SCWK4011: Intensive February - March, 2026

Units SCWK4011 Intensive February - March 2026 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

SCWK4011: Domestic and Family Violence

Intensive February - March, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit of study explores the context and concepts associated with domestic and family violence. Students will examine the professional perspective of social work and learn how to critically engage across practice, policy, and research. Specific themes and topics include nature and extent of domestic and family violence, legal and services systems responses, dignity based social work practice to promote child and family wellbeing, how to address intersecting complexities in practice and learning how to collaborate with intention.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Social Work
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	(SCWK3005 or SCWK3015) and SCWK3011 and SCWK3012 and SCWK3013 and SCWK3014
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Susan Heward-Belle, susan.hewardbelle@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 6 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written work	Critical Self Care Plan Development of a Critical Self Care Plan	10%	Week -01 Due date: 18 Feb 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Apr 2026	750wds	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Media Analysis Essay	20%	Week 02 Due date: 04 Mar 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Apr 2026	1000 wds	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation and submitted work Presentation	30%	Week 03 Due date: 11 Mar 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Apr 2026	1000wds	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Essay Research Essay	40%	Week 04 Due date: 18 Mar 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Apr 2026	1750wds	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

See Canvas site

Assessment criteria

See rubric on canvas site

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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:

See Canvas site

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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	Legal and service system responses to domestic and family violence	Lecture (2 hr)
Week -01	Legal and service system responses to domestic and family violence	Tutorial (4 hr)
Week -02	The nature & extent of domestic and family violence	Lecture (2 hr)
Week -02	The nature & extent of domestic and family violence	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 01	Dignity-based social work practice to promote child and family wellbeing.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	Dignity-based social work practice to promote child and family wellbeing.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 02	Addressing intersecting complexities in practice	Lecture (4 hr)
Week 02	Addressing intersecting complexities in practice	Tutorial (8 hr)
Week 03	Collaborating with intention and integrating learning	Lecture (4 hr)
Week 03	Collaborating with intention and integrating learning	Tutorial (8 hr)

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

Required readings are listed in the 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. Articulate the aims of effective social work practice with survivors and/or perpetrators of domestic violence and/or child maltreatment, their families and communities
LO2. Describe and develop strategies to achieve socially just outcomes for survivors
LO3. Research, analyse and interpret contested theories hypothesising the aetiology of domestic violence and child maltreatment
LO4. Apply a critical lens when assessing current legal and social service responses to prevent and address domestic violence and/or child maltreatment and to develop socially just social work responses
LO5. Research, analyse, and interpret relevant Federal and State legislation and policy frameworks that guide legal and social responses to domestic violence and child maltreatment
LO6. Apply principles of social work ethics, human rights and social justice to an analysis of legal and social responses to prevent and address domestic violence and child maltreatment
LO7. Describe the nature and impact of institutional practices that parallel the tactics deployed by perpetrators of domestic violence and/or child maltreatment
LO8. Develop individual and collective solutions that resist compounding the impact of violence, abuse and neglect on victims and/or survivors

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.

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Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

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)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

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