Subject Area: Social Work

This course introduces you to community work concepts and practice in national and international social work contexts. Drawing on human rights and strengths based approaches you will analyse the changing political contexts in which community work is located. It aims to develop knowledge of the theories and skills you will need to engage in effective community work practice. Applied field examples will be used to assist you to understand and examine the difference between working at the grass roots level, national and international levels, with diverse groups of people. Using case studies from a range of fields of practice, including community work with social housing communities, children and youth and refugee and migrant communities, you will explore the history and politics of community work. Critical and creative skills in the ‘doing’ of community work will be developed. These include skills in community engagement, consultation and needs assessment, working with at risk and marginalised populations, cross-cultural communication, working with interpreters and in advocacy.