This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

SWK4030 - Human rights, legal and ethics knowledge for social work practice

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Organisational Unit

Department of Social Work

Coordinator(s)

Dr Bernadette Saunders

Offered

Caulfield

First semester 2016 (Day)
First semester 2016 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit introduces students to the history and evolution of the international human rights regime, current debates about human rights locally, nationally and internationally, as well as ethical codes and decision-making processes as they apply to social work practice. The unit provides opportunities for students to explore the foundations of the Australian legal system in a human rights framework and the legal contexts within which social workers practice. The unit addresses concepts of moral philosophy underpinning the AASW Code of Ethics and explores the foundations of ethical decision-making. In line with Monash University's commitment to human rights and social justice, the unit has an overarching human rights approach, within which legal and ethical practice occurs.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

Utilize a human rights framework in a social work practice situation
Describe the history and current context of the international human rights regime
Demonstrate a beginning knowledge of local, national and international legal systems and how they interface with social work practice
Access and consider the implications of legislation relevant to social work practice
Implement a process of ethical decision-making, making use of the AASW Code of Ethics and other relevant tools
Analyse ethical and legal issues relevant to social work practice
Reflect critically on their approach to human rights and ethical issues
Write required reports on human rights, ethics and legal issues.

Assessment

Online multiple choice and other types of questions (600 words) (10%)
Written assignment related to law, the Australian legal system and the student's observation of court or tribunal proceedings (2,400 words) (40%)
An ethical decision-making response to a case study (3,000 words) (50%) (Hurdle)

Workload requirements

Weekly schedule (6 week intensive teaching semester on campus).

Four (4) to six (6) hours per week comprising:

Four (4) hours of lectures per week (2 x 2 hour lectures)
Three 2-hour question and answer sessions - run fortnightly
One 2-hour lecture / workshop jointly run with Translation and Interpreting Studies, Faculty of Arts
18-20 hours of self-directed learning per week in the forms of reading, online activities, and assignment preparation, including attendance at, and critical observation of, courts and tribunals.