- Before you enrol
- Observational skills
- Communication skills
- Intellectual, such as conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities
- Behavioural and social skills
- Sustained Performance
- Post-admission requirements
Committed to equity and diversity
At UniSC, we are committed to facilitating the integration of all students into the University Community.
Reasonable adjustments in teaching and/or assessment methods can be made for students provided those adjustments do not compromise the inherent requirements of the program.
The inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice are the fundamental skills and abilities that the student must be able to achieve in order to demonstrate the essential learning outcomes of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice.
This Statement provides realistic information about the inherent academic requirements that you must meet in order to complete your course and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice so you can make an informed judgement about your ability to fulfil them.
Externally accredited
The University of the Sunshine Coast offers the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice whereby the social work component of the program is designed to meet the national accreditation requirements of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
Graduates will be eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
Relevant standards and codes which inform the inherent academic requirements for these programs include the AASW Code of Ethics, the AASW Practice Standards, and the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards, which can be accessed at www.aasw.asn.au.
- Key Social Work practice skills are embedded and assessed throughout the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice.
Skills you need
The Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice has inherent academic requirements in five categories:
- Observational skills
- Communication skills
- Intellectual, such as conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities
- Behavioural and social skills
- Sustained Performance
Before you enrol
If you intend to enrol in the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice at the University of the Sunshine Coast, look carefully at the inherent academic requirements listed in this statement and think about whether you might experience challenges in meeting them.
If you think you might experience challenges related to your disability, health condition or for any other reason, you should discuss your concerns with a University Ability Adviser or School staff.
Reasonable adjustments
Students with disabilities or other special circumstances may be provided with reasonable adjustment to enable them to meet the inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice if the adjustment is:
- logistically reasonable
- likely to result in the student being able to perform the skills adequately and in a timely manner.
Support and further information is available from UniSC
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Relevant academic contacts
Observational Skills
The core observational requirements are capacity to demonstrate:
- receptiveness to information which is a core requirement because students must demonstrate the required range of skills, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe practice including professional care of self and others.
- examination and assessment of situations which is a core requirement in ensuring safe, professional and effective social work practice in the field placement context.
Justification
These are inherent requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because observation is a skill that is utilised extensively in social work and at times in criminal justice work.
Adjustments
Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in practice. Any strategies to address the effects of vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise assessment or safety.
Exemplars
As a student you must:
- attend to non-verbal behaviour (eg observe body language, tone of voice and facial expressions) throughout the academic and work practice in the field placement contexts
- observe risk factors in relation to workplace health and safety to maintain consistent, accurate and safe professional care of self and others
- observe multiple people and events simultaneously, be receptive to their environment, assess situations and respond appropriately
- identify relevant aspects of social work/criminal justice practice situations.
Communication Skills
Students must have the capacity to demonstrate:
- Verbal communication skills
- Nonverbal communication skills
- Written communication skills
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills
Verbal communication skills
The capacity to demonstrate:
- effective verbal communication, in English, which is essential to providing safe and effective delivery of counselling and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathic, honest and non-judgemental and sensitive to individual and/or cultural differences
- consistent and appropriate awareness of own verbal communication style and the ability to interact appropriately in different situations
- ability to express ideas concisely and clearly with the capacity to develop skills in verbal reasoning.
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because:
- Communication in a way that displays understanding of, respect and empathy for others and develops trusting relationships is essential for the study and practice of criminology and justice is a key requirement for the study and practice of social work and criminology and justice.
- Communication may be restricted to verbal modes because of physical limitations of the individual (e.g. injury, disease or congenital conditions).
- The speed and interactivity of communication may be critical to deliver individual safety and or assessment.
- Timely, accurate and effective understanding and delivery of instructions is necