The unit explores multifaceted personal, interpersonal, cultural, and contextual factors influencing bio-psycho-social-spiritual health and well-being and human development across the lifespan. You will critically examine the dominant, normative discourses on health, including physical health and disability, mental health, drug and alcohol use/abuse, gender and sexual identity, child development, and the aging process. You will examine the implications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and diverse populations and alternative culturally responsive psychosocial assessments. You will assess the impact of socioeconomic status, life opportunities, trauma, and environmental challenges on health and well-being. Additionally, you will critique theories of grief and loss, trauma, and resilience, identifying the risks to well-being and sources of resilience. You will integrate this knowledge with professional values and ethics to develop your communication skills for conducting holistic social work assessments and interventions through case studies and role plays in health settings. Engaging in critical reflective practice, you will address biases and power relations and ensure ethical, culturally sensitive approaches. Throughout the unit, particular consideration will be given to the ongoing impact of colonisation, displacement and discrimination on the physical and mental health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and integrating culturally sensitive psychosocial assessments to decolonise practice and build partnerships with First Nations people.

Each 6-credit Postgraduate 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.