Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Co-Convenor
Dr. Adam Stebbing
Contact via Email
W6A 824
Tuesdays 4.00pm to 5.00pm
Co-convenor
Dr. Jean Parker
Contact via Email
NA
Guest lecturer
Emma Mitchell
Contact via Email
NA
Guest lecturer
Dr. Ben Spies-Butcher
Contact via Email
NA
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MPASR or PGDipPASR or PGCertPASR or GradDipPASR or GradCertPASR or MAppAnth or PGDipAppAnth or PGCertAppAnth or MSocEntre or PGCertSocEntre
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit introduces and advances major topics in social policy – the policies that governments make to improve individual and public welfare. The idea of social policy can be narrow, involving giving cash benefits and social services to the most needy. But our understanding of social policy might be broader, and encompass the provision of social infrastructure – health, housing and education services. Sometimes, social policy can be 'disguised' in other policies entirely, such as the policy of life-long employment promoted in industrial Japan, minimum wages in Australia, and guaranteed prices for food staples. This semester, we consider how different social policies shape different welfare states. The unit will have three parts. The first part engages with key concepts of social policy and the welfare state. The second part outlines three historical welfare models (Australia, Sweden, and the United States) and offers tools for classifying welfare states. The third part looks at the contemporary political and social dynamics surrounding welfare states. Across the semester, we keep a focus on welfare policymaking in Australia and recent social policy changes.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Policy Brief 1 | 20% | Monday 31st August |
Policy Brief 2 | 20% | Monday 5th October |
Policy Analysis Report | 50% | Friday 6th November |
Workshop Engagement | 10% | Ongoing |
Due: Monday 31st August
Weighting: 20%
The first two assignments for SOC810 require you to write policy briefs. Writing policy briefs is a particular skill, used widely in government and non-government agencies to provide guidance to policy makers. The aim is to give a short summary of an issue, identify possible courses of action, identify arguments for and against, identify the parties involved and their opinions, and to highlight any possible implications. Policy briefs are internal documents that are not produced for public audiences. The briefs should strictly remain within the 1,000 word limit, but they may refer to additional material that can be supplied as an attachment.
For the first brief, imagine that you work in the relevant government department. Your job is to read an article/report and to let your Minister know if there is any action needed. This action could be as simple as 'noting' the report, or it might involve some government action, such as commissioning a discussion paper to consider funding or policy changes. You will need to identify an issue for the brief by searching policy forums (e.g. Australian Policy Online <http//www.apo.org.au>). You should select an issue that relates to social policy (such as housing, health, education, welfare, etc). And, you should try to make recommendations consistent with the government (federal or state) that you are aiming your policy brief at.
While the policy brief is primarily concerned with one issue, you need to read more widely to familiarise yourself with existing policies, the position of the current government, the nature of suggested reforms, the existence of debates, and the positions of key stakeholders.
N.B. Make sure that you read the What is a Policy Brief? document on the SOC810 iLearn page.
Due: Monday 5th October
Weighting: 20%
The second policy brief should be written for a Non-government Organisation (NGO). You will need to identify an issue and find an article to focus on using a policy forum such as Australian Policy Online (http//www.apo.org.au). For this brief, imagine you are working in a large non-profit organization (this can either by a service provider, an advocacy body). But you need to identify a real organization. Your job is to read the article/report and to report to either the Executive Officer or the Board on actions that might be required. The action might simply be 'noting' the report (unlikely for the purpose of this exercise), but it may be issuing a press release about the issue or organising a meeting with the relevant Minister to press a case.
N.B. You should select a different policy issue than the one selected for the first policy brief.
Due: Friday 6th November
Weighting: 50%
This major assignment for SOC810 should be presented in the format of a research report. This report requires you to select a social policy problem and to critically evaluate current policies or proposals. You will need to select ONE of the following four options:
* income support for unemployed people;
* age pension
* policies relating to childcare
* Medicare
This report involves critically examining how the policy problem has been defined and critiquing proposals for government action. This should involve consideration of the following...
a) What recent developments have occurred in this policy area and what are the main features of current policy?
b) How has the problem been defined in policy and why is there a call for government action?
c) Who are the various stakeholders involved and what are their positions on the policy problem?
d) What is the prevailing policy approach? Consider whether the policy reflects values and stakeholder positions.
e) Critically evaluate the policy in terms of its stated outcomes and some possible alternative approaches to policy.
