Task Description

Each quiz will comprise 10 multiple choice questions randomly drawn from a question pool. 

Each quiz will be time limited to 30 minutes.

Each student will have one attempt.

The quiz will be available to students for five days, but once the quiz is opened, it is limited to 30 minutes.

This assessment is not eligible for the 72 hour grace period

Quiz questions will be drawn from the weekly required readings and the lecture notes.

Quiz One will cover content from weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 and be held at the end of week 4.

Quiz Two will cover content from weeks 5, 6, 7 and be held at the end week 7.

Quiz Three will cover content from weeks 8, 9,10,11 and be held at the end of week 11.

Type: Essay

This assessment has a 72 hour grace period

Weighting: 35%

Length: 1500 words (+/- 10%)

The aim of this assessment is to enhance your ability to critically analyse the 2025 Federal budget, focusing on their implications for social work. You will assess the budget's impact on various social policy areas, identify key priorities, evaluate the potential effectiveness of the proposed measures and consider the implications for social work practice. You will utilise social policy theories and concepts discussed in the lectures and recommended readings to demonstrate your knowledge and analysis of the topic. 

The essay should include:

1.              A brief overview of the 2025 budget, which includes an outline of the key objectives and priorities set out in the budget and the aim of your analysis and the social policy area of interest.

2.              Discussion about the background context, such as the current socio-economic context in which the budget has been announced and any significant social issues and challenges facing the country that the budget aims to address.

3.              Analysis of Social Policy 

Choose one social policy area from the following list to analyse the 2025 Federal Budget in detail:

·        Health

·        Education

·        Housing

·        Cost of living

Your analysis should include:

·        Summary of the budget allocations and key initiatives proposed.

·        Analysis of the potential impact of these initiatives on the target population.  

4.      Critical Evaluation

Your critical analysis should include:

·        Assess the overall alignment of the budget with the principles of social justice and equity, and how the policy will address the needs of First Nations communities and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

·        Discuss any potential gaps or overlooked issues in the budget.

·        Consider the long-term implications of the budget for social policy development.

·        Evaluate the policy in relation to its alignment to the AASW Code of Ethics (2020) and Practice Standards (2023). You need to include a comment about the AASW’s position regarding this policy and to identify areas where there are conflicts with AASW values and ethics.  

You should include a conclusion that summarises the key findings of your analysis and provides recommendations for future policy considerations or improvements.

The essay should incorporate references to social policy literature. You are expected to refer to the unit content, suggested unit readings and undertake independent reading.

Literature and references
 

In this assessment use at least 10 references to support your analysis. You may also use scholarly literature where relevant. Suitable references include peer-reviewed journal articles as well as textbooks and credible websites. When sourcing information, consider the five elements of a quality reference: currency, authority, relevance, objectivity, and coverage. Grey literature sourced from the internet must be from reputable websites such as from government, university, or peak national bodies: for example, the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Note that websites such as Wikipedia are not suitable for this assessment task. Lecture notes are not primary sources of evidence and should not be used in this assessment. All resources, other than web pages and grey literature, must be sources from the CQUniversity library. You should use Australian literature.

Requirements 
•      Use a cover page that includes your name and student number, the subject code, the date, and the number of words in your submission.

•      You should include a statement about the use of Generative AI tools in your assessment. For example: ChatGPT has been used for understanding the key terms and checking references in this assessment

•      Use a conventional and legible size 12 font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, with 2.0 line spacing and 2.54 cm page margins (standard pre-set margin in Microsoft Word).

•      Include page numbers on the top right side of each page in a header.

•      You should write in the third-person perspective. 

•      Use formal academic language.

•      All work submitted must be your own work. 

•      Paraphrase, summarise or quote information acknowledging the original source (referencing) to avoid plagiarism. 

•      Follow academic writing conventions: spell out contractions in full; introduce abbreviations and acronyms; spell out numbers for zero through nine and use numerals for numbers 10 and above. 

•      Start your reference list on a separate page to the body of your assessment. 

•      Use the seventh edition American Psychological Association (APA 7) referencing style. The CQUniversity Academic Learning Centre has an online APA Referencing Style Guide.

•      The word count is considered from the introduction's first word to the conclusion's last word. The word count excludes the reference list but includes in-text references and direct quotations.

 
Resources 

·        You are encouraged to use unit provided materials and other credible sources (e.g. journal articles, books) to reference your argument. The quality and credibility of your sources are essential. 

·        We recommend you access your discipline-specific library guide: the Social Work and Community Services Guide. 

·        We recommend you use EndNote to manage your citations and reference list. More information on how to use EndNote is available on the CQUniversity Library website. 

·        For information on academic communication, please go to the Academic Learning Centre Moodle site. The Academic Communication section has many helpful resources, including information for students with English as a second language.

·        You may wish to submit a draft to Studiosity. 

·        Submit at least one draft before the due date to review your Turnitin Similarity Score before making a final submission. Instructions are available here. Please remember, the similarity score is only a matching tool, and the score alone does not necessarily indicate or eliminate the presence of plagiarism. 

Academic Integrity 
1. You must abide by the principles of academic integrity (see Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure).
Completion of this assessment with another party or sharing of responses is not permitted at any time.
2. Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have
developed and refined these ideas.

