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Unit outline_

SCWK1002: Introduction to Human Services

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit provides an introduction to human services in Australia. It will provide insights into the historical and contemporary characteristics of the human service sector, including the challenges posed by marketization, professionalization and neoliberalism for addressing human needs in different fields of practice. The unit introduces foundational knowledge and skills needed to work in human service organisations.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Social Work
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Sacha Jamieson, sacha.jamieson@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Minute paper
Critical reflection on week 1-3 in short-answer format #earlyfeedbacktask
5% Week 03
Due date: 18 Aug 2024 at 23:59
200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO2
Assignment Making sense of human services blog posts
Critically reflective blog posts
25% Week 06
Due date: 08 Sep 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 29 Sep 2024
1000 words (2x500 word posts)
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO1 LO2
Presentation group assignment Organisational Analysis, worker interview and class presentation
Group project over semester
40% Week 12
Due date: 24 Oct 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 24 Oct 2024
1800 word equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Final essay
Critically reflective essay on social work and human services
30% Week 13
Due date: 28 Oct 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 11 Nov 2024
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO1 LO2 LO4
group assignment = group assignment ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

  • Organisational analysis: This is a group work project. Your group will undertake allocated a human service organisation and undertake a detailed analysis, including: mapping; interviewing; and assessment. Your group will present on the organisation to your peers in tutorials.
  • Final essay: Critically reflective essay on social work and human services. 

    This assignment is about developing your critical reflection skills and imagining a future where the welfare system in Australia is fair and just for everyone. 

  • Blog posts: making sense of human services

    In this assignment you will be writing 2 blog posts of 500 words each focused on the following issues:

    1. Looking at the history and function of social work and human services,  through lectures, readings and podcasts reflect on the two or three most important new areas of learning for you so far. What are these areas of learning and why are they important from your perspective?

    2. Funding models and approaches have changed over time. Which funding models are the most fair and inclusive from your perspective? Draw on lectures, readings and podcasts.

  • Minute paper. This is an 'Early Feedback Task'. Students will write a critical reflection on their learning in week 1-3 in short-answer format.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Module 1 – Human Services: What are they, why are they, and where are we now? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 02 Module 2 – Who is listened to? Disrupting dominant discourses in the human services Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 03 Module 3 - Funding models and organisational structures Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 04 Module 4 – 'Service accessibility'. Disrupting dominant discourses in the human services Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 05 Module 5 – Big system change. Deinstitutionalisation, Disability, and the NDIS Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 06 Module 6 – People, systems, power: examples of social work practice in the service system Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 07 Module 7 – People, systems, power: examples of social work practice in the service system Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 08 Module 8 - People, systems, power- local community service example Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 No lectures and tutorials this week - your group will be interviewing your allocated social worker during this week. Time has been allocated for this instead of lectures and tutorials. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Module 10 –Imagining a different world. Changing boundaries/focus. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Module 11- Imagining a different world. Changing boundaries/focus. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Knowledge sharing and what have we learned this semester? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: The Sydney School of Education and Social Work requires attendance of at least 90 percent of all seminars, workshops or lectures. Where a student is unable to attend at the required rate evidence of illness or misadventure may be required and the student may be required to undertake extra work. Students should discuss the circumstances of their absence(s) with the co-ordinator of the unit of study. Further details are provided in the School canvas site: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/13426 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Readings  and detailed weekly modules provided via Canvas site

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. identify key theories, developments and debates in the human services sector
  • LO2. demonstrate an understanding of the role of human service workers
  • LO3. undertake a human service organisational analysis
  • LO4. critically analyse the impact of current policy and practice developments on service users and human service workers.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

90% attendance is required

Site visit guidelines

If you are undertaking professional experience/field education placement as part of your enrolment in this unit of study, please assess your specific needs and requirements for the safe and successful completion of an external placement within a host organization. You will be given the opportunity to disclose any health issues that have a work health and safety significance before arranging a placement so that your safety, and the safety of others, can be properly assessed. The Professional Experience Coordinator/Field Education Manager will work to ensure that the workplace assignment to you is appropriate for your needs and requirements. If you are experiencing disability, and require reasonable adjustments to be arranged, please contact Disability Services as early as possible prior to commencing the internship. Please note, in all cases, and for the purpose of organizing reasonable adjustments, only the impact and not the nature, of your disability will be disclosed to the host organization.

Work, health and safety

NA

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.