This task should be written up as an assignment of 1,800 to 2,000 words. Please feel free to use headings, write in paragraphs and double-space submitted work. You should use an introduction and conclusion to help organise and link your ideas. Keep in mind that we will be assessing you on your ability to concisely and precisely present information within the word limit.
N.B. You should use another topic than that selected for the policy briefs.
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%
The weekly workshops are compulsory. To meet the requirements of this course, you are required to attend at least 80 per cent of workshops. In addition to attending, you are also expected to actively participate. As an incentive, 10 percent of your final mark will be awarded for your attendance and your participation. We will look for evidence that you have done the readings and your ability to engage respectfully with other students.
This course is delivered as a two-hour seminar on Tuesday evenings from 6pm during semester.
There is no required text set for this unit. The readings will be available via the 'unit reading' tab on the Library webpage, online thru the Library webpage or on the world wide web. Most are already available. Before contacting teaching staff, make sure that you try searching for the course code 'SOC810', 'SOCI 704' and the author's surname of the relevant reading in Unit Readings (search for each separately).
While there is no need to buy a textbook, we have put together a list of recommended texts that should help you throughout the semester. These sources are online and can also be ordered through the Co-op bookshop:
Alcock, P. and. G. Craig (2009) International Social Policy: Welfare regimes in the developed world, Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke.
Fawcett, B., Goodwin, S., Meagher, G. and R. Phillips (2010) Social Policy for Social Change, Palgrave Macmillan: Melbourne.
Marston, G., Macdonald, C. and L. Bryson (2013) The Australian Welfare State: Who Benefits Now? Palgrave Macmillan: South Yarra.
McClelland, A. and P. Smyth (2014) Social Policy in Australia: Understanding for Action, 3rd Edition, Oxford University Press: Melbourne.
Pierson, C. and F.G. Castles (2010) The Welfare State Reader, 2nd Edition, Polity Press: Cambridge.
The following technologies are used in this course...
Make sure that you regularly check your student email for correspondence with teaching staff and course announcements.
iLearn
Important information about the weekly schedule, course readings and assessment are all available on the course iLearn page. If you do not have access, please contact IT help. You are required to check iLearn and your student email regularly for course updates and information.
Turnitin
All written assessments need to be submitted online via Turnitin only. A link to Turnitin is available via the Assessments tab on the iLearn page. Please contact the convenor if you cannot find it (do not leave it until the day of the assessment). Written assessments are due by 6pm at the start of the relevant workshop. But, there is no need to submit a hard copy of the assessment or to include a cover sheet.
Grademark
Feedback will be made available online via GradeMark. It will take four majors forms (in no particular order): specific comments in the text of your paper; overall comments; a score on a qualitative rubric (that cannot be used to calculate your mark numerically); and a numeric score. Once you have received your assignment back, please make sure that you have access to these forms of feedback.
Readings on Library website and world wide web
The readings for the course should be available free-of-charge via e-Reserve. e-Reserve can be accessed via the Macquarie University library website.
Wk |
Seminar Topics |
Date |
1 |
Introduction to Developing Social Policy |
28 Jul
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2
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Poverty and Inequality: Key social policy concepts |
4 Aug |
3
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The Great Risk Shift? Risk, markets and new social policies |
11 Aug |
4
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Developing Social Policy: Welfare, markets and the state |
18 Aug |
5
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Developing Social Policy II: From policy cycles to ‘muddling through’ |
25 Aug |
6
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Analysing Social Policy: Frameworks for understanding |
1 Sep |
7
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An Australian Story: The wage-earners model and beyond |
8 Sep |
Mid-semester study period
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8
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The US Model vs. the Swedish folkshemmet |
29 Sep |
9
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Reforming Income Support: Dependency, deservingness & surveillance |
6 Oct |
10
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Closing the Gap? Recent developments in Indigenous social policy |
13 Oct |
11
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Population Ageing, Retirement and Social Policy |
20 Oct |
12
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Health Policy in Australia and Around the World |
27 Oct |
13
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Course Conclusion |
3 Nov |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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