Unit of Study SWRK5002 Social Work Direct Practice I (2025)

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Unit Snapshot

Unit type

PG Coursework Unit
Credit points

12
Faculty & College

Faculty of Health
Placement

No

Enrolment information

Full-time students are advised to take this unit at the same time as SWRK5001 Social Work Foundations for Practice. Students are required to meet participation requirements in this unit. Attendance is compulsory. Online students must attend a four-day residential and Gold Coast students must attend four one-day seminars across the term. Further details, including dates, will be advised via the Blackboard site and Timetables.

Unit description

Develops students’ skills in social work communication with a wide range of clients. Enables students to understand the principles of effective interpersonal communication in professional settings, and to reflect critically on the development of their own communication ability. Seeks to introduce students to common approaches to assessing and working with individuals in social work settings.

Unit content

Introducing social work relationships and communication
The developing professional relationship
Interviewing skills
Skills for building relationships
Social work assessments
Human development

Availabilities

Location	Domestic	International
Gold Coast	Term1,5	Term1,5
Online	Term1,5	Term1,5

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

apply the principles of and strategies for effective communication in social work practice with a range of client groups, including people from culturally diverse backgrounds

demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills in a simulated social work context, including an ability to communicate cross-culturally

explain the relevance of human development theories for engaging with people at different points in the lifespan

apply knowledge and demonstrate skills in bio-psycho-social and risk assessment

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method

Seminar 7 hours (4 weeks)

Assessment
Clinical skills	60%
Report	40%
Participation	SR

Teaching method

Residential 7 hours x 4 days (Once during term)

Assessment
Clinical skills	60%
Report	40%
Participation	SR

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts

Prescribed text information is not currently available.

Prescribed Resources/Equipment

Prescribed resources/equipment information is not currently available.

Prescribed Texts

Prescribed text information is not currently available.

Prescribed Resources/Equipment

Prescribed resources/equipment information is not currently available.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full-fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees.

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