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Working in Human Service Organisations (SCWK90070)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville) and Online
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | June - Online August - On Campus |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject aims to give students an appreciation of the nature of human service organisations as a context, vehicle and target of social work interventions. Several theoretical perspectives on human service organisations will be explored and students will be introduced to a number of specific dimensions useful in understanding organisations, like goals, mission, technology and culture. They will also examine the different ways in which such organisations are structured for line and task accountability and what difference the overall size of the organisation makes for both workers and clients. The environment in which an organisation operates and its inter-organisational field are of increasing importance in human service practice and different ways of understanding and conceptualizing the environment will be presented. The clients/consumers/target groups of human service organisation have a major influence on program design and choice of technology. Similarly, the way in which work is structured in the organisation will have a particular impact on staff in terms of the manner in which they interact with colleagues and manage their time and stresses of the job. Utilisation of supervision and the nature of interdisciplinary teamwork will be particularly explored. Finally, the course will explore how change within the organisation can be initiated, implemented and evaluated.
Intended learning outcomes
At the completion of this subject students should be able to:
- describe and analyse a human service organisation from a number of different theoretical perspectives;
- develop a good conceptual and empirical understanding of some of the key dimensions of organisational analysis e.g. size, structure, goals, technology, culture
- be familiar with common tensions confronting both service users and professionals in human service organisations
- be able to understand change and resistance to change in human service organisations
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- critically analyse texts and practices
- understand recent developments in social work contexts of practice
- link theory to practice
- competently communicate in ways relevant to both academic and practice contexts
- undertake independent research
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
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Two 2500 word written essays, 50% each, one due mid and one end of semester
| Throughout the teaching period | 100% |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- June - Online
Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 24 contact hours (8 x 1 hour lecture, 8 x 2 hour seminar) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 15 June 2020 to 7 August 2020 Last self-enrol date 25 June 2020 Census date 3 July 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 July 2020 Assessment period ends 17 August 2020 - August - On Campus
Principal coordinator Ralph Hampson Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 contact hours (8 x 1 hour lecture, 8 x 2 hour seminar) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 31 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 11 September 2020 Census date 5 October 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 November 2020 Assessment period ends 5 December 2020
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
2013, English, Book, Illustrated edition: The organisational context of human service practice/Elizabeth Ozanne and David Rose. Ozanne, Elizabeth 1944- (author)
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Social Work - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022