The Graduate Diploma in Social Care is a 36-unit program offered by the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.
The Graduate Diploma in Social Care is an exit award only. Students who are unable to complete the requirements of the Master of Social Work (Graduate Entry) may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Diploma in Social Care or Graduate Certificate in Social Care.
Course aims
This course aims to:
- provide students with the knowledge and skills to practice responsibly and reflectively as a social care worker within Australian health and human services
- involve students in researching, analysing and articulating a framework for inclusive and ethical professional within health and human services
- inform students about, and enable them to critically reflect and comment on, relevant current social justice debates
- educate students about the colonial history of Australia and its long-term effects on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including analysis of current policies and health and human services affecting ATSI families and communities
- develop students’ knowledge about current evidence-based professional practice models and approaches within health and human services
- help students identify the cultural context of various practice, approaches and their relevance to specific situations and populations
- delineate the connections between interpersonal practice, social policy and research at a national and international level
Learning outcomes
At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:
- practice as a social care worker in a knowledgeable, competent, reflective and responsible manner
- understand and assess the complex individual, family, societal and systemic factors that contribute to the issues experienced by the clients of health and human services
- articulate the theory, rationale and methods involved in various professional practice approaches and demonstrate the ability to utilise these approaches differentially
- identify, interpret and respond professionally to the major social justice issues facing Australian society and the international community
- show awareness of the historical, cultural and interpersonal contexts that affect how Aboriginal Australians approach social work services, and demonstrate ways of moving toward mutual trust and engagement
- demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional learning as a critically reflective practitioner
Program of study
Students must have completed a minimum of 36 units of topics from the Master of Social Work (Graduate Entry), excluding the two placement topics (SOAD9107 & SOAD9208).
