Outline

Overview

This units introduces theory and practice focussed on community development, social and environmental justice. Students will examine the role of collective action in relation to human induced climate change and the ways in which social work practice can appropriately respond. Real world application of theory underpins the unit and will provide students with a deeper insight into the intersection between climate and social justice.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Social Work
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	96 credit points including SCWK2006, SCWK2007, SCWK2008, SCWK2009, SCWK2010
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Emma Tseris, emma.tseris@sydney.edu.au
Project supervisor(s)	Emma Tseris, emma.tseris@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Suzy Velkou, suzy.velkou@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Community Action Plan Following on from the class activity draft a community action plan for a local project which builds community inclusion and has an environmental focus. Draw on class discussion and readings on everyday community action and community development.	15%	Week 04 Due date: 23 Mar 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Jun 2025	750 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Policy Paper Drawing on one of three global policy frameworks - Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework or UN Sustainability Goals - Link global, national and local policy implementation in Australia. •	35%	Week 06 Due date: 06 Apr 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Jun 2025	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Creative assessment / demonstration	Multi-media assessment Develop a 10 minute You Tube style video for a local community group wanting to work across the community on disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Your video needs to draw on complexity thinking, community development theory and ideas, to explain	35%	Week 09 Due date: 04 May 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Jun 2025	10 minute video (1500 word equivalent)
Outcomes assessed:
Creative assessment / demonstration	Community Action Plan Presentation Present the plan you submitted in week 4 to class. Include some short reflections about any changes or additional learning you would apply to the project now compared with your thinking in week 4 when you handed the plan in.	15%	Week 11 Due date: 14 May 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Jun 2025	5 minutes (750 word equivalent)
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ? = AI allowed ?

Assessment summary

Community Action Plan - submit community action plan applying community development and complexity theory to a local environmental issue. Students must meet the required standard in this assessment to pass the unit.
Policy Paper - develop a policy paper linking global policy agreements to national and local policy change. Students must meet the required standard in this assessment to pass the unit.
Multi-media assignment - group work assignment developing a 10 minute you Tube video for community education on disaster resilience. Students must meet the required standard in this assessment to pass the unit.
Community Action Plan presentation - short reflective presentation on any changes to your submitted plan you would make drawing from learning over the whole unit.Students must meet the required standard in this assessment to pass the unit.

Assessment criteria

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Sophisticated, integrated and well researched analysis and discussion of all assessment criteria
Distinction	75 - 84	Well researched and structured analysis and discussion of all assessment criteria
Credit	65 - 74	Clear, logical and well structured assignment covering assessment requirements
Pass	50 - 64	Assignment covers key criteria but needs further research and deeper analysis

For more information see guide to grades.

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

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late penalties will be deducted in accordance with Assessment Procedures 2011 as part the statement on this outline.

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.

Learning support

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 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. 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

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week -01	Justice for earth and all who live here Locating ourselves in the world Social work responsibilities in a time of climate change	Seminar (3 hr)
Week -04	Changing climate - connecting big picture policy with local change	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 02	Complexity thinking and action Understanding dynamic systems in communities	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 03	Working with Communities theory and practice Climate change and everyday action in social work – developing community action plans	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 05	Changing Climate connecting big picture policy with local change	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 06	Project team time developing video	Independent study (3 hr)
Week 07	Project team time developing video	Independent study (3 hr)
Week 08	Project team time developing video	Independent study (3 hr)
Week 09	Adaptation, decision-making and systems change: the case of water in the Murray Darling Basin	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 10	Future thinking and action in social work practice	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 11	Community Action Plan presentations	Presentation (3 hr)
Week 12	Where to from here for social work in a changing climate?	Seminar (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

90% attendance required

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

See Canvas site

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. Understand key theoretical ideas and debates focused on climate change and social justice
LO2. Design student-led community action that demonstrates critical thinking and problem solving and creativity
LO3. Apply community development principles to real world climate justice issues
LO4. Critically review and understand the current local and global policy contexts in climate justice
LO5. Synthesise current research to develop a policy position in addressing climate change challenges and responses

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

This is a new unit of study and has not been offered before

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

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

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

SCWK3014: Community and Environmental Social Work

Semester 1, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

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

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links