Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Course

This course equips students for careers in social work with specialised knowledge of the health and social care system.

All students undertake a foundation year in applied, social and health sciences. Study covers areas of research, communication, health systems, health promotion, and the determinants of health. Later-year core units include studies in epidemiology and public health, indigenous health and wellbeing, and health promotion, plus social work subjects.

Although the course is principally intended to prepare graduates for a career in social work, the health science major sequence completed by all students also provides a grounding in health promotion and community development and partnerships, and expands career options.

On completion of this course students should be able to:

• access, select, critically appraise, interpret and apply best available evidence to inform policy and practice
• demonstrate understandings of human rights, justice and equity frameworks as tools for evaluating the effectiveness of public policy, programs and practice
• describe the structure, function and biology of the human body, and explain the interface between disease processes and strategies for prevention and management
• recognise local, national and global disparities in health status and the determinants of inequity
• design effective health promoting interventions for communities, organisations and populations using theory and evidence to guide the selection of strategies and measurement of outcomes
• build intersectoral coalitions and strategic alliances and work collaboratively in partnerships with other health professionals, consumers, communities, and organisations across multiple sectors to advance population health
• demonstrate respect for diversity underpinned by a concern for equity, equality, humanity and social justice
• interact sensitively, effectively, and in a professional manner with individuals and communities regardless of age, gender, cultural/ socioeconomic/educational/racial/ethnic background, or lifestyle preferences
• integrate the principles and provisions of Indigenous ways of knowing and cultural safety into public health policies, program and services
• demonstrate appropriate oral, written and IT skills, including the ability to present coherent arguments, negotiate effectively and manage conflict
• 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
• demonstrate the skills to function as a graduate in employment in the human services
• demonstrate 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 Checks 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 course. 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.

Health requirements

In order to meet health requirements for working in the healthcare facilities and for the protection of other students, and themselves, students may need to comply with certain precautionary procedures. These may consist of confidential tests for immune status (including blood tests and skin tests), receiving vaccines and having x-rays where the evidence indicates that these are appropriate.

Vaccinations

The faculty recommends that all students accept responsibility for having up-to-date immunisations before commencing this course. Recommended immunisations include diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tuberculosis and hepatitis B.

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 placement. Uniforms and accessories are required for clinical placements and students will be notified regarding purchase arrangements upon commencement.

This course is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers.

The normal pattern of study is 24 points per semester. Depending on the point value of units, this may equate to three or four units per semester, or in semesters where a field placement is undertaken, this is reduced to two units plus the placement.

The course is undertaken in the following sequence:

• The first year is comprised of health science units only.
• The second year is comprised of five health science units and three social work units.
• The third year includes three health science units (these complete the health science major sequence); the remainder are social work units (including the first field placement).
• The final year is comprised of social work units only, including the second field placement.

All units are compulsory.

First year

Semester one

• HSC1061 Data, evidence and critical thinking
• HSC1101 Biological basis of health and disease 1
• PSY1011 Psychology 1A
• SWK1011 Introduction to social work

Semester two

• HSC1052 Health and social care systems and policy
• HSC1082 Population health
• HSC1102 Biological basis of health and disease 2
• HSC1112 Global health: opportunities and challenges

Second year

Semester one

• HSC1051 Working with people
• HSC2101 Health promotion: global and local
• SWK3220 Social work in society
• SWK3230 Social work research

Semester two

• HSC2022 Health, society ad culture
• HSC2032 Health program planning
• HSC2062 Communicating health
• HSC2092 Community partnerships and capacity building

Third Year

Semester one

• HSC3001 Health, law and ethics
• HSC3011 Contemporary health challenges
• SWK3240 Working with individuals: theory and practice
• SWK3250 Social work perspectives on human development

Semester two

• SWK3120 Working with families and groups: theory and practice
• SWK3180 Fieldwork skills and practicum 1
• SWK3260 Social policy and social justice 1

Fourth year

Semester one

• SWK4410 Community work: theory and practice
• SWK4420 Commuity health and mental health
• SWK4430 Cross-cultural social work: theory and practice
• SWK4440 Social work management: theory and practice

Semester two

• SWK4450 Social policy and social justice 2
• SWK4460 Critical and creative social work theory and practice
• SWK4560 Fieldwork skills and practicum 2

Bachelor of Social Work

Bachelor of Health Sciences