Overview
In this unit, you will explore how culture, identity, migration, intersectionality, and structural inequalities shape people's lived experiences and engagement with social institutions and services. You will examine how interpersonal, community, organisational, and broader social structures can influence experiences of wellbeing, participation, inclusion, and access to resources and opportunities. Drawing on contemporary social work perspectives, you will analyse factors that contribute to social disadvantage and inequity and consider their implications for practice. You will develop an understanding of culturally responsive principles and explore their application in working with diverse individuals, families and communities. You will critically reflect on the influence of your personal and professional values, assumptions, and social positioning in cross-cultural practice contexts. By the end of the unit, you will have strengthened your capacity to engage ethically, critically, and responsively with cultural diversity in contemporary social work practice.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisites: SOWK11014; SOWK11015.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2027
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Academic Progression Policy and Procedure
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE
I found this unit was very informative and relevant. I often found myself 'going down a rabbit hole' reading additional articles and journals related to cross cultural perspectives that I found intriguing.
Continue to offer additional resources — including podcasts, current articles, and practice-focused materials — to support students who wish to explore topics in greater depth.
Feedback from SUTE Teacher Report
Drop-in sessions were valuable.
Continue to offer drop-in sessions to promote accessibility and support for students.