Orientation to practice

This foundational unit will facilitate the development of your knowledge and understanding of the breadth of social work practice, including working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and the constituent elements of social work service delivery. You will explore the values, ethical, and legal principles informing the social work profession and how human rights and social justice frameworks and broader socio-political discourses shape these.

You will develop your critical thinking skills by examining core fields of practice, the intersections of law and social work, and how power and authority operate in human service organisations, including the development of contemporary social policy.

You will obtain the necessary knowledge about social work placements to help you prepare for them by examining the components of the pre-placement interview, compliance obligations, and concepts of professionalism and supervision within a social work context. The preparation for placement will include developing your skills in resume writing, differentiating between various roles in the supervisory team, and critical thinking about the delivery of collaborative care within the context of the Australian welfare system.