Overview
This unit is designed to build on and strengthen your direct social work practice skills, knowledge and techniques to effectively facilitate assessments and interventions. This unit focuses on the appropriate use of interpersonal communication skills and theoretical approaches for working in different contexts including culturally responsive practice. Through the practical application of relevant therapeutic approaches, you will demonstrate ability to provide accountable service in person and demonstrate knowledge of strengths and limitations of IT assisted communication such as telehealth as a mode of service delivery.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite conditions - SOWK13011 Community Practice and SOWK13009 Field education 1 and SOWK13010 Integrating Theory and Practice 1.
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 - 2025
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).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
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
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and 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 Student feedback via email
Students enjoyed the opportunity to engage in the residential school via Zoom or face to face in response to COVID-19 issues.
The attendance adjustments were AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers) approved and only for the duration of the COVID-19 health and travel restrictions.
- Demonstrate an evidence-based effective helping relationship with a diverse range of clients and consumers applying appropriate techniques and skills for practice
- Critically evaluate and reflect on the skills and techniques demonstrated in the practical application of social work practice
- Communicate the strengths and limitations of IT-assisted communication as a mode of service delivery
- Demonstrate culturally safe, sensitive and competent social work practice.
This unit complies with the AASW ASWEAS (2020) in particular:
6.3.3 The learning outcomes from the professional practice skills training in accordance with the Graduate Attributes should include core professional competencies but are not limited to:
- advanced oral communication skills and professional documentation
- assessment, engagement and decision-making with individuals and groups
- developing the personal and professional insight and emotional intelligence required for effective use of self as a professional
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | ||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 50% | ||||
| 3 - Online discussion forum - 20% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Camera and microphone for attending Zoom tutorials and completing presentation assessment task
- Zoom (both microphone and webcam capability)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
s.ledger@cqu.edu.au
e.cleary@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Week 1: Introduction to the unit and the importance of effective communication in social work practice.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review resources and assessments on Moodle
Undertake survey attitudes and values to counselling
Module/Topic
Week 2: How to engage in effective helping relationships with clients and consumers, including setting boundaries and managing self-care.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 3: Practical application of therapeutic approaches in role-play exercises and small group discussions.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 4: Introduction to IT-assisted communication (e.g. telehealth) as a mode of service delivery, including its strengths and limitations.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 5: Cultural humility in social work practice
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 6: The social work practice context
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 7: Case studies showcasing the use of different therapeutic approaches in practice.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 8: Skills development workshop on active listening and other communication techniques.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 9: How to engage in effective helping relationships with clients and consumers, including setting boundaries and managing self-care.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 10: Review of ethical considerations in social work practice, including confidentiality and dual relationships.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 11: Critically evaluating and reflecting on one's own social work practice, including the use of supervision and professional development opportunities.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The social work practitioner identity - activism and professional safety
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
The weekly quizzes are designed to gauge your consistent engagement with the unit and assess your foundational and analytical knowledge of the weekly topics. Participation will further demonstrate your ability to succinctly and accurately articulate social work concepts and principles.
Overview
From Week 1 through to Week 12, a set of questions based on the material studied during that week will be posted on the Weekly Topic Tile on Moodle. The format of the questions will vary each week and may include multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions.
A total of 3 marks will be available each week over the 12 teaching weeks, with your best 10 weekly quiz scores contributing to the total assessment score. Therefore, a maximum of 30 marks can be obtained for the overall assessment. Each set of questions will become available from Thursday 10 am (AEST) to Sunday 11:59 pm (AEST) each week. You must complete your quiz for that week during the available time period.
Frequency of Quizzes: Weekly (12 total)
Time Limit: 10 mins per quiz
A total of three marks will be available each week, with the best 10 out of 12 quiz scores contributing to the total score. The maximum mark for this assessment is 30 marks.
Complete each weekly quiz via the SOWK14005 Moodle site.
