Course overview
To enable students to develop and apply legal knowledge and skills required of human service workers and to critically examine legal responses to social issues in contemporary practice. Students will gain an understanding of key pieces of legislation which directly impact the practice environment and the profession. Students will develop an introductory knowledge of the law, including child protection law, family law, youth justice, domestic violence, discrimination and human rights law, criminal law, employment and worker’s rights, housing law and the role of the coroner. Students will be able to apply their knowledge to the legal protections and risks for social work and human service workers, duty of care and confidentiality and the social justice and ethical issues involved, while demonstrating an understanding of the relationship between professional ethics and law.
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge of legal rights, obligations and responsibilities of social work and human service workers
- Critically examine the relationship between legal, ethical and other regulations shaping professional practice
- Analyse human rights and legal issues commonly experienced by clients of human service organisations
- Demonstrate accountability in identifying and accessing appropriate information and resources when faced with a legal problem
- Apply legal knowledge to the facts of a human service problem
- Critically analyse the advantages and limitations of legal responses to social problems