SWM5122 · The child in society: Promoting children’s well-being and responding to abuse and neglect

Overview

In this unit your attention will be drawn to the changing roles and views of children in our society. You will consider how views of children, social and cultural values and issues of power and authority have influenced laws and policies around child safety and wellbeing including groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, ‘orphans’ and ‘forgotten Australians’. You will be challenged to consider your own value systems and culture and how these may influence your practice. You will be encouraged to consider the inherent tensions between rights and responsibilities of parents, community, the state, children and their interests. You will be shown how to recognise indicators children may be at risk of harm and explore appropriate interventions. You will be introduced to best practice approaches that consider the holistic needs of the children including issues of safety, education, health, identity, culture and social inclusion. This subject will further encourage you to consider the issues likely to effect social workers in their role with children and practical approaches for responding to these.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

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

1. Explain the impact of sociocultural influences, dominant values and personal biases on perceptions of children and the public policy, law and interventions intended to promote child safety and wellbeing.
2. Identify Australian legislation and international agreements relating to the rights, development, wellbeing, best interests and protection of children.
3. Critically reflect on the inherent tensions between rights and responsibilities of parents, community, the state, children and their interests.
4. Recognise social risk factors likely to impact family vulnerability and key indicators children may be at risk of harm, abuse or neglect
5. Assess situations where child wellbeing is compromised, assess key needs and consider collaborative, evidenced- based interventions that can improve safety, development, identity, health and education outcomes for children and support connection to family, culture and community.
6. Describe the role of social work in managing responses to child wellbeing and safety in a context of completing societal expectations, cultural needs, legislative frameworks, client preferences and limited resources.

Workload

This is an online unit offered over an intensive period of 8 weeks for both on campus and off campus students. The workload requirements and contact hours will reflect the MNHS Online Teacher Engagement Business Process. You will be expected to spend up to 12 hours each week in self-directed study related to the unit content.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.