Note: This assessment task is designed to encourage consistent weekly engagement with the course content, facilitating gradual knowledge building and preparation for practical applications in social work settings.
3
Weekly
Continuous Assessment : Questions will be made available every Thursday at 10:00 am (AEST) and must be completed by 11:59 pm (AEST) on the following Sunday. A total of 3 marks will be available each week over the 12 teaching weeks, with your best 10 weekly quiz scores contributing to the total assessment score. Therefore, a maximum of 30 marks can be obtained for the overall assessment. Each set of questions will be available from Thursday 10am (AEST) to Sunday 11:59pm (AEST) each week.
Grading will be completed within a one-week period after each set of weekly questions is closed.
Weighting: 30%
A total of three marks will be available each week, with the best 10 out of 12 quiz scores contributing to the total score. The maximum mark for this assessment is 30 marks.
- Critically evaluate and reflect on the skills and techniques demonstrated in the practical application of social work practice
- Demonstrate culturally safe, sensitive and competent social work practice.
2 Online discussion forum
This assessment requires you to critically engage with contemporary issues in social work practice by writing a public-facing article suitable for The Conversation. You will explore the intersection of social work and digital tools, including AI, technology-assisted communication, and ethical considerations. This task will assess your ability to communicate complex social work topics effectively to a broader audience while demonstrating evidence-based critical reflection and analysis.
Instructions:
Choose a Topic: Your article should focus on an area of social work practice and its relationship with digital tools, artificial intelligence, or IT-assisted communication. Potential topics include:
- The role of AI in case note writing: Efficiency vs. ethical concerns.
- Technology in mental health support: Can chatbots replace human counsellors?
- The risks and benefits of using digital platforms in child protection work.
- The impact of telehealth on client engagement and therapeutic relationships.
- Culturally safe and sensitive digital tools in social work practice.
Write Your Article: Ensure your article aligns with The Conversation’s writing style:
- Use a clear and engaging introduction to hook the reader.
- Structure your article with subheadings and concise paragraphs. Use evidence-based arguments and research to support your claims.
- Maintain a professional yet accessible tone suitable for a general audience.
- Include real-world examples, case studies, or expert opinions where relevant.
- Reference sources appropriately using hyperlinks or in-text citations where needed.
Post to the Moodle Forum: Submit your article as a forum post to encourage discussion among peers. You are encouraged (but not required) to engage with your peers' posts by commenting or providing feedback.
Week 5 Wednesday (9 Apr 2025) 6:00 pm AEST
Post in Forum
Week 7 Friday (2 May 2025)
Moodle
| Criteria | HD (85-100%) 21.3 - 25 marks | D (75-84%) 18.8 - 21 marks | C (65- 74%) 16.3 - 18.5 marks | P (50 - 64%) 12.5 - 16 marks | F (0 - 49%) 0 - 12.3 marks |
| Demonstrates an evidence-based, effective helping relationship with diverse clients (25%) | The article critically engages with real-world social work practice, using evidence-based arguments and culturally competent insights. | Strong engagement with social work practice, with well-supported arguments and examples. | Moderate engagement with social work practice, but some claims lack depth or evidence. | Basic discussion of social work practice, with limited critical engagement. | Minimal or no engagement with social work practice; lacks evidence or relevance. |
| Critical evaluation and reflection on digital tools in social work practice (25%) | Provides a sophisticated analysis of digital tools' benefits and limitations, with deep critical reflection. | Evaluates digital tools effectively, with strong reflection and some limitations acknowledged. | Discusses digital tools with some analysis but lacks depth in reflection. | Limited evaluation of digital tools; mostly descriptive with minimal critical reflection. | No meaningful discussion of digital tools or reflection. |
| Demonstrates culturally safe, sensitive, and competent social work practice (25%) | Incorporates culturally safe and ethical considerations seamlessly into the discussion. | Addresses cultural safety and ethical concerns with appropriate examples. | Mentions cultural safety but lacks in-depth discussion or specific examples. | Limited reference to cultural safety and sensitivity. | No reference to cultural safety, or culturally inappropriate discussion. |
| Writing style and accessibility (25%) | Engaging, professional, and well-structured writing suitable for The Conversation. | Clear and structured writing with minor areas needing refinement. | Generally clear but may lack engagement or structure in some parts. | Some structural issues, with minor readability concerns. | Poorly written, lacks coherence or professional tone. |
- Demonstrate an evidence-based effective helping relationship with a diverse range of clients and consumers applying appropriate techniques and skills for practice
- Critically evaluate and reflect on the skills and techniques demonstrated in the practical application of social work practice
- Communicate the strengths and limitations of IT-assisted communication as a mode of service delivery
- Demonstrate culturally safe, sensitive and competent social work practice.
