Assignment Submission

All written assignments are to be submitted via the turnitin links set up for each assignment on the unit iLearn page.

Extensions and Special Consideration

If, due to illness or unavoidable disruption, you are unable to complete all assessment requirements satisfactorily; if you miss the final assessment item; or if your assessment performance is seriously prejudiced in some other way, please tell us. You must also report the circumstances in writing to the Faculty of Arts, as set out below, for your case to receive special consideration under the university’s regulations. Include a medical certificate, a letter from the University Counselling Service, or other documentary evidence as appropriate. The Registrar's Office will advise the conveners of the units in which you are enrolled. You are not required to advise the unit tutor directly, but it is a good idea to let her know if you are having problems.

Special Consideration Policy

http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

Applying for Special Consideration

Students applying for Special Consideration circumstances of three (3) consecutive days duration, within a study period, and/or prevent completion of a formal examination must submit an on-line application with the Faculty of Arts. For an application to be valid, it must include a completed Application for Special Consideration form and all supporting documentation.

The on-line Special Consideration application is found at:

http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/admin_central/special_c onsideration. 

Course Delivery

The teaching program consists of:

• Participating in a two hour seminar each week. These consist of a convenor-led discussion of key topics in the delivery of human services and, from Weeks 3 to 12, student led discussions of human service areas.

• Weekly readings and follow-up discussion at the seminars; and

• Related reading and research development tasks over the course of the unit. 

​As this is an advanced course in the use of applied social science, it is vital for students to participate in all components of the unit. The convenor-led discussions provide the conceptual basis of the course, examining the theory and much of the relevant evidence for each topic. The student-led discussions are designed to complement this by providing the opportunity to exchange  ideas, discuss research, and develop a critical and collaborative approach. 

Required Reading and Recommended Texts

There is no set text for this course. However, a number of set readings and texts are listed in the weekly overview. You are also encouraged to seek out other resources through the electronic data bases available through the library and from other sources.

Additionally, students will also be required to utilise the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare publication Australia’s Welfare, 2013 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra). This can be downloaded free from: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=60129543825.

This unit draws together the fields of social theory and applied research to explore the concept of care and its expression in a range of different human service developments. Through the lens of care we review changes in the modes of organisation and provision of human services including the development of residential institutions and facilities, the deinstitutionalisation process, the emergence of community care and case management, and moves to improve the coordination and integration of services. We will also critically examine many other recent developments, including the increasing penetration of the market and of market mechanisms, and consider the contribution of research and policy to these developments.

Social Care and Human Services is designed to introduce you to a range of human service types and models, reviewing developments in policy, organisation and funding through the application of a number of different theories and methods. It adopts an approach intended to develop applied policy analysis perspectives and skills through consideration of the application of a range of sociological approaches to human services. It is also intended to develop research skills relevant to researchers, administrators, service professionals or policy makers in the human service field, and provide students with the opportunity to consider the capacity of research and criticism to contribute to the improvement of service provision. 

Of crucial importance are the changing approaches to the system of care at the micro or interpersonal level, the meso or intermediate level (the level of organisations and the local community), and the macro or society-wide levels, as these affect the planning, financing and operation of services and facilities. 

Drawing on a number of the most influential research studies as well as relevant official reports, the unit provides an opportunity to explore the link between different theoretical and disciplinary perspectives, as well as giving first hand experience in reviewing research and in evaluation and policy analysis activities in relation to the development and operation of human services. 

Policy development and leadership in the field of human services requires a capacity for teamwork and strong communication skills. Successful applied research also requires a systematic understanding of the logic of research problem formulation, the processes of evidence gathering, and the rules and procedures required for analysis and drawing conclusions. This unit is designed to help you develop your capabilities in each of these areas. In collecting and analysing data, reviewing research, and in presenting results through written reports and personal presentation, you will be required to undertake a range of complex information processing tasks. These skills are highly valued for employment in research positions. They are also important for students wishing to make a difference in other walks of life, and for personal development.