Overview
In this unit, you will explore the concepts of intersectionality and social justice in social work practice to address systemic inequalities and promote equitable outcomes when working with individuals, groups and communities. Using critical intersectional and identity theoretical frameworks, you will critically examine the fluidity and complexity of identity. You will explore how social constructions, such as ethnicity, culture, gender, religion, class, sexual orientation, age, disability, and other identity markers, intersect to create nuanced experiences of oppression and privilege. This analysis will help you to understand how groups are categorised, stratified and often stigmatised based on their conformity to or deviation from dominant social and cultural norms. This knowledge and the AASW Code of Ethics (2020) will inform holistic and collaborative social work assessments considering service users' lived experiences of multiple intersecting identities. You will employ intersectional-informed critical reflection to examine your identities and experiences, facilitating awareness of social work’s positionality and power relations. Reflecting on your cultural background, biases, and assumptions will promote culturally safe and sensitive social work practice. The unit explores discriminatory structures and practices and their impact on social work in Australia. It will equip you with skills to advocate for systemic changes and promote social justice to support diverse service users effectively.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 2 - 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 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.
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.
- Analyse and apply critical and intersectional theoretical frameworks to understand how various social constructs intersect to create complex experiences of oppression and privilege.
- Apply critical transformative social work practices and social justice principles, guided by the AASW Code of Ethics (2020), to effectively engage and support diverse populations.
- Engage in intersectional-informed critical reflective practice to identify and challenge personal biases and assumptions and critically examine the concepts of power, privilege and oppression in social work practice with diverse populations.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 20% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||
| 3 - Case Study - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||
| 2 - Communication | |||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||
| 4 - Research | |||
| 5 - Self-management | |||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||
| 7 - Leadership | |||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
Intersectionality for Social Workers: A practical introduction to theory and practice.
(2021)
Authors: Bernard, C.
Taylor & Francis Group
ISBN: 9781138607194
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
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.wayland@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Intersectionality and Social Justice
Chapter
Undertake the readings and activities outlined on Moodle.
Read Chapter 1 (Introduction) of:
Bernard, C. (2021). Intersectionality for social workers: A practical introduction to theory and practice. Taylor & Francis Group.
This chapter provides an accessible overview of intersectionality as both a theoretical lens and a practice framework. As you read, reflect on how intersecting social identities such as race, gender, class, ability, and sexuality shape lived experience and access to support.
Be prepared to discuss the following in tutorials:
How does Bernard define intersectionality?
Why is it important in social work practice?
How might intersectionality challenge dominant narratives in health and human development?
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Critical and Intersectional Theoretical Frameworks
Chapter
Undertake the readings and activities outlined on Moodle.
Required Reading:
Bernard, C. (2021). Intersectionality for Social Workers: A Practical Introduction to Theory and Practice. Taylor & Francis Group.
Chapter 2: Intersectionality theory
[Access via ProQuest: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/cqu/detail.action?docID=31096100]
Weekly Task (Pre-Tutorial):
Read Chapter 2 to deepen your understanding of intersectionality in social work practice.
Reflect on how identity, power, and structural inequality intersect in clients' lives.
Come prepared to discuss how intersectionality relates to your developing social work lens.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Identity and Intersectionality – Power, privilege and oppression
Chapter
Undertake the readings and activities outlined on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Coloniality and decolonisation of practice
Chapter
Undertake the readings and activities outlined on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Ethnicity and Social Identity
Chapter
Undertake the readings and activities outlined on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Vacation Week - enjoy the break!
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Gender Identity and Social Constructs
Chapter
Undertake the readings and activities outlined on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Age and Social Perceptions
Chapter
Undertake the readings and activities outlined on Moodle.
Required Reading:
Bernard, C. (2021). Intersectionality for Social Workers: A Practical Introduction to Theory and Practice. Taylor & Francis Group.
Chapter 5: Ageing and Intersectionality
[Access via ProQuest: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/cqu/detail.action?docID=31096100]
Weekly Task (Pre-Tutorial):
Read Chapter 5 to explore how age and ageing are constructed and experienced through intersecting dimensions of identity (e.g., gender, class, race).
Reflect on dominant social narratives around ageing and how these influence health care, service access, and intergenerational assumptions.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Disability and Social Inclusion
Chapter
Undertake the readings and activities outlined on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sexual Orientation and Social Identity
Chapter
Undertake the readings and activities outlined on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Class, Place and the Physical Environment
Chapter
Undertake the readings and activities outlined on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Applying Intersectional Lens in Practice
Chapter
Undertake the readings and activities outlined on Moodle.
Required Reading:
Bernard, C. (2021). Intersectionality for Social Workers: A Practical Introduction to Theory and Practice. Taylor & Francis Group.
