Handbook home
Working in Human Service Organisations (SCWK90070)
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
September
Overview
Availability | September |
---|---|
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
Knowledge
On completion of the subject, students should be able to:
- Describe and analyse a human service organisation from different theoretical perspectives;
- Develop a conceptual and empirical understanding of the key dimensions of organisational analysis e.g., size, structure, goals, technology, culture;
- Identify the common tensions confronting both service users and professionals in human service organisations; and
- Describe change processes and resistance to change in human service organisations.
Skills
On completion of the subject, students should be able to:
- Critique how human services organisational theories apply to social work in a range of fields of practice; and
- Analyse the key functions, roles and culture of a Human Service Organisation.
Application of Knowledge and Skills
On completion of the subject, students should be able to:
- Apply human service organisational theories and practices in their social work practice to analyse and understand its impact.
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: 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 |
---|---|---|
Two 2500 word written essays, 50% each, one due mid and one end of semester
| Throughout the teaching period | 100% |
Attendance at a minimum 50% of semimars Hurdle requirement: Attendance at a minimum of 50% of seminars is a hurdle requirement. | Throughout the teaching period | 0% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- September
Principal coordinator Janet Farrow 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 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 September contact information
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
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: 31 January 2024