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  2. Social Policy [SWK4106]

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Social Policy

  • Unit Code

    SWK4106

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit outlines major theoretical approaches to the study of social policy within a historical and contemporary Australian context. It will build upon the specific knowledge gained in previously studied policy and politics units. Students will explore the philosophical concepts and ideological positions which underpin current debates relevant to social policy and social work practice. Students will also develop the skills to critically analyse policy and communicate policy analysis.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply a critical policy analysis framework to contemporary Australian social policies.
  2. Articulate an understanding of the key social policy debates and appraise current policies in Australia and internationally, particularly as they relate to rural and remote communities.
  3. Articulate and reflect on their values and ideological positions, which inform approaches to social problems and social policies.
  4. Identify and apply skills in policy analysis and communication.
  5. Identify the influence of the various theoretical and ideological positions on the policy development process and specific social policies.

Unit Content

  1. Definitions of social policy and the policy process and the relevance of social policy to social work practice.
  2. Overview of current social policy issues and the relevance to social work such as: privatisation, contracting of services, corporatisation, economic rationalism, and the New Right; social justice strategies. Welfare and citizenship; institutionalism/residualism.
  3. Regionalisation and decentralised decision-making \ remote communities and issues of privatisation.
  4. Techniques of communicating policy analysis.
  5. The components of a critical policy analysis framework.
  6. The relationship between approaches to social problems (private/public issues), social change, values/ideology and social policy, and how these are reflected in political platforms and particular policy areas by applying major conventional classifying perspectives.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures and tutorials, student discussion groups, student presentations, guest speakers and video resources.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ParticipationOnline Collaboration30%
ReportReport30%
TestIn Class Test40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ParticipationOnline Collaboration30%
ReportReport30%
TestOnline Test40%

Text References

  • ^ McClelland, A., & Smyth, P. (2014). Social policy in Australia: Understanding for action (3rd ed.). Sth Melb, Vic.: Oxford.
  • Althaus, C., Bridgman, P., & Davis, G. (2012). The Australian social policy handbook (5th ed.). Crows Nest, NSW.: Allen & Unwin.
  • Bryson, L. (1992). Welfare and the state: Who benefits? Houndmills, Basingstoke: Macmillan Press.
  • Carson, E., & Kerr, L. (2014). Australian social policy and the human services. Port Melb, Vic.: Cambridge.
  • Dalton, T. Draper, M., Weeks, W., & Wiseman, J. (1996). Making social policy in Australia: An introduction. St Leonards: Allen & Unwin.
  • Fawcett, B., Goodwin, S., Meagher, G., & Phillips, R. (2010). Social Policy for Social Change. South Yarra, Victoria: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Jamrozik, A. (2005). Social Policy in the post-welfare state: Australian society in the 21st century. (2nd ed.). Frenches Forest: Pearson Education.
  • McDonald, C. (2006). Challenging social work: The institutional context of practice. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Saunders, P. (Ed.). (1994). Welfare and inequality: National and international perspectives on the Australian welfare state. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.
  • Williams, F. (1989). Social policy: A critical introduction. Oxford: Polity Press.
  • Rees, S., & Rodley, G. (Eds.). (1995). The human costs of managerialism: Advocating the recovery of humanity. Leichhardt: Pluto Press.
  • Yeatman, A. (Ed.). (1998). Activism and the policy process. St Leonards: Allen and Unwin.

Journal References

  • Australian Journal of Rural Health
  • Australian Journal of Social Issues
  • Australian Quarterly
  • Australian Social Work
  • Community Quarterly
  • Journal of Australian Political Economy
  • Journal of Social Issues
  • Regional Journal of Social Issues
  • Rural Society

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SWK4106|1|1

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Social Policy

  • Unit Code

    SWK4106

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit outlines major theoretical approaches to the study of social policy within a historical and contemporary Australian context. It will build upon the specific knowledge gained in previously studied policy and politics units. Students will explore the philosophical concepts and ideological positions which underpin current debates relevant to social policy and social work practice. Students will also develop the skills to critically analyse policy and communicate policy analysis.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply a critical policy analysis framework to contemporary Australian social policies.
  2. Articulate an understanding of the key social policy debates and appraise current policies in Australia and internationally, particularly as they relate to rural and remote communities.
  3. Articulate and reflect on their values and ideological positions, which inform approaches to social problems and social policies.
  4. Identify and apply skills in policy analysis and communication.
  5. Identify the influence of the various theoretical and ideological positions on the policy development process and specific social policies.

Unit Content

  1. Definitions of social policy and the policy process and the relevance of social policy to social work practice.
  2. Overview of current social policy issues and the relevance to social work such as: privatisation, contracting of services, corporatisation, economic rationalism, and the New Right; social justice strategies. Welfare and citizenship; institutionalism/residualism.
  3. Regionalisation and decentralised decision-making \ remote communities and issues of privatisation.
  4. Techniques of communicating policy analysis.
  5. The components of a critical policy analysis framework.
  6. The relationship between approaches to social problems (private/public issues), social change, values/ideology and social policy, and how these are reflected in political platforms and particular policy areas by applying major conventional classifying perspectives.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures and tutorials, student discussion groups, student presentations, guest speakers and video resources.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ParticipationOnline Collaboration30%
ReportReport30%
TestIn Class Test40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ParticipationOnline Collaboration30%
ReportReport30%
TestOnline Test40%

Text References

  • ^ McClelland, A., & Smyth, P. (2014). Social policy in Australia: Understanding for action (3rd ed.). Sth Melb, Vic.: Oxford.
  • Althaus, C., Bridgman, P., & Davis, G. (2012). The Australian social policy handbook (5th ed.). Crows Nest, NSW.: Allen & Unwin.
  • Bryson, L. (1992). Welfare and the state: Who benefits? Houndmills, Basingstoke: Macmillan Press.
  • Carson, E., & Kerr, L. (2014). Australian social policy and the human services. Port Melb, Vic.: Cambridge.
  • Dalton, T. Draper, M., Weeks, W., & Wiseman, J. (1996). Making social policy in Australia: An introduction. St Leonards: Allen & Unwin.
  • Fawcett, B., Goodwin, S., Meagher, G., & Phillips, R. (2010). Social Policy for Social Change. South Yarra, Victoria: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Jamrozik, A. (2005). Social Policy in the post-welfare state: Australian society in the 21st century. (2nd ed.). Frenches Forest: Pearson Education.
  • McDonald, C. (2006). Challenging social work: The institutional context of practice. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Saunders, P. (Ed.). (1994). Welfare and inequality: National and international perspectives on the Australian welfare state. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.
  • Rees, S., & Rodley, G. (Eds.). (1995). The human costs of managerialism: Advocating the recovery of humanity. Leichhardt: Pluto Press.
  • Williams, F. (1989). Social policy: A critical introduction. Oxford: Polity Press.
  • Yeatman, A. (Ed.). (1998). Activism and the policy process. St Leonards: Allen and Unwin.

Journal References

  • Australian Journal of Rural Health
  • Australian Journal of Social Issues
  • Australian Quarterly
  • Australian Social Work
  • Community Quarterly
  • Journal of Australian Political Economy
  • Journal of Social Issues
  • Regional Journal of Social Issues
  • Rural Society

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SWK4106|1|2