Introduction to Social Work and Human Service Practice
UndergraduateTAS-HGW1012027
Course information for 2027 intake View information for 2026 course intake
Learn how social workers advocate for justice and empower communities. You’ll explore inequality and the role social workers play in creating a more inclusive and equitable society. Build your social work foundations. Reflect and engage with the class.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 14 Feb 2027
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Price from
- $2,690
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Introduction to Social Work and Human Service Practice
About this subject
On successful completion of this subject, students will be able to:
- Illustrate the role and value of micro, meso and macro social work responses to contemporary social justice and human rights issues using contemporary case scenarios.
- Use critical social work theories and critical analytical skills to reveal how historical and current inequalities of power and privilege are constructed.
- Identify personal beliefs and values and consider their impact for social work practice by using critical reflection skills and engaging with constructive feedback from others.
- Examine how social work is shaped and constrained by key national and international contexts and discourses by collaborating with others.
- Module 1: What is social work?
- Origins of the work
- Ethics in Social Work
- Fields and context of practice
- Module 2: How the work is done
- Use of Self
- Working relationally and collaboratively
- Scope of practice
- Module 3: Key Issues for Social Work
- Thinking globally
- Frameworks and theories
- Workplace practice
- Module 4: Social Work in Action
- Theory into practice 1
- Theory into practice 2
- Change and influence
This subject introduces you to the foundations of social work practice in human service organisations. You will develop critical analytical skills to explore historical and contemporary inequalities of power and privilege based on, for example, race, gender, sexuality, geographic location and health status. Through this examination, you will be able to clarify the role of social work to create more inclusive, just and humane societies. You will gain an understanding about the purpose and domains of social work practice, professional standards, knowledge for practice, and ethics. Practice fields and methods of intervention are covered to illustrate how social workers work in micro, meso and macro environments to create a more just society and to protect and enable human rights.
- Journal of Learning Provocations (40%)
- Presentation of social work practice challenges (40%)
- Respectful Online Discussion of a Social Issue and Participation in Discussions (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- TAS-COU-DIP-2027 - Diploma of Counselling
Equivalent subjects
You won't be able to enrol into this subject if you've already successfully completed or currently enrolled in the following subject(s) as they are considered anti-requisites due to the similarity of the content.
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Teaching Arrangements: One hour online learning and three hours independent self-directed learning weekly. The three hours includes one hour as dedicated reading time. Additionally, optional drop in sessions will be offered over the semester to support students to engage with content and clarity regarding assessment.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateTAS-COU-DIP