Undergraduate - Course1731 - Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling

This accredited course equips students for competent and ethical community welfare and counselling practice. The degree develops skills and knowledge for intervention across a range of practice fields, including, but not limited to: counselling, child protection, disability, family support, homelessness, community corrections, youth justice, community development, aged care, family violence and research and policy analysis. The study program includes case management and human services practice from a management perspective.

Students must complete a structured sequence in community welfare and counselling, and two practice placements in community development and human service organisations. The study program focuses on counselling, group work, community development, social policy and emancipatory practice. Students will also take an arts minor in Australian Indigenous studies, community studies, psychological studies, psychology or sociology.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes. For more information refer to http://opvclt.monash.edu.au/curriculum-by-design/aligning-course-outcomes-with-aqf-bologna.html.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the theory and practice of welfare counselling with individuals, families, groups and communities at interpersonal, group, organisational and government levels
• apply critical reflection and advanced understanding to the literature in the field of community welfare and counselling
• demonstrate awareness and understanding of the cultural and political differences inherent within communities
• demonstrate clear and cogent argument in oral and written exposition in the application of community welfare theory and practice

Students are required to undertake a 16-day field education placement and a 60-day field placement during this course.

This course is recognised by the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA).

This course consists of a community welfare and counselling sequence, four compulsory units, an arts minor and additional studies in arts.

• Australian Indigenous studies*
• Australian studies
• Communications
• Community studies*
• Criminal justice*
• History-politics
• Philosophy
• Psychological studies*
• Psychology*
• Sociology*
• Writing

* Available minor disciplines.

Students must complete:

(a.) a community welfare and counselling sequence (66 points):

• ATS1361 Governing inequality: Foundations of social welfare provision
• ATS1362 Interpersonal practice and counselling skills
• ATS1363 Counselling and groupwork skills
• ATS2822 Advanced counselling and case management
• ATS2823 Community development
• ATS2825 Social issues and personal values
• ATS3713 Field education and practice (12 points)
• ATS3848 Insights into practice
• ATS3850 Human services management and practice
• ATS3851 Social policy

(b.) two compulsory supporting units (12 points):

• ATS1251 Introduction to Australian Indigenous societies
• ATS1367 Sociological reflections on everyday life

(c.) two compulsory supporting units at second level (12 points):

• ATS2260 Developmental psychology: Behaviour across the lifespan**

plus one of:

• ATS2364 Activism, politics and Indigenous Australia
• ATS2367 Australian Indigenous women
• ATS2369 Human rights and the Indigenous Australian experience
• ATS2737 Social justice

(d.) a further 54 points in arts*, comprising:

(i.) at least one minor in the available minor disciplines listed under 'Areas of study'

(ii.) 18 points of first-year-level units (which includes the first-year level units from the minor) selected from the disciplines listed under 'Areas of study'

Students must complete a minimum of 36 points at third-year level.

No more than 10 units (60 points) are to be completed at a first-year level.

*It is recommended that students must complete an arts major or a second minor.

** Students who choose to complete a minor in psychology must replace ATS2260 (Developmental psychology) with PSY2031 (Developmental and biological psychology).

Note: Psychological studies units are tailored to those students intending to proceed in community welfare and counselling, but some students may wish to undertake units in Psychology (APAC accredited) instead. Students who are interested in completing a minor in either of these disciplines must ensure they complete the first-year sequence.

Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling