WS5611 - Professional Development for Social Work Practice

This subject provides students of the Master of Social Work with an opportunity to reflect on their personal journey through social work studies, reviewing areas of learning and development as they relate to the professional practice standards for graduating social workers. It is expected that on completion of the subject, students will be able to articulate their vision for practice, including the values underpinning the way they intend to practice; their preferred ideological position and the skills and strengths they will bring to their practice as entry level social workers. Importantly, students will also be able to articulate the challenges they may encounter when working in the sector. Pathways to maintaining optimism and commitment to socially just and rights based practice will also be explored. Attendance at the 5 day block is compulsory.

Learning Outcomes

• critically review and analyse social systems, institutions, structures, processes, practices and inequities;
• apply to scenarios well-developed professional practice knowledge and skills autonomously and in collaboration with others to address social barriers, inequity and injustice across diverse contexts;
• demonstrated ability to engage critically with professional development activities;
• synthesis and reflect on a broad and coherent body of knowledge with depth in the underlying values, ethics, theories, professional practice and workplace contexts in the social work discipline;
• generate and transmit an approach to practice that aids in continuing professional development and a commitment to socially just rights based practice.

Subject Assessment

• quizzes or tests (30%)
• presentations (40%)
• written assignment (30%).

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.