SWM5115 is not in the 2027 Handbook - Monash may have renumbered or withdrawn it. This is what the 2025 Handbook published; check the 2027 Handbook or your faculty before planning next year.
Units / SWM5115
SWM5115 · Foundations for social work practice 1
2025 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5Social Work
Overview
This unit is designed to equip you with the foundation knowledge and skills for effective social work practice. It establishes the baseline capabilities critical for optimal performance in your first field work placement. The focus of this unit is on the application of the micro skills known to be common to effective client engagement and therapeutic change. Mastery of beginner level practice competency is built from an understanding of the self and implicit biases, and developing a non -judgemental lens to conceptualise and frame client problems. From this position you will learn how to connect with a broad range of service users with a focus on individuals and families. You will develop the building blocks of a therapeutic alliance that reinforces and reflects collaborative decision making, deep listening, open questioning and reflection in client interactions. Identifying client strengths and seeking feedback will complement this client centred practice toolkit. This unit privileges the ‘doing’ of social work practice through undertaking role plays, case studies and structured simulations in small classes as the platform of learning.
Offerings
The Handbook publishes no offerings for this unit.
Assessment
The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 - Weekly in-class reflection logs - reflection on self and social work values (1,000 words) | Written | 15% | — |
| 2 | 2 - Case study analysis and reflection (iSAP) - Preliminary report (1,500 words) | Written | 30% | — |
| 3 | 3 - Multi station micro skills examination | Demonstration | 40% | Competency |
| 4 | 4 - Essay - critical reflection on communication skills (1,000 words) | Written | 15% | — |
Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.
Requisites
prohibition
Prohibitions: SWM5102
SWM5102Learning outcomes
- Implement a person-centred, non-judgemental approach to direct practice social work with individuals and families
- Develop a therapeutic alliance with clients in direct practice from the beginning phases of engagement.
- Demonstrate competence in the application of the micro skills common to effective social work practice across a range of diverse service contexts and fields of practice
- Articulate and justify the adoption of explanatory theories, practice tools or therapeutic framework applied to case conceptualisations across contexts
- Critically analyse personal values, experiences and assumptions and identified implicit biases that align with or diverge from the Australian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.
- Demonstrate an awareness of ‘self’ as a practitioner and its potential impact on the professional helping relationship
Workload
6 hours of teacher directed study per week, including a 2 hour seminar, 2 hour tutorial, and three 2-hour Clinical Practice Lab (CPL) sessions over the semester. The remaining hours involve directed readings and class preparation, along with guided reflection. 6 hours per week of self-directed study. Off campus attendance requirements: Mandatory attendance: 3 days of on-campus workshops.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 18 hours |
| Tutorials | 30 hours |
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