JSB226 Professional Misconduct and Abuse: Identification and Response
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | JSB226 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | 96cp of previous studies |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $2,174 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,020 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,456 |
| International unit fee | $4,932 |
Unit Outline: Summer 2026, Online
| Unit code: | JSB226 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 96cp of previous studies |
Overview
Criminology often focusses on what is called ‘street crime’. However, a whole new area is finally being investigated: institutional and professional crime. This will be the focus for this unit.
Professional misconduct (PM)/Professional sexual misconduct (PSM) encompasses power-based abuses and crimes within professional institutions and workplaces. Structural conditions enable institutionalised abuse and often prevent reporting and remedial action.
Professional misconduct exists in various forms such as financial, legal, promotional, journalistic, sexual, religious, and medical. Accordingly, perpetrators may be found across powerful institutions and workplaces: sports trainers, lawyers, movie producers, therapists, journalists, clergy, professors, or government ministers.
In this unit you will learn to identify when and how misconduct and abuse occur, how perpetrators and institutions react when exposed, and methods for prevention and improved responses.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Identify professional misconduct/professional sexual misconduct within the professional working environment (Discipline Knowledge; Professional Ethics and Social justice Principles).
- Analyse popular and institutional responses to exposure to professional misconduct/professional sexual misconduct (Discipline Knowledge; Professional Ethics and Social justice Principles; Critical Thinking and problem solving).
- Reflect on elements of language, power/vulnerability and harm within professional misconduct/professional sexual misconduct contexts (Critical thinking and problem solving; Professional identity and reflective practice).
- Generate evidence-based recommendations to help prevent and improve responses to professional misconduct/professional sexual misconduct (Critical thinking and problem solving; Professional identity and reflective practice).
Content
This unit will cover:
- Definitions of Professional Misconduct and Professional Sexual Misconduct
- Theories and perceptions of Professional Misconduct and Professional Sexual Misconduct
- The ways in which Professional Misconduct and Professional Sexual Misconduct is carried out
- Professional Misconduct and Professional Sexual Misconduct in the Real World - Case Studies
- Responses to Professional Misconduct and Professional Sexual Misconduct
Learning Approaches
This unit is offered in online mode and has a multi-faceted approach to teaching that features the use of blended learning and multimedia resources, concentrating on constant interaction between students and teaching staff (including the implementation of an asynchronous discussion board and synchronous online sessions). Content will focus on real-world case studies.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will be able to receive constant feedback via the unit's Discussion Board; they will also receive comprehensive personal feedback on the two assessment tasks.
Assessment
Overview
In this unit you will complete two assessment tasks: a Critical Source Defence File, and a Case Study Analysis. This assessment is situated within the study of professional misconduct across a range of domains, including organisational, clinical, legal, educational, and religious contexts. Students will engage critically with multiple types of sources in order to develop a layered understanding of misconduct, its dynamics, and its real-world implications.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Critical Source Defence File
Choose a profession, and a form of misconduct or abuse that might occur in that profession. Create a critical source defence file consisting of 4 sources which you will be also able to use in Assessment 2 (Case Study).
This Critical Source Defence File requires you to analyse and synthesise four distinct sources, each addressing a different dimension of professional misconduct. In an interview you will need to justify your choices as to their applicability for an understanding of Professional Misconduct and to defend their content as ideal for a real world case study.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Case study analysis
Considering existing legislation or codes of conduct, search for a real-life professional misconduct/professional sexual misconduct case within your chosen profession (selected in Assessment Task 1). Using the same 4-source breakdown from assessment 1, provide a synopsis of that case, examine the features of the case that make it an example of professional misconduct/professional sexual misconduct and make evidence-based recommendations for selected stakeholders on how to deal with such cases.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Risk Assessment Statement
Students are advised that some content in justice units may be confronting. If you are concerned that the content of a unit may impact your completion of the course, please see the unit coordinator. You can also access free student counselling through QUT Counselling via the QUT Student Homepage.