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Legal and Ethical Contexts of Practice (SCWK90055)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability | September |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject provides an overview of social work ethics and the Australian and Victorian legal systems. It explores values and principles upon which human services law and social work ethics are based. The subject examines current legal and practice issues which practitioners can expect to encounter in such practice areas as child protection, family law, domestic violence, mental health, guardianship, and working with refugees.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge
On completion of the subject, students should be able to:
- Describe the influence of ethical theory, codes of ethics, legal principles, legislation, personal values and professional values on ethical decision-making processes;
- Articulate the role and influence of international law and human rights frameworks in social work practice;
- Describe key elements of the Australian legal system including court and tribunal structures and processes, procedures for appearing in court, access to justice issues, development of legislation and law reform;
- Articulate key legal principles relevant to social work practice; and
- Identify the legal context, legislation and law reform issues in typical areas of social work practice.
Skills
On completion of the subject, students should be able to:
- Critically assess ethical issues and dilemmas and utilise steps in the ethical decision-making process;
- Assess the legal requirements on social workers in practice including legal principles such as duty of care and duty to protect; and
- Critically analyse the legal context and law reform issues in typical social work practice contexts.
Application of Knowledge and Skills
On completion of the subject, students should be able to:
- Apply the key steps in ethical decision-making processes to typical ethical dilemmas encountered in social work practice; and
- Apply the ethical and legal responsibilities of social workers in practice generally, and in a range of diverse social work practice contexts.
Generic skills
Students who complete this subject 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: 31 January 2024
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
A written paper
| Mid semester | 40% |
2 short tests (Multiple choice question and short answer, 10% each)
| Mid semester | 20% |
A written paper
| End of semester | 30% |
Class participation in tutorials | Throughout the semester | 10% |
Hurdle requirement: Attendance at a minimum of 50% of seminars and week 4 lecture | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- September
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 2 September 2024 to 3 November 2024 Last self-enrol date 13 September 2024 Census date 20 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 25 October 2024 Assessment period ends 22 November 2024
Time commitment details
170 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Rice, Day & Briskman (2018) Social Work in the Shadow of the Law (5th Edition). The Federation Press.
- 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: 31 January 2024