UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

Personal and professional values underpin the practice of social work and determine our responses to complex issues. This unit encourages students to integrate values in a framework that critically analyses the socio-political context in which social work exists. There is an emphasis on building theoretical knowledge of social work and developing cognitive skills for critical thinking, evaluation and practice-based research. Key aims of this unit include developing social work cognition, mindset and identity within the context of the historical and evidence-informed theories that relate to the profession. Key objectives of the unit include:- That students have a beginning understanding of the role of professional associations and the Code of Ethics that will guide their practice.- Be familiar with, and able to engage in, informed debate about the value base and common assumptions that underpin the profession.- Have a beginning understanding of some of the complex debate about methods, means and models that surround the profession.- Be able to identify the complex, and sometimes apparently contradictory, value base of social work and other human services and to start to articulate this within the context of their own value base and ideology.- Be able to identify and articulate how the role of a social worker may fit within the broader framework of human service delivery.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 1	UWA (Perth)	Face to face
Semester 1	Online	Online timetabled

Details for undergraduate courses

• Level 2 core unit in the Social Work major sequence

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) critique the attitudes, ethics and values important to social work as determined by the Australian Association of Social Workers; (2) demonstrate the capacity to critically reflect on social work theory and practice issues; (3) analyse different issues, problems and dilemmas that confront social workers in the context of their daily practice; (4) develop confident communication skills in both written and verbal formats in group and class settings; and (5) apply social work ethical principles to guide professional behaviour and practice.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) written assignment; (2) blogs; (3) test; and (4) professional behaviour assessment. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the professional behaviour assessment component.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Stephan Lund {0005882}

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

BH017 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)

and Successful completion of

48 points

Contact hours

Lectures
Tutorials