3 Practical Assessment
Part 1: Telehealth Simulation Exercise (25%)
You will engage in a simulated telehealth session, demonstrating advanced direct practice skills including client engagement, assessment, intervention planning, and professional communication. This telehealth session aligns with the learning outcomes by fostering an evidence-based helping relationship and showcasing the application of various techniques and skills in a remote context.
Scenario: Receive a detailed case scenario involving a role play client with specific psychosocial needs. You may select one of the three options provided to you, available on Moodle.
Session Requirement: Conduct a 20-minute telehealth session with a peer role playing a client, addressing the provided scenario, demonstrating your ability to establish rapport, conduct an assessment, discuss intervention strategies, and maintain professional communication. Ensure you provide your role player with the Role Player Guidelines Form, which contains all background information and a consent form for signing by you and the role player. This e-form can be found on Moodle.
Submission: Upload your AV recording via Echo360 in the submission area on Moodle to mitigate file size and access issues. Instructions are available here. Alternatively, submit a coversheet with a link to your OneDrive file along with your post-session reflective analysis, ensuring the link is set to 'accessible to anyone with the link'.
Part 2: Post-Session Reflective Analysis (25%)
Critically reflect on the telehealth session, evaluating your practice, identifying learning and growth areas, and integrating theoretical knowledge. This reflective process contributes to the critical evaluation and reflection on the skills and techniques used, as per the learning outcomes.
Content: Your reflective analysis should discuss your approach to client engagement, assessment, intervention, professional communication skills, ethical considerations, and the use of technology.
Depth of Reflection: Move beyond a descriptive account to critically analyse your practice, addressing what went well, what could be improved, and how this learning integrates into future practice.
Length: 1500 words +/- 10%
General Guidelines for both parts:
Originality: Ensure your work is original and properly cites sources where applicable.
Formatting: Adhere to a professional, academic format. Use appropriate headings, subheadings, and maintain clarity and conciseness.
Diagrams/Visual Aids: Use diagrams or visual aids to supplement your analysis, ensuring proper citation.
Submission Format: Submit your telehealth session recording, completed Role Player Guidelines e-form with signatures from you and the role player and reflective analysis document through the designated platform. Acceptable formats are .doc, .docx, for the written part and .pdf for the role player guidelines e-form.
Referencing Style: Adhere to a consistent referencing style, APA 7th edition, throughout your reflective analysis.
Supporting Materials: Access additional resources and support materials on the Moodle site.
Approach both parts of this task with a critical and reflective mindset, integrating theory with practice, and demonstrating your competency in advanced direct practice within a telehealth context.
