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Gold Coast
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Unit Summary

Unit type

PG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

9

Level of learning

Intermediate

Unit aim

Develops an understanding of human development across the lifespan particularly with respect to changes in health and wellbeing. Explores the potential of social work practice with people of different ages, health conditions and disabilities. Focuses on social work practice with people experiencing mental health issues and strategies for promoting mental health in diverse communities.

Unit content

1.  Understanding and theorising human development from a life course perspective
2.  Understanding health, well-being and disability, and inter-professional work in health settings
3.  Social work practice with people in different age groups - building resilience and aiding recovery
4.  Infancy
5.  Early childhood
6.  Middle childhood
7.  Adolescence
8.  Early adulthood
9.  Middle adulthood
10. Late adulthood
11. Consolidating a framework for social work practice across the lifespan

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.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 explain the relevance of human development theories for engaging with people at different points in the lifespan
2 explain the potential and scope of social work practice with people across the lifespan, particularly with respect to health and wellbeing, and in building resilience and facilitating recovery
3 critically evaluate the ways in which social workers can work with individuals, groups and communities to respond effectively to health and disability needs, particularly with respect to mental health
4 demonstrate social work practice skills in assessing and working with people with mental health needs and their partners, family members and friends.

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

  1. explain the relevance of human development theories for engaging with people at different points in the lifespan
    • GA4:
  2. explain the potential and scope of social work practice with people across the lifespan, particularly with respect to health and wellbeing, and in building resilience and facilitating recovery
    • GA4:
  3. critically evaluate the ways in which social workers can work with individuals, groups and communities to respond effectively to health and disability needs, particularly with respect to mental health
    • GA6:
  4. demonstrate social work practice skills in assessing and working with people with mental health needs and their partners, family members and friends.
    • GA6:

Prescribed texts

  • Bland, R, Renouf, N & Tullgren, A, 2015, Social Work Practice in Mental Health, 2nd edn, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW. ISBN: 9781743314753.
  • Harms, L, 2010, Understanding Human Development: A Multidimensional Approach, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Victoria. ISBN: 9780195551556.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.