Chapter 5: Employing Intersectionality in Children and Families Social Work
[Available via ProQuest: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/cqu/detail.action?docID=31096100]
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Addressing Systemic Inequalities: Advocacy and Social Justice Strategies
Chapter
Undertake the readings and activities outlined on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Attendance at Lectures and Tutorials
Attendance at all scheduled lectures and tutorials is compulsory for this unit. These sessions are critical for developing your understanding of key concepts, participating in skills-based learning, and preparing for assessments. Tutorial activities will include case discussions, application of theory to practice, and collaborative learning tasks that cannot be replicated outside of class. Failure to attend may impact your ability to meet the learning outcomes and complete assessment tasks successfully. If you are unable to attend due to extenuating circumstances, you must contact the Unit Coordinator as soon as possible.
1 Reflective Practice Assignment
This assessment allows you to reflect creatively and critically on your identity, experiences, and positionality as an emerging social worker. You will produce a short digital narrative that maps the intersections of power, privilege, and oppression that shape your social location, and reflect on how these influence your developing social work lens.
Task Instructions
Create a digital narrative (3–5 minutes), which may be a narrated PowerPoint, recorded audio over images, video, podcast snippet, or another accessible medium. This narrative should:
- Introduce your social identity and positionality using key aspects such as race, class, gender, culture, sexuality, age, ability, etc.
- Apply intersectional theory to explore how systems of power and privilege have shaped your life experiences.
- Reflect critically on personal assumptions or biases and how they might impact your future social work practice.
Accompany your submission with a 300-word critical rationale that:
- Identifies the theoretical concepts you used and how you applied them
- Reflects on the process of creating your narrative
- Links your insights to culturally safe and anti-oppressive social work practice
Submission Format
Accepted formats: narrated PowerPoint (MP4), video, voice-over slideshow, audio file + images, or other agreed formats
Submit both the digital file (or link to OneDrive upload) and a 300-word written rationale as a Word or PDF document
Further guidance, examples, and a detailed rubric will be provided in tutorials and on Moodle
Academic Integrity
You must uphold the principles of academic integrity in all aspects of this assessment (see Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure). Completion of this assessment with another person or sharing your work is not permitted under any circumstances.
Permitted Use of Generative AI Tools
Level 2: You may use Generative AI tools to assist with planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission must reflect your own understanding, with clear evidence of how you have refined and developed these ideas.
Level 3: You may use Generative AI tools for specific academic tasks such as drafting, refining, and evaluating your work. Any AI-generated content must be critically reviewed, substantially revised, and properly integrated into your submission.
All AI usage must be appropriately acknowledged and must comply with the university’s academic integrity standards.
Week 3 Wednesday (30 July 2025) 4:00 pm AEST
Submission Via Moodle - Extensions: Available as per policy. The 72-hour grace period applies to this assessment.
Week 5 Friday (15 Aug 2025)
Students will be notified when assessments have been marked via Moodle
- Application of intersectional and identity frameworks in the digital narrative (6 marks)
- Critical reflection on bias, power and privilege (6 marks)
- Connection to social work values and culturally responsive practice (4 marks)
- Creativity, clarity and coherence of the digital presentation (2 marks)
- Rationale clarity and integration of theory (2marks)
- Analyse and apply critical and intersectional theoretical frameworks to understand how various social constructs intersect to create complex experiences of oppression and privilege.
- Engage in intersectional-informed critical reflective practice to identify and challenge personal biases and assumptions and critically examine the concepts of power, privilege and oppression in social work practice with diverse populations.
2 Written Assessment
This academic essay will develop your ability to apply intersectional theoretical frameworks to analyse how identity, power, and oppression shape the lived experiences of individuals and communities. You will explore how social workers can use this understanding to advocate for social justice and deliver culturally responsive, ethical practice.
Task Instructions
Choose one primary social identity marker (e.g., gender, class, race, disability, sexuality) and critically analyse how it intersects with at least one other identity (e.g., culture, age, religion, immigration status, geographic location, neurodiversity). Apply critical and intersectional theoretical frameworks discussed in the unit. Draw on relevant social work literature, including the AASW Code of Ethics (2020), to analyse the implications for ethical, culturally responsive, justice-oriented social work practice and policy.
Your essay should:
- Define and explain intersectionality and its relevance to social work.
- Focus on one primary identity marker and explore its interaction with at least one other identity category.
- Critically analyse how these intersections affect lived experience, access to services, and social inclusion/exclusion.
- Discuss implications for social work practice, including ethical responsibilities and cultural responsiveness.
- Use scholarly literature and the AASW Code of Ethics (2020) to support your arguments.
Suggested Structure
- Introduction (200–250 words): Introduce your chosen identity marker, your theoretical framing, and the scope of your essay.
- Theoretical Framework (400–500 words): Define intersectionality and link to social work theory and ethics. Discuss the specific theory or theorist guiding your analysis (e.g., Crenshaw, Collins, Dominelli).
