Engaging with Families

Subject SCWK90059 (2014)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2014.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2014.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 contact hours (8 x 1 hour lecture, 8 x 2 hour seminar)
Total Time Commitment:

96 hours

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the University’s courses. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Course Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Contact

School of Health Sciences
The University of Melbourne

Alan Gilbert Building
Level 7, 161 Barry St

Carlton Victoria 3053 AUSTRALIA
T: +61 3 8344 4171


W: www.socialwork.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject critically examines the relationship between contemporary social work practice with families and family therapy. It explores the benefits and limitations of a selected range of theoretical frameworks and practice tools relevant to assisting families with their various problems in living across the family life course. Emphasis will be placed upon students’ capacity to critically evaluate these theoretical approaches and to examine their relevance for varied organisational contexts and diverse presenting issues in family social work.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this series of lectures and seminars, participants should be able to:

  • Identify the key elements and logic of several theoretical approaches to social work with families.
  • Take a critical and inquiring approach to selecting, evaluating and applying these models of family intervention within contemporary social work practice, in the light of family diversity, gender issues, and presenting psycho-social issues.
  • Select practice approaches appropriate to particular practice settings with attention to the mandate for intervention and issues of consumer choice.
  • Independently and competently make a written differential psycho-social family assessment from given data and informed by theory.
  • Independently and competently make a feasible plan of family intervention, which flows logically from the psycho-social assessment and which is sufficiently operationalised to permit outcome evaluation.
  • Critically reflect on and discuss the implications of theoretical stances for worker–client relationships, working arrangements and ethical practice.
  • As part of a team focussing on a particular method of practice, make a competent demonstration of particular practice strategies, and engage peers in active learning with respect to the theory and practice of the strategies.
Assessment:

1. Written assignment totalling 1,500 words (due mid semester) 30%

2. Case study of 3,5000 words (due end of semester) 70%

Prescribed Texts:

Goldenberg, H. & Goldenberg, I. (2013). Family Therapy: An overview, 8th Ed. Belmont, CA: Brooks Cole/Cenage Learning.

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
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.
Links to further information: http://www.socialwork.unimelb.edu.au/
Related Course(s): Master of Social Work

Download PDF version.