M6012 Master of Social Work

The course is structured in two parts: Part A. Advanced preparatory studies for social work practice and Part B. Social work practice applications.

Part A.  Advanced preparatory studies for social work practice

These studies will equip you with the in-depth knowledge, skills and competencies underpinning the practice of social work as a professional, ethical and humanistic endeavour.  This part of the course pays particular attention to scaffolding your learning to the four pillars of effective social work practice – professionalism, knowledge, skills, and context.  The units in Part A are situated in a competency framework that has critical thinking at its core.  You will explore the breadth of social work fields of practice and service delivery, the constituent elements of Australia’s legal system and with an emphasis on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.  You will learn the fundamentals of human behaviour, social work assessment and intervention, and develop the meta- competencies for effective client, engagement, relationship building and beginning case conceptualisation in client interviews.  You will also develop an understanding of mezzo and macro practice level interventions and an appreciation of the role research plays in the delivery of evidence informed social work.

 Part B. Social Work Practice Applications

The units in Part B provide you with the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills developed in your advanced preparatory studies in authentic practice settings.  Through direct and supervised practice engagement, you will be able to demonstrate your understanding of the complex interactions between social workers and their clients, agency settings and the constraints of service delivery in the context of the Australian welfare state.  The units are also designed to facilitate your participation in areas of practice interest through sub specialisation in fields such as mental health, child protection, or family violence.  Additionally, you will also be given the opportunity to complete either a research project or a capstone unit which includes the selection of an additional social work practice elective.

Course progression maps

The course progression maps provide guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study:

• Full-time
• Part-time

The course comprises 96 points structured into two parts: Part A. Advanced preparatory studies for social work practice (48 points) and Part B. Social work practice applications (48 points).

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Advanced preparatory studies for social work practice (48 points)

You must complete:

• SWM5100 Orientation to practice
• SWM5112 Research for social work practice (12 points)
• SWM5115 Foundations for social work practice 1
• SWM5116 Foundations for social work practice 2
• SWM5117 Assessment and Intervention: Working with groups and communities (12 points)
• SWM5119 Recovery and trauma - informed practice in health and mental health social work
• SWM5003 Preparation for supervised social work practice (0 points)

Part B. Social work practice applications (48 points)

You must complete:

• SWM5133 The welfare state and social policy
• SWM5103 Supervised professional practice 1 (12 points)
• SWM5108 Supervised professional practice 2 (12 points)
• SWM5131 Social work capstone: Contemporary issues in social work practice

You must complete a coursework or research option:

Coursework 

You must complete:

• one 6 point elective from elective list A
• one 6 point elective from elective list B

Electives A

• SWM5126 Longevity and social work practice
• SWM5122 The child in society: Promoting children’s well-being and responding to abuse and neglect
• SWM5125 Social work practice in a hospital context
• SWM5127 Family violence and social work practice

Electives B

• SWM5121 Criminology and social work practice
• SWM5123 Mental health advanced practice
• SWM5124 Social work in post disaster sites
• SWM5132 Drug and alcohol in social work practice

Research:

You must complete:

• SWM5170 Applied research study (12 points)