WS4502:04
Applied Social Policy
Townsville, Cairns
Inadmissable Subject Combination: BH4502 WS3011
13 lectures, 26 tutorials or the equivalent in mixed mode on-campus delivery. First semester and flexible delivery. Also offered at the Mackay campus.
Staff: Dr R Bone (Townsville campus); Ms R Lynn (Cairns campus).
This subject examines the context of social policy-making in Australia, particularly as influenced by the application of economic rationalist and managerialist principles and the pursuit of competition policies in the human services arena.
The subject aims to develop students’ understanding of the policy process and enhance the development of policy practice and policy analysis skills as essential elements in the practice repertoire of social workers.
Learning Objectives:
- to develop an understanding of the changing nature of the social policy making environment in Australia and of the policy practice skills that are required by social workers to operate in this area;
- to become familiar with a number of competing models of social policy;
- to become familiar with a range of key concepts, values, principles and choices employed in the study and analysis of social policy and the welfare state;
- to be able to develop and apply social policy analysis as a conceptual framework for understanding particular social issues and the role of social work and community welfare in Australia.
Written assessment (100%).