University of Sydney Handbooks - 2013 Archive

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Graduate Certificate in Human and Community Services

This is a unique course combining policy, practice and research in the human and community services industry. This program is designed to equip students with foundational knowledge and skills for entry into the Australian human and community services industry. It also offers students the opportunity to focus on specific fields of practice, including management, community work and violence against women.

To qualify for the award Graduate Certificate in Human and Community Services candidates must complete 4 units of study (24 credit points), including

  • 1 unit of study (6 credit points) of core units; and
  • a minimum of 2 units of study (12 credit points) of elective units to be chosen from the table below; plus
  • a maximum of 1 unit (6 credit points) of postgraduate units offered by the Faculty of Education and Social Work or appropriate approved postgraduate units offered by other faculties.

Course convenor

Ms Denise Lynch
T 02 9351 3410
Room 731, Education Building, A35
E

Units of study table

Unit of study Credit points A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition Session

Graduate Certificate in Human Community Services

Core units

SCWK6943
Practice: Theory Development
6   
Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 2,

Semester 1
Semester 2

Elective units

SCWK6902
Social Research
6      Semester 2
SCWK6908
Authorised Independent Study and Report
6   
Note: Department permission required for enrolment

Semester 1
Semester 2
SCWK6910
Working with Communities
6      Semester 1
SCWK6917
Practice Development
6      Semester 1
Semester 2
SCWK6920
Mental Health: Practice and Theory
6      Semester 2
SCWK6943
Practice: Theory Development
6   
Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 2,

Semester 1
Semester 2
SCWK6948
Social Policy Frameworks
6      Semester 1
SCWK6949
Global Social Policy
6      Semester 2

Units of study listing

Graduate Certificate in Human Community Services

Core units

SCWK6943 Practice: Theory Development

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Ms Denise Lynch Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 1x2hr seminar/fortnight plus 1x6 hr Assessment: 1x1000wd presentation (20%) and 1x5000wd essay (80%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 2
Students will have the opportunity to examine current practices and practice theories in light of competing ideas espoused and employed in social work and community services. This unit will take an interdisciplinary approach to professional practice issues. It aims for the development of knowledge for reflective practice in contemporary sites of social work and community services endeavours.

Elective units

SCWK6902 Social Research

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Associate Professor Fran Waugh/Dr Margot Rawsthorne Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1x2hr seminar/week Assessment: 1x2000wd class presentation (30%); 2x250wd on-line postings (10%); and 1x3500wd research proposal (60%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit of study introduces students to a range of research methods and focus on quantitative and qualitative methods. Many other research issues in developing a research proposal will be addressed through the semester. It is intended that, at the conclusion of this unit, students will have developed a research project able to implement through either further study or in workplaces.
SCWK6908 Authorised Independent Study and Report

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Margot Rawsthorne Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: independent study - meet with supervisor 3 times Assessment: 1x1000wd proposal (20%) and 1x5000wd research essay (80%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Supervision
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit of study is designed to provide students with the opportunity to integrate their learning over their degree working with a supervisor. This unit forms the capstone for social work masters level students. Students must initially develop a short proposal and discuss this with the unit coordinator, who will organise a suitable supervisor. Approval from coordinator is required prior to enrolling in this unit. It must be taken in the final semester of study.
SCWK6910 Working with Communities

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Margot Rawsthorne Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1x2hr seminar/week Assessment: 2x500wd on-line postings (20%); 1x4000wd practice essay (45%); 1x1000wd class presentation (35%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
Working with communities is a key policy and practice priority for government and non-government agencies in Australia. This unit will critically examine the current policy frameworks informing work with communities as well as current practice models of community development and community engagement. The unit seeks to expore the why and how of work with communities. It will draw on an emerging Australian body of research about working with communities as well as drawing on experiences in the United Kingdom and the United States. This unit is suitable for practitioners seeking to work more effectively with communities.
SCWK6917 Practice Development

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Margot Rawsthorne Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: independent study - meet with supervisor 3 times Assessment: 1x1000wd proposal (20%) and 1x5000wd research essay (80%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Supervision
This unit of study is designed to provide students with the opportunity to undertake in-depth, guided study with a supervisor. It provides students to explore a specific practice issue such as working with women experiencing violence or effective policy advocacy in-depth. Students must initially develop a short proposal and discuss this with the unit coordinator. A suitable supervisor will then be appointed to work intensively with students. This unit provides students with flexibility, enabling them to tailor study around practice issues of interest. Field based learning can be arranged for students enrolled in this unit.
SCWK6920 Mental Health: Practice and Theory

