SWB306 People, Community and Disability
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: | SWB306 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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Unit Outline: Semester 1 2027, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | SWB306 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinator: | Jennie Briese | jennie.briese@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Social work and human service practitioners require relevant professional knowledge and skills to understand the impacts of disability experienced by people, families and carers. The experience of disability can universally impact people of any age or culture, at any point during life course transition. This unit provides a platform for developing foundational knowledge and skills to effectively respond to disability issues; you will be able to challenge social and cultural constructions located in local, national and international community contexts. Because of its importance in preparing you for working with people with disabilities, inclusive of their families, carers and communities, this unit is strategically located in your first year.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe and apply knowledge of theory, models and concepts of disability and impairment;
- Explore and analyse community, national and international perceptions of disability considering issues of culture, diversity, and intersectionality;
- Professionally communicate cultural safety in the experience of individuals, families and carers living with a disability, their families and carers inclusive of diverse populations such as refugees, asylum seekers, Indigenous Australians and those who identify as LGBTIQA+ and;
- Individually or as a group, explore, critically analyse and professionally communicate the contemporary disability service context and practice frameworks
Content
This unit provides an introduction to critical disability theory, knowledge and skills key to practice with people, families, carers and communities around disability issues that cross diverse practice settings. The unit has four core areas of focus:
Introduction to critical disability theory, and the core concepts and definitions of ableism, disability and impairment;
Historical overview and current context of disability including, the UNCRPD, Australian legislation and policy;
Insights into the lived experience of disability through the accounts of people with disabilities and their families/carers;
Social work and human services practice considerations for working with people with disabilities and their families.
Relates to learning outcomes
Learning outcomes link to:
AASW Education and Accreditation Standards (2020): 1.1, 3.1, 3.2, 6.1, 7.1, 7.2
AASW Practice Standards (2013): 1.1, 4.1, 4.4, 5.4
CWA Practice Gruideline (2024): 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.8, 4.2, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7
Learning Approaches
This unit is offered with weekly lecture and tutorial mode. You will engage in symposiums, case study discussions and experiential activities. Learning and teaching will incorporate a discussion of material relevant to practice, multimedia presentations (PowerPoint, video, podcast and online material), and class activities. Participation in symposiums, tutorial workshop case-based discussions and experiential activities are an integral part of learning in this unit.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
The unit has formative and summative assessment pieces. The first piece of assessment has a formative and summative component whereby formative feedback is provided through lecture and tutorial workshop sessions, group discussions and engagement with discussions and experiential activities and individual consultation. The final assessment is summative,with feedback provided in class and via rubrics.
Assessment
Overview
Tutorial workshop activities are designed with an emphasis on planning for and/or applying the assessment tasks. Each assessment item is designed to measure your ability to apply the knowledge and skills stated in the unit learning outcomes. In addition, First Nations Peoples' perspectives are embedded to support examining and developing learners' understanding and skills as professionals in the service of First Nations clients, relevant to working within the context inclusively with disability in SW&HS. Exposing learners to First Nations People's ways of being, doing, and knowing in the context of working with people with disability supports culturally safe practice development. Embedded academic supports for learning is through unit links to library and SSG to assist with effective communication, assessment development and research relevant to the context of working with people with disability in SW&HS. The first assessment is a reflective journal and critically reflective learning statement. The second item is a group presentation on a social justice in disability issue, and an individual summary.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Critical Reflection Journal and Learning Statement
You will provide a combined reflective journal made up of 5 x 200 word critical reflections on your evolving understanding of disability, ableism, disability discrimination, cultural safety and anti-racism with regard to the themes for weeks 2, 4, 7, 9 and 12, and provide a 500 word critically reflective learning statement showing your beginning to end journey and key learnings from the semester. This is an authentic reflective journal assessment that reflects the use of critical reflection in everyday practice alongside supervision and professional development meetings to support ongoing learning and professional development.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the limitations of using Gen AI and ethical use of AI in relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
Assessment: Group presentation and research and key concepts submission
You will form into groups during tutorials and choose a disability justice theme to analyse and present to your peers during tutorials and submit and individual summary of your research and key concepts of the group's presentation.
Group component (30%)
As a group you will select a disability justice theme (e.g. collective access, abolition, Indigenous experiences, crip culture, community care, justice system) and present a critical analysis incorporating lived experience, activism, and scholarship during weeks 6 to 11. As a group, you will prepare discussion points for a Q & A with your peers after your presentation.
Individual component (20%)
You will then submit an individual 1000 word summary one (1) week after your group's presentation, showing your research, key findings, and analysis of the chosen topic. The individual component will be uploaded to canvas one (1) week after the presentation.
Individual component is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and extensions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the limitations of using Gen AI and ethical use of AI in relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
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.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Mallett, R. & Runswick-Cole, K. (2014) Approaching Disability: Critical Issues and Perspectives. London: Routledge.
Other
The required readings for the unit each week will be available through QUT readings database.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no particular risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.SW04 Bachelor of Social Work
- Critique and apply coherent theoretical, practical and contextually relevant social work knowledge, skills and values, and cultivate a commitment toward meeting diverse clients and community needs. [Knowledge, Practice, Values and Disposition]
Relates to: Critical Reflection Journal and Learning Statement, Group presentation and research and key concepts submission - Access, evaluate, and utilise relevant social work information that informs and assists in intra- and inter-professional communication in a range of contexts, through effective oral, written and digital interactions. [Practice, Knowledge]
Relates to: Critical Reflection Journal and Learning Statement, Group presentation and research and key concepts submission - Design a plan of action for working within socially progressive, anti-oppressive, culturally safe and ethical practice, that embody an autonomous and collaborative evidence-based orientation to social work, integral to the standards of professional social work practice. [Values and Disposition, Practice]
Relates to: Critical Reflection Journal and Learning Statement
SW05 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
- Critically evaluate theoretical, practical and contextually relevant social work knowledge, skills and values and, as a change facilitator, meet diverse client and community needs that promote social justice
Relates to: Critical Reflection Journal and Learning Statement, Group presentation and research and key concepts submission - Access, evaluate and utilise social work information to advocate for a socially just society and the promotion of human dignity and worth that reflect different social, political, cultural and historical circumstances, on the beliefs, values and aspirations of various groups, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations
Relates to: Critical Reflection Journal and Learning Statement, Group presentation and research and key concepts submission