- Critical Analysis (900–1000 words): Apply intersectional theory to real-world experiences or case examples from literature. Critically analyse how the intersection of identities shapes oppression, privilege, access, and service outcomes.
- Practice Implications (250–300 words): Reflect on how social workers can foster culturally safe, justice-oriented, and ethical practice in response to the analysis.
- Conclusion (150–200 words): Summarise key insights and explain how your learning might influence future social work practice.
Academic Integrity
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.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 2: You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. You are responsible for the quality and integrity of the final work submitted.
Week 8 Wednesday (10 Sept 2025) 4:00 pm AEST
Submission via Moodle - Extensions: Available as per policy. The 72-hour grace period applies to this assessment.
Week 10 Friday (26 Sept 2025)
Return Via Moodle 2 weeks post due date
- Application of Intersectional Theory - Defines and explains intersectionality and with strong relevance to social work. Applies one critical theoretical framework (e.g., critical race theory, queer theory, feminist theory, etc.) to analyse a chosen identity marker and its intersection with at least one other. Demonstrates a strong understanding of how power, privilege, and oppression shape lived experience (10 marks).
- Critical Analysis of Intersecting Oppressions - Presents a nuanced, well-supported analysis of the interaction between identity markers and how these affect access, inclusion, and wellbeing. Includes consideration of systems and structures that create and maintain inequality (10 marks)
- Implications for Social Work Practice - Effectively identifies and evaluates how insights from the analysis apply to ethical and culturally responsive social work practice and policy. References the AASW Code of Ethics clearly (8 marks).
- Use of Evidence and Literature Integration - Uses at least 6 relevant, scholarly sources to substantiate arguments. Applies APA 7th referencing style consistently. Integrates literature into argument fluently (6 marks).
- Academic Communication and Structure - Clear structure, appropriate tone and style, logical flow, accurate spelling, and grammar. Adheres to word count (6 marks).
The full grading rubric for this assessment is available on Moodle.
- Analyse and apply critical and intersectional theoretical frameworks to understand how various social constructs intersect to create complex experiences of oppression and privilege.
- Apply critical transformative social work practices and social justice principles, guided by the AASW Code of Ethics (2020), to effectively engage and support diverse populations.
3 Case Study
You will develop an understanding of how to apply your knowledge of intersectionality, identity, social work ethics, and social justice to a practice scenario.
Task Instructions
You will be provided with a case study on Moodle, involving a service user with multiple intersecting identities. Conduct a critical analysis of the case by:
- Identifying key issues of power, oppression, and systemic barriers.
- Proposing a culturally responsive, intersectional practice response.
- Using the AASW Code of Ethics (2020) and relevant unit frameworks to justify your proposed interventions.
- Reflecting on your own positionality and ethical responsibilities.
Your written analysis should:
- Identify and explain the key intersecting identities in the case.
- Examine how systems of power, privilege, and discrimination impact and influence the service user’s experience.
- Propose an ethically grounded and culturally safe social work response.
- Reflect on your own values, biases, and positionality.
Demonstrate how intersectional theory informs assessment, intervention, advocacy, and collaborative practice. The case study and additional information are available on Moodle.
Academic Integrity and Use of Generative AI
You must adhere to the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This is an individual assessment; collaboration or sharing of answers is not permitted.
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.
Level 3: You may use Al to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any Al-generated content you use.
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (15 Oct 2025) 4:00 pm AEST
Moodle - Extensions: Available as per policy.The 72-hour grace period applies to this assessment.
Exam Week Friday (24 Oct 2025)
2 weeks post submission
- Critical analysis of intersecting identities - Identifies and explains key intersecting identity markers and how they shape the service user's experience of power, privilege, and oppression (10 marks)
- Application of intersectionality to social work assessment and response - Demonstrates how intersectional theory informs assessment, intervention, advocacy, and collaboration. Response is grounded in ethical and culturally responsive practice (10 marks)
- Application and integration of the AASW Code of Ethics and social justice frameworks - Applies ethical reasoning and clearly integrates relevant principles from the AASW Code of Ethics (2020) to guide practice responses (6 marks).
- Reflective analysis of personal positionality and assumptions - Insightful reflection on own values, biases, and how positionality impacts interpretation and response to the case (6 marks).
- Academic writing and use of sources - Coherent structure, clear expression, correct APA 7 referencing. Minimum 8 scholarly sources used effectively (8 marks)
The full grading rubric for this assessment is available on Moodle.
- Analyse and apply critical and intersectional theoretical frameworks to understand how various social constructs intersect to create complex experiences of oppression and privilege.
- Apply critical transformative social work practices and social justice principles, guided by the AASW Code of Ethics (2020), to effectively engage and support diverse populations.
- Engage in intersectional-informed critical reflective practice to identify and challenge personal biases and assumptions and critically examine the concepts of power, privilege and oppression in social work practice with diverse populations.
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?