Week 10 Wednesday (21 May 2025) 6:00 pm AEST
Submission via Moodle
Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025)
Moodle
Part 1: Telehealth Simulation Exercise (25%)
| Criteria | HD (85-100%) 21.3-25 marks |
D (75-84%) 18.8 - 21 marks |
C (65-74%) 16.3 - 18.5 marks |
P (50-64%) 12.5 -16 marks |
F (Below 50%) 0 -12.3 marks |
| Client Engagement and Rapport (25%) | Exceptional engagement, rapport, and empathy. Multiple techniques utilised in a nuanced and client-centered approach. | Strong engagement skills demonstrated with several techniques applied to establish rapport. | Appropriate development of the therapeutic relationship with rapport established. | Basic engagement and rapport building skills demonstrated. | Poor or no engagement. |
| Assessment Competency (25%) | Comprehensive, insightful assessment. | Thorough assessment with only minor gaps. | Adequate assessment with noticeable gaps. | Basic assessment, significant gaps. | Inadequate assessment or inappropriate assessment of client concerns. |
| Intervention and Support Planning (25%) | Exceptional, well-suited interventions demonstrating theoretical integration. | Effective interventions informed by theory with minor improvements required. | Adequate interventions consistent with a theoretical approach but requiring some improvements. | Basic interventions and support provided requiring several areas of improvement. | Poor or unsuitable interventions or support inadequately provided. |
| Professional Communication and Documentation (25%) | Exceptional communication skills facilitating a nuanced and empathic approach. All documentation accurate. | Very good communication skills demonstrating a positive therapeutic relationship with only minor areas for improvement. Documentation accurate. | Good communication skills supporting the relationship, with minor errors or areas for improvement. Documentation accurate. | Basic professional communication skills demonstrated with active listening skills appropriately applied. Documentation adequate. | Poor or ineffective professional communication or the absence of active listening skills / errors or inadequate documentation. |
Part 2: Post-Session Reflective Analysis (25%)
| Criteria | HD (85-100%) 21.3-25 marks |
D (75-84%) 18.8 - 21 marks |
C (65-74%) 16.3 - 18.5 marks |
P (50-64%) 12.5 -16 marks |
F (Below 50%) 0 -12.3 marks |
| Depth of Reflection (25%) | Highly insightful critical reflection with deep self-awareness and congruence with social work values. | Significant reflective account highlighting self-awareness and congruence with social work values with only minor gaps. | Good reflection with noticeable gaps. | Basic reflection, significant gaps. | Superficial or no clear reflective process demonstrated. |
| Analysis of Practice (25%) | Exceptional analysis of the engagement, assessment, intervention, and advanced communication process including insightful considerations of the use of technology. | Very good analysis of the engagement, assessment, intervention, and advanced communication process including considerations of the use of technology. | Appropriate analysis of the engagement, assessment, intervention, and advanced communication process including considerations of the use of technology with minor areas for improvement. | Basic discussion of the engagement, assessment, intervention, and advanced communication process and consideration of the impact and use of technology has in the therapeutic relationship. | Absence of discussion on the engagement, assessment, intervention, and overall communication process or inaccurate accounts of practice. Inadequate or poor consideration of the impact and use of technology has in the therapeutic relationship. |
| Ethical Considerations and Professionalism (25%) | Exceptional understanding and application of ethics. | Strong ethical considerations, minor gaps. | Adequate handling of ethical issues. | Basic understanding of ethics. | Poor or inappropriate ethical considerations. |
| Writing Quality and Integration of Theory and Literature (25%) | Superior writing, well-integrated theory and literature. Scholarly conventions accurately applied. | Very good writing, well-integrated theory and literature. Scholarly conventions accurately applied. | Adequate writing, with integrated theory and literature. Scholarly conventions mostly accurate. | Basic writing with appropriately identified theory and literature. Scholarly conventions applied with some errors. | Poor writing or the absence of theoretical integration or inaccurate integration of theory to the analysis. Scholarly conventions not applied or absent. |
- Demonstrate an evidence-based effective helping relationship with a diverse range of clients and consumers applying appropriate techniques and skills for practice
- Critically evaluate and reflect on the skills and techniques demonstrated in the practical application of social work practice
- Communicate the strengths and limitations of IT-assisted communication as a mode of service delivery
- Demonstrate culturally safe, sensitive and competent social work practice.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
