aims to provide professional education for the practice of social work. It covers social work principles and methods of intervention relating to individuals, families, groups and communities. It also includes social work research, social policy and management. Fieldwork is interwoven with class work during the course.

On completion of this course students should be able to:

• understand and critically analyse the historical, political and social context of the social services
• have an understanding of and be able to critically analyse the nature and role of social work, its values, ethical base, and sources of knowledge
• understand, critically analyse, and apply a variety of social work theories and models of intervention to the solution of individual, family and community problems
• understand and be able to apply an understanding of factors affecting people's functioning - their life stage, health, and mental health - to the solution of their problems
• understand the organisational context of human services, how this affects the workings of human services, and how to develop and change organisations
• have a beginning understanding of the processes of planning and evaluating the effectiveness of human services
• deepen existing skills of written and oral presentation, argument and analysis, and be able to apply these effectively in practice
• develop the skills to function as a graduate in employment in the human services
• to develop their understanding of themselves as individuals and as professionals, critically analyse the way their experiences can affect their work with clients, learn to handle these constructively, and learn to use their personal capacities effectively in helping clients resolve problems.

Special requirements

Police and Working with Children Checks

Organisations that host clinical and community placements require students to have current Police and Working with Children checks regarding their suitability to undertake such placements. All enrolled and prospective students are advised that they will be required to obtain Police and Working with Children checks prior to undertaking their placement. Working with Children checks are valid for five years and are available free. Police checks must be applied and paid for annually. However, in some community partnered programs there may be a requirement to have a police check renewed every six months.

Fieldwork practice units

This course requires students to undertake off-campus fieldwork placements. In the fieldwork setting students will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision. Attendance is mandatory for the fieldwork component of each unit.

Where a student's skill or knowledge is found to be inadequate, access to the fieldwork component of the unit will be denied. A student may be withdrawn from a fieldwork practicum if required skills and knowledge are deemed inadequate, or on other grounds deemed appropriate by the head of school.

Fieldwork expenses

Students are responsible for all travel and accommodation expenses during fieldwork placements.

Graduates will qualify for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Students complete 14 compulsory units.

Level one

First semester

• SWK3220 Social work in society
• SWK3230 Social work research
• SWK3240 Working with individuals: Theory and practice
• SWK3250 Social work perspectives on human development

Second semester

• SWK3120 Working with families and groups: Theory and practice
• SWK3180 Fieldwork skills and practicum I
• SWK3260 Social policy and social justice I

Level two

First semester

• SWK4410 Community work: Theory and practice
• SWK4420 The individual, health and society
• SWK4430 Cross-cultural social work: Theory and practice
• SWK4440 Social work management: Theory and practice

Second semester

• SWK4560 Fieldwork skills and practicum II
• SWK4450 Social policy and social justice II
• SWK4460 Critical and creative social work: Theory and practice

Bachelor of Social Work