Graduate Certificate in Narrative Therapy and Community Work (GC-NTCW)

Overview

Award title	Graduate Certificate in Narrative Therapy and Community Work
Year & campus	2023 — Parkville
Fees information	Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & type	Graduate Coursework
AQF level	8
Credit points	50 credit points
Duration	12 months part-time or 12 months part-time

The Graduate Certificate in Narrative Therapy and Community Work is a postgraduate specialist qualification for professionals interested in enhancing their clinical and practice skills. The degree is delivered as a joint initiative of the Department of Social Work (The University of Melbourne) and The Dulwich Centre, Adelaide. The Dulwich Centre is the international centre for narrative therapy training, established by the internationally renowned social worker and narrative therapist, Michael White, in 1984. The Graduate Certificate is a 50 credit point degree, comprised of two coursework subjects.

Narrative approaches to therapy and community work are used by social workers, psychologists, community development workers, nurses, teachers, doctors, and other health professionals in a wide range of practice settings. The degree prepares graduates for working with narrative approaches with individuals, families and communities, particularly in the areas of trauma and recovery.

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
• an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, or equivalent;
• two years of documented, relevant work experience;
• prior narrative therapy studies at Dulwich Centre, or equivalent;
• statement of up to 500 words; and
• nomination of a professional referee.

Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
• prior academic performance;
• work experience;
• personal statement;
• professional reference.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Student Application and Selection Procedure.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to providingsupport to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Intended learning outcomes

Provides graduates with the theoretical and advanced skill base for working with narrative approaches with individuals, families and communities across the life course, particularly in the areas of trauma and recovery.
Prepares graduates for narrative practice in diverse cultural contexts.
Introduces the specific theories and advanced skills of narrative therapy.
Engages students in critical reflection of their own practice development.

Generic skills

Critical thinking and analysis.
Thinking creatively.
Understanding of social, ethical and cultural context.
Communicating knowledge intelligibly and creatively.
High level personal autonomy and accountability.

Graduate attributes

Graduates of this course should acquire:

Knowledge

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Narrative Therapy and Community Work degree should have:

A body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in narrative therapy and community work, and how they relate to professional practice.

Skills

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Narrative Therapy and Community Work degree should have:

Cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of narrative therapy and community work theories and skills; and to reflect critically on the theory and professional practice of narrative therapy and community work.
Cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories of narrative therapy to different bodies of knowledge or practice.
Cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas concepts at an abstract level.

Course structure

Subject options

The course is comprised of two compulsory subjects, both at AQF level 9:

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
SCWK90060	Advanced Narrative Skills Development	February (Online)	25
SCWK90062	The Art of Narrative Practice	Semester 2 (Extended) (Online)	25

Further study

Graduates from the course are eligible to progress to the Master of Narrative Therapy and Community Work: a full 50 points of credit transfer will be awarded.

Students are required to attend classes on campus and engage in on-line learning activities as part of this course. Throughout their enrolment, it is highly recommended that they are currently working or volunteering in a context in which they can put the ideas in the course into practice.

Last updated: 2 June 2023

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