SCWK6948: Semester 1, 2022

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Units SCWK6948 Semester 1 2022 [Normal evening]

Unit of study_

SCWK6948: Social Policy Frameworks

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal evening] - Remote

Overview

This unit aims to provide students with a sound understanding of the key institutional components of the Australian welfare system and the key issues and debates associated with the theory and practice of contemporary social policy. The target audience for this unit includes participants from a diverse range of organisations involved in human service provision. All human service work takes place in the context of social policy: social policy provides the mandate and the resources for human service work, and the activities of workers are extensively defined and shaped by social policy. In turn, human service workers are increasingly involved in the shaping of policy, or policy action. The rationale for this unit is to provide an opportunity for students to develop an advanced understanding of social policy frameworks in order to inform policy action.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	SCWK6948
Academic unit	Social Work
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Jioji Ravulo, jioji.ravulo@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Jioji Ravulo, jioji.ravulo@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	Social Policy Briefing Paper Proposal and Oral Presentation 10 minute in class oral presentation and 3 page proposal via Turnitin	25%	Multiple weeks Due date: 18 May 2022 at 23:59 Closing date: 01 Jun 2022	10min & 1page proposal (500wd)
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Policy Briefing Paper Written task	50%	STUVAC Due date: 01 Jun 2022 at 23:59 Closing date: 15 Jun 2022	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Critical review of two articles Critical appraisal essay.	25%	Week 06 Due date: 30 Mar 2022 at 23:59 Closing date: 13 Apr 2022	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Critical review of two articles: This short paper is designed to give students an opportunity to demonstrate their comprehension and capacity to use some of the concepts and analytical modes presented and developed in the unit. The paper involves students providing a critical discussion of two selected articles: one focuses on social policy principles, the other on some major shifts that have occurred in Australian policy frameworks.
Social policy brief – proposal and oral presentation: Students will select a specific policy case study for the social policy briefing paper. The briefing paper will address a contemporary policy ‘problem’ of interest to the student. Students are required to construct a plan of action for researching and writing the policy briefing paper – to be presented and submitted in writing in week 10 or 11.
Policy briefing paper: Students are required to write a social policy briefing paper for submission at the end of this unit of study. This is a research paper which must define and address a contemporary policy ‘problem’.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

For more information see guide to grades.

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.

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 02	Introduction to Social Policy Frameworks	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	Social Policy and Social Change	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 04	The Australian Welfare State	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 05	Making Social Policy / Making Social Problems	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 06	Social Policy Principles: 'Poverty' and 'Inequality'	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 07	Researching and Writing a Briefing Paper	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 08	Social Policy Principles: 'Social Exclusion' and 'Social Inclusion'	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 09	Post Colonial Social Analysis	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 10	Social Policy and Provision: Which organisations and what kinds of people?	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 11	Briefing Paper Presentations - Part 1	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 12	Briefing Paper Presentations - Part 2	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 13	In Summary - What is Good Social Policy?	Seminar (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: The Sydney School of Education and Social Work requires attendance of at least 90 percent of all seminars, workshops or lectures. Where a student is unable to attend at the required rate evidence of illness or misadventure may be required and the student may be required to undertake extra work. Students should discuss the circumstances of their absence(s) with the co-ordinator of the unit of study. Further details are provided in the School canvas site: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/13426

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

The prescribed readings are available through E-Reserve on 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.

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

LO1. Demonstrate an understanding of the broad history and major debates concerning the development of welfare states
LO2. Demonstrate an understanding of the institutional frameworks of Australian social policy, including an understanding of the legal, administrative, financial and organisational arrangements for human service provision
LO3. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the contemporary issues and debates in at least one specific area of policy and provision
LO4. Undertake critical analyses of a broad range of contemporary policy problems and be able to present this policy analysis in written and oral form.

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.

No changes

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

If you are undertaking professional experience/field education placement as part of your enrolment in this unit of study, please assess your specific needs and requirements for the safe and successful completion of an external placement within a host organisation. You will be given the opportunity to disclose any health issues that have a work health and safety significance before arranging a placement so that your safety, and the safety of others, can be properly assessed. The Professional Experience Coordinator/Field Education Manager will work to ensure that the workplace assignment to you is appropriate for your needs and requirements. If you are experiencing disability, and require reasonable adjustments to be arranged, please contact Disability Services as early as possible prior to commencing the internship. Please note, in all cases, and for the purpose of organising reasonable adjustments, only the impact and not the nature, of your disability will be disclosed to the host organisation.

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

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

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

Additional information

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

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