Course Title: Advanced Law for Social Work Practice
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Advanced Law for Social Work Practice
Credit Points: 12.00
Important Information:
Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.
To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.
Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.
Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus.
Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.
Flexible Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
HWSS2184 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
PGRDFlex18 (FF) |
HWSS2184 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
PGRDFx2019 (All) |
HWSS2184 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
PGRDFx2020 (All) |
HWSS2184 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
PGRDFlex22 (FF), PGRDFlex22 (All) |
Course Coordinator: Dr Tiffany Vague
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3338
Course Coordinator Email: tiffany.vague@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: Please email
Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None
Course Description
This course is designed to introduce you to the legal system and to the statutory requirements that frame and inform professional social work practice.. The course is not designed to equip you for legal practice, but rather will alert you to the implications of the law for you and the people you work with. Specifically, the course will introduce you to the:
- Australia’s legal system, particularly Commonwealth and Victorian Courts and Tribunals and the Koorie Courts
- Specific areas of law (for example child protection, family violence, refugees, mental health)
- Legal requirements influencing practice (for example, ‘duty of care’ and ‘natural justice’).
- Systems for supporting people with legal problems (for example, legal aid, welfare rights centres, community legal centres, the Ombudsperson)
- The relationship between your legal obligations and the AASW Code of Ethics and Practice Standards
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:
- Identify and critically assess the relevant court or tribunal, processes and jurisdiction for specific social work scenarios
- Interpret and apply legislation and case law relevant to specific social work scenarios
- Synthesise, critically analyse and reflect on the legal, ethical and practical considerations and dilemmas social workers might face when trying to comply with their obligations specified in the law, in the AASW Codes of Ethics (2010) and in human rights declarations and charters.
- Deconstruct and critically reflect on social justice issues in relation to the specific social work scenario, the law and professional obligations.
Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:
- Identify the relevant court or tribunal and its jurisdiction in the court hierarchy for specific social work scenarios
- Find legislation and sections relevant to specific social work scenarios on government websites
- Reflect on the legal, ethical and practical considerations and dilemmas social workers might face when trying to comply with their obligations specified in the law, in the AASW Codes of Ethics (2010) and Practice Standards (2013), and in human rights declarations and charters.
- Analyse social justice issues in relation to the specific social work scenario, the law and professional obligations
Overview of Learning Activities
Learning activities comprise lectures and tutorial activities. You will participate in discussions and activities in lecturers and tutorials. Learning activities may also include a court or tribunal visit.
Overview of Learning Resources
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. You may be required to purchase a reading pack or text book. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning. The University Library has extensive resources for social work students. The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies.
Overview of Assessment
You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Assessment will be undertaken through a range of modalities, totalling an approximate word count of 5000 words and it may include items such as a report on the court or tribunal visit, an in-class exercise, and a report the legal and implications of a social work scenario.
Assessment Tasks
Assessment Task 1: Online quizzes, 15% CLOs 1-3
Assessment Task 2: Role play peer marking, 15%, CLOs 1-4
Assessment Task 3: Letters, 20% CLOs 1-4
Assessment Task 4: Exam, 50% CLOs 1-4
Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.
Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.