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Barbara Fawcett Session: Semester 2 Classes: on-line Assessment: Participation (15%); 1x case study re. two practice standards (35%); 1x academic essay (50%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: On-line
This unit of study focuses on: the Fourth National Mental Health Plan, the Revised National Standards for Mental Health (2010 ) and the National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce (2002). It looks at theoretical underpinnings; the policy framework and the implications for practice. It adopts a constructively analytical approach and enables students to make links with their workplaces. This unit is also available as a single unit of study to professionals who wish to undertake this as a stand-alone unit.
SCWK6943 Practice: Theory Development

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Ms Denise Lynch Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 1x2hr seminar/fortnight plus 1x6 hr Assessment: 1x1000wd presentation (20%) and 1x5000wd essay (80%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 2
Students will have the opportunity to examine current practices and practice theories in light of competing ideas espoused and employed in social work and community services. This unit will take an interdisciplinary approach to professional practice issues. It aims for the development of knowledge for reflective practice in contemporary sites of social work and community services endeavours.
SCWK6948 Social Policy Frameworks

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Gabrielle Meagher Session: Semester 1 Classes: 2hr seminar/week - evening Assessment: 1x2000wd essay proposal and presentation (40%); 1x4000wd major essay (60%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Evening
This unit aims to provide students with a sound understanding of the key institutional components of the Australian welfare system and the key issues and debates associated with the theory and practice of contemporary social policy. The target audience for this unit includes participants from a diverse range of organisations involved in human service provision. All human service work takes place in the context of social policy: social policy provides the mandate and the resources for human service work, and the activities of workers are extensively defined and shaped by social policy. In turn, human service workers are increasingly involved in the shaping of policy, or policy action. The rationale for this unit is to provide an opportunity for students to develop an advanced understanding of social policy frameworks in order to inform policy action.
SCWK6949 Global Social Policy

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Ruth Phillips Session: Semester 2 Classes: 2hr seminar/week - evening Assessment: tutorial presentation and paper (40%); global social policy research exercise (60%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Evening
There is a well-established scholarship and governmental interest in both the impact of globalisation on social policy and the emergence of what is increasingly termed 'global social policy' which is a direct response to global social problems. It is a field that is growing in the areas of social policy and social work research and practice and can be clearly linked to increased employment opportunities for social workers and social policy graduates in the international/global arena. A key perspective of this unit of study is from non-government organisations' partcipation in the development of a global civil society and their contribution to global social policy. It also examines the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and how NGOs have contributed to both the ambitions of the goals as well as the outcomes for different countries. This unit provides opportunities for students to deepen their understanding and knowledge of core global concerns such as poverty, health, education, environment, NGO corporate engagement and gender equality and make links to the vital role of NGOs in these areas.

Course rules

 

Graduate Certificate in Human and Community Services


These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Resolutions of the Faculty, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.

Course resolutions

1 Course codes

Code

Course title

ZG006

Graduate Certificate in Human and Community Services

2 Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for this course is full time or part time according to candidate choice.

3 Admission to candidature

(1)
Available places will be offered to qualified applicants based on merit, according to the following admissions criteria. In exceptional circumstances the Dean may admit applicants without these qualifications who, in the opinion of the faculty, have qualifications and evidence of experience and achievement sufficient to successfully undertake the award.
(2)
Admission to candidature for the Graduate Certificate in Human and Community Services requires a bachelor's degree from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification.

4 Requirements for award

(1)
The units of study that may be taken for this course are set out in the Table of Units of Study for the Graduate Certificate in Human and Community Services.
(2)
To qualify for the award of the Graduate Certificate in Human and Community Services a candidate must complete 24 credit points, comprising:
(a)
6 credit points of core units of study from the Table; and
(b)
18 credit points of elective units of study, including 12 credit points of elective units chosen from the Table and 6 credit points of elective units chosen from any postgraduate units offered by the Faculty of Education and Social Work or approved postgraduate units offered by other faculties.

5 Credit for previous study

(1)
Credit towards the Graduate Certificate in Human and Community services may be granted under the following conditions:
(a)
no more than 6 credit points, or one quarter of the credit-point requirement for the Graduate Certificate, will be granted;
(b)
credit will not be granted for the core unit of study; and
(c)
the study must have been completed within three years of commencement of candidature for the Graduate Certificate.

6 Transitional provisions

(1)
These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2011 and students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January, 2011 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.
(2)
Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2011 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that the requirements are completed by 1 January, 2016 and provided that there is no suspension of candidature, in which case the candidature for any period shall proceed under the by-laws and resolutions in force at the time of re-enrolment. The Faculty may specify a later date for completion or specify alternative requirements for completion of candidatures that extend beyond this time.