Course Outline

SWK703 Introduction to Social Work

Course Coordinator:Laura Dodds (ldodds@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2025Semester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course introduces you to social work within contemporary Australian society and globally. You will develop knowledge and understanding of the purpose, focus, core values, professional ethics, theories and processes required to undertake social work with individuals, groups and communities. The variety of roles, fields, contextual considerations and theories informing social work practice are examined, unified by an emphasis on respect for persons, human rights, social justice, professional integrity in social work practice and critical reflection.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online Learning Materials 1hr Week 1 11 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On-campus tutorial/workshop - 2 hours 2hrs Week 1 11 times

Course Topics

This course delves into a range of social work concepts essential for understanding practice within the Australian context. Key topics encompass the fundamental purpose and scope of social work, the significance of diversity, and the ethical framework provided by the AASW code of ethics. These concepts serve as pillars guiding our exploration throughout the course.

Mature Content

Drug Use, Nudity, Sex/Sexual references, Violence, Coarse Language, Adult themes

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Australian Association of Social Workers
1 Demonstrate an ability to respond to evolving practice contexts and situations within the classroom and assessment environments promptly and ethically, showing an understanding of the values, principles, and guidelines described in the Code of Ethics Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
Engaged
Problem solving
1
2 Apply an intersectional lens to your approach to practice complexities around culture and diversity while working inclusively and respectfully with others Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
Communication
Problem solving
4
3 Positively and constructively contribute critical perspectives during classroom and assessment activities that display a capacity to sustain focus, engagement, and verbal and nonverbal communication in busy and stimulated environments Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
Engaged
Communication
Collaboration
Problem solving
5
4 Identify, apply, and promote relevant human rights and social justice concepts, processes, and values in diverse contexts upholding the rights, dignity, and autonomy of all those with whom you work Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
Communication
Problem solving
3, 5
5 Engage in effective professional dialogue with a diverse range of clients, consumers, and other stakeholders, taking into account their varying communication capacities and needs and working effectively with others in a team environment Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
Engaged
Communication
Collaboration
4, 7
6 Monitor, evaluate, and review your skills, knowledge, and expertise in a range of oral and written forms across various learning and practice settings Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
Ethical
Engaged
Communication
Collaboration
Problem solving
Organisation
Applying technologies
Information literacy
9
7 Be an active learner, demonstrating your skills and capacity to work in environments with high workload demands and with competing priorities, requiring your sustained focus, ability to switch between tasks efficiently, and to meet deadlines in managing your professional learning opportunities Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
Ethical
Engaged
Communication
Collaboration
Problem solving
Organisation
Applying technologies
Information literacy
9

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Australian Association of Social Workers
1 Practice Standard 1: AASW Code of Ethics
3 Practice Standard 3: Human rights and social justice
4 Practice Standard 4: Culture, identity and intersectionality
5 Practice Standard 5: Critical thinking in practice
7 Practice Standard 7: Professional identity
9 Practice Standard 9: Professional growth

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Quiz/zes will be used to provide early feedback on the understanding of course content. 

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Quiz/zes Individual 30%
3 Quizzes
1 hour
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) Online Test (Quiz)
All 2 Artefact - Professional, and Written Piece Individual 30%
1500 words
Week 5 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Oral Group 30%
20 minutes - in class presentation.
Refer to Format In Class
All 4 Activity Participation Individual 10%
All tutorials
Refer to Format In Class
All - Assessment Task 1:Quizzes
Goal:
The goal of this assessment task is to demonstrate an understanding of a range of concepts, values, contextual considerations and theories relevant to social work
Product: Quiz/zes
Format:
Released: Weeks 4, 7 & 11
This is an individual assessment. You will access and respond to the quizzes via Canvas. Quizzes may contain multiple choice and/or short answer questions.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Identification and/or application of core concepts and processes to practice situations
1 2 4 6 7
2
Description and application of core practice values to social work and human services practice
1 2 4 6 7
3
Demonstration of critical thinking in written response
1 2 4 6 7
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Reflective and researched written piece
Goal:
Social work and human services practice are reflexive, requiring practitioners to be aware of their own orientations in a practice context and how these fit with the values and purpose of social work and human services practice. This short reflection is designed to assist you in appreciating how you understand the fit between yourself and social work and human services practice. It also provides an opportunity for you to receive feedback from your tutor about your written skills and capacity to link reflections to relevant literature.
Product: Artefact - Professional, and Written Piece
Format:
This task will be a written task.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Demonstrated ability to recognise and manage your personal values and bias in professional practice evidencing sufficient use of course and other literature to support and deepen reflection and analysis
1 2 4 6 7
2
Demonstrated ability to recognise and articulate how you can uphold the rights, dignity, and autonomy of all those with whom you work evidencing sufficient use of course and other literature to support and deepen reflection and analysis
1 2 4 6 7
3
Demonstrated understanding of the focus, purpose, and values of social work, drawing from relevant and sufficient use of course and other literature to support and deepen reflection and analysis
1 2 4 6 7
4
Use of appropriate academic writing skills, structures, referencing, grammar, and spelling.
6
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Group Case Presentation & Analysis
Goal:
The goal of this task is for you to demonstrate you can identify and apply relevant social work concepts, values, questions and theories to a given case study which are supported by relevant, contemporary literature.
This task further requires you to demonstrate your oral communication and presentation skills as well as your group work and collaboration skills in accordance with the inherent academic requirements of this degree.
Product: Oral
Format:
In small groups, you will select from a list of case scenarios and present an in-class oral and visual analysis of the chosen practice context/issue.
Presented in weeks 10 or 11.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Demonstrated capacity to ask and justify practice relevant questions to explore relevant aspects of a case study, informed by relevant and sufficient use of course and other literature to support and deepen reflection and analysis
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2
Articulated and justified application of social work concepts, values, processes, and theories to a practice situation, informed by relevant and sufficient use of course and other literature to support and deepen reflection and analysis
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
3
Work effectively with others in a team environment
3 4 5 6 7
4
Make professional decisions based on a holistic assessment of the needs, strengths, goals, and preferences of people, and critically assess the quality and veracity of all relevant information to support your decisions
1 2 4 6 7
5
Display originality, independence of thought, creativity, professionalism and the ability to engage your audience in your visual presentation
6 7
6
Demonstration of clear, articulate, engaging and professional verbal expressions and communication skills during your in-class verbal presentation.
3 6 7
Generic Skills:
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 4:Tutorial Attendance and Participation
Goal:
AASW external accreditation requires mandatory attendance for skills based tutorials. Students must attend weekly tutorials and actively participate in all tutorial activities.
Product: Activity Participation
Format:
Tutorial attendance will be recorded to meet external AASW accreditation requirements. Student participation and engagement in tutorial activities assessed based upon attendance and participation across all tutorials.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Work effectively with others in a team environment
1 3 5 6 7
2
Be an active learner, open to new and emerging knowledge, research, and evidence informing your practice
1 3 5 6 7
3
Contribute your critical perspectives in interactions with peers in a positive and constructive manner
3 4 5 6 7
Generic Skills:
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation

Assessment to competency mapping

Programme Delivery Mode Assessment Type Title Competency Teaching Methods
Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS)
All delivery modes Activity Participation Tutorial Attendance and Participation 5 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
7 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
9 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Artefact - Professional, and Written Piece Reflective and researched written piece 1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
3 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
4 Taught, Practiced
5 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
6 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
7 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
9 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Oral Group Case Presentation & Analysis 1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
3 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
4 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
5 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
6 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
7 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
9 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Quiz/zes Quizzes 1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
3 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
4 Taught, Practiced, Assessed

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au