See Moodle for the rubric that describes how marks will be allocated

This assessment has a 72 hour grace period

Length: 1,500 words (+/- 10%)

Aims

The aim of this assessment is to enhance your understanding of social policy analysis and develop your ability to advocate for positive policy reform. You will analyse a social policy topic, identify aspects of the policy that require change, and propose solutions or next steps. Additionally, you will explore how social workers engage in social policy debates to influence policy change. 

Task Description

Imagine that your local Member of Parliament is holding a listening post at your local supermarket and you have the opportunity to meet them and tell them about a social policy topic that you are passionate about and you can advocate for change by telling them what you think the Government should do to solve the problem. 

Choose one social policy topic from the list below:

·       Healthcare

·       Social security

·       Education

·       Criminal Justice reform

·       Affordable housing

·       Other – You can choose any other social policy topic that you are passionate about.

1.     Introduction

·       Provide a brief introduction to the social policy topic you have chosen. This should include an outline of the current Commonwealth or State policies and the purpose of your briefing paper.

2.     Policy Analysis

·       Analyse the current policies, highlighting its objectives, target population, and implementation strategies.

·       Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the policy.

·       Identify the social, economic, and political context influencing the policy.

3.     Identifying Issues

·       Identify and discuss specific aspects of the policy that require change.

·       Use evidence from academic sources, government reports, and relevant data to support your analysis.

·       Highlight the impact of these issues on the target population and broader society.

4.     Proposing Solutions

·       Propose realistic and evidence-based solutions or next steps to address the identified issues.

·       Discuss how these solutions align with principles of social justice, equity, and effectiveness.

·       Consider potential challenges and how they might be mitigated.

5.     Role of Social Workers

·       Explore how social workers engage in social policy debates and advocacy.

·       Discuss the strategies social workers use to influence policy change, such as lobbying, coalition building, and public education.

·       Provide examples of successful social worker-led policy reforms or initiatives.

6.     Conclusion

·       Summarise the key points of your analysis and proposed solutions.

·       Reinforce the importance of the recommended changes for improving the policy.

Suggested Resources

·       Policy Documents: Access relevant policy documents through Australian government websites and databases.

·       Academic Journals: Utilise the university library for accessing journals and articles on social policy.

·       Professional Organisations: Refer to publications and resources from social work and social policy organisations.

·       News Outlets and Reports: For current events and case studies related to your chosen policy topic.

Note: Students are encouraged to approach this assignment with a critical and analytical mindset, drawing on a wide range of sources to support their analysis and proposals. Discussions in tutorials and lectures will provide additional guidance and support.

Academic Integrity 
1. You must abide by the principles of academic integrity (see Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure).
Completion of this assessment with another party or sharing of responses is not permitted at any time.
2. Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have
developed and refined these ideas.

Literature and references
 

In this assessment use at least 10 references to support your analysis. You may also use scholarly literature where relevant. Suitable references include peer-reviewed journal articles as well as textbooks and credible websites. When sourcing information, consider the five elements of a quality reference: currency, authority, relevance, objectivity, and coverage. Grey literature sourced from the internet must be from reputable websites such as from government, university, or peak national bodies: for example, the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Note that websites such as Wikipedia are not suitable for this assessment task. Lecture notes are not primary sources of evidence and should not be used in this assessment. All resources, other than web pages and grey literature, must be sources from the CQUniversity library. You should use Australian literature.

Requirements 
•      Use a cover page that includes your name and student number, the subject code, the date, and the number of words in your submission.

•      You should include a statement about the use of Generative AI tools in your assessment. For example: ChatGPT has been used for understanding the key terms and checking references in this assessment

•      Use a conventional and legible size 12 font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, with 2.0 line spacing and 2.54 cm page margins (standard pre-set margin in Microsoft Word).

•      Include page numbers on the top right side of each page in a header.

•      You should write in the third-person perspective. 

•      Use formal academic language.

•      All work submitted must be your own work. 

•      Paraphrase, summarise or quote information acknowledging the original source (referencing) to avoid plagiarism. 

•      Follow academic writing conventions: spell out contractions in full; introduce abbreviations and acronyms; spell out numbers for zero through nine and use numerals for numbers 10 and above. 

•      Start your reference list on a separate page to the body of your assessment. 

•      Use the seventh edition American Psychological Association (APA 7) referencing style. The CQUniversity Academic Learning Centre has an online APA Referencing Style Guide.

•      The word count is considered from the introduction's first word to the conclusion's last word. The word count excludes the reference list but includes in-text references and direct quotations.

 
Resources 

·        You are encouraged to use unit provided materials and other credible sources (e.g. journal articles, books) to reference your argument. The quality and credibility of your sources are essential. 

·        We recommend you access your discipline-specific library guide: the Social Work and Community Services Guide. 

·        We recommend you use EndNote to manage your citations and reference list. More information on how to use EndNote is available on the CQUniversity Library website. 

·        For information on academic communication, please go to the Academic Learning Centre Moodle site. The Academic Communication section has many helpful resources, including information for students with English as a second language.

·        You may wish to submit a draft to Studiosity. 

·        Submit at least one draft before the due date to review your Turnitin Similarity Score before making a final submission. Instructions are available here. Please remember, the similarity score is only a matching tool, and the score alone does not necessarily indicate or eliminate the presence of plagiarism.