WS2510 - Interpersonal Practice

Introduction to the skills and frameworks of interpersonal practice and communication in social welfare including the facilitative conditions of helping, reflective empathic listening (including skills of working across culture and difference), a range of other methods of helping in social welfare practice (eg advocacy and mediation)and perspectives on Indigenous styles of helping.

Learning Outcomes

• understanding of and skills in the use of self and attending behaviours including empathy, warmth, respect, openness and genuineness;
• understanding of and skills in using a range of micro-skills of interpersonal communication and helping, including engaging and building rapport, reflective listening, identifying and reflecting feeling, questioning and paraphrasing;
• understanding of the importance of race, ethnicity and culture on the development of empathic relationships in social welfare practice and the ability to demonstrate sensitivity to these issues;
• understanding of a range of other helping interventions used in social welfare practice (eg. mediation, advocacy);
• understanding and appreciation of the contribution that Indigenous frameworks of helping offer in extending the responsiveness and sensitivity of social welfare interventions.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.