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 interpersonal counselling and group work skills, community development practice, case management and organisational practice as well as developing a strong knowledge base in social justice.

Students must complete a structured sequence in community welfare and counselling, and two practice placements in a wide range of community development and human service organisations. Students will also complete a complementary arts minor in Australian Indigenous studies, community studies, psychological studies, psychology or sociology. Most students select their arts minor to complement their preferred professional interests e.g. students interested in a counselling career often minor in psychological studies.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes (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 20-day field education placement and a 60-day block 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
• Community welfare and counselling
• Criminal justice
• Psychological studies
• Psychology
• Sociology

Note: the following are available minor disciplines: Australian Indigenous studies, criminal justice, psychological studies, psychology and sociology.

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.) four compulsory supporting units (24 points):

(i.) Students must complete:

• ATS1251 Introduction to Australian Indigenous societies
• ATS1367 Sociological reflections on everyday life
• ATS2260 Developmental psychology: Behaviour across the lifespan*

(ii.) Plus one of:

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

(c.) a complementary minor in one of the available disciplines listed under 'Areas of study' (24 points)

(d.) a further 30 points in arts**, including 6 points at first-year level

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.

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

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

Arts elective units can be identified using the browse units toolbrowse units tool (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/search) and indexes of arts unitsindexes of arts units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/index-byfaculty-arts.html) in the current edition of the Handbook. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the code ATS and numbers 1-3.

Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling