Legal and Ethical Contexts of Practice

Subject SCWK50011 (2012)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2012.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 5 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

September, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 contact hours (8 x 1 hour lecture, 8 x 2 hour seminar)
Total Time Commitment: In addition to the subject contact hours, students are expected to devote approximately 6 hours a week to this subject.
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.

Coordinator

Dr David Rose

Contact

Social Work
Melbourne School of Health Sciences
The University of Melbourne
Level 1, 200 Berkeley St
Carlton Victoria 3010 AUSTRALIA
T: +61 3 8344 9421
F: +61 3 8344 4188
E: socialwork-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au
W: www.socialwork.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

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.

Objectives:

By the end of the subject students should be able to:

  • understand the interconnectedness of social work practice and law
  • understand the nature of the legal and ethical context of practice and the implications for social work practice.
  • understand the notion of rights, their definition and their enforcement
  • articulate the interrelationship between access to justice and socio-economic factors, gender, sexual orientation, Aboriginality and ethnicity
  • articulate and understand the ethical and legal responsibilities of social workers in their practice generally, and in a range of common practice contexts.
Assessment:
  1. Two written essays of 2,500 words, 50% each (one due mid and one end of semester)
Prescribed Texts:

Swain, P., & Rice, S. (2009) In the Shadow of the Law: The legal context of social work practice, (3rd ed.) Annandale: The Federation Press.
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;
  • undertake independent research.
Links to further information: http://www.socialwork.unimelb.edu.au/
Related Course(s): Master of Social Work
Master of Social Work (250)

Download PDF version.