Units / SWM5119
SWM5119 · Social work practice in health and mental health
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5Social Work
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
This unit is designed to facilitate your exposure to and understanding of core social work practice in health and mental health. The unit will include content on psychosocial assessment and intervention, clinical reasoning and risk assessment, different therapeutic approaches, formulating care plans, referral to community services, and discharge planning. Health and mental health social work involves developing an understanding of grief, loss, and adjustment, crisis and trauma, complex health issues, disability, and the role of family/carers. This unit will also include an overview of the complex health and mental health service system.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Caulfield | First semester (extended) | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
| Caulfield | Second semester (extended) | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
| Caulfield | First semester (extended) | Activities scheduled as a mix of on-campus and online activities in a block period (BLD-BLK) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Case-study analysis and reflection (2,500 word equivalent) | Written | 60% | — |
| 2 | Care plan | Artefact | 40% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- Differentiate between various sub-specialities of social work practice in health and mental health.
- Evaluate the health and mental health service systems in Australia
- Apply the social determinants of health framework to social work practice in health and mental health.
- Conduct a social work assessment and develop an intervention plan for a health-related issue.
- Develop a comprehensive care plan for someone experiencing a serious mental health issue.
- Appraise common health and mental health social work practice challenges in the broader structural and cultural systems found in the contemporary Australian context, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, adapting practices accordingly
Workload
6 hours of teacher-directed study per week, including a 2-hour seminar/lecture and 2-hour tutorial; remaining hours involve directed readings and class preparation, along with guided reflection and consolidation activities. 6 hours per week of self-directed study. Off-campus students: required attendance at yearly workshops (specific days will be advised at the beginning of each year).
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Tutorials | 24 hours |
| Lectures | 24 hours |
| Workshops | 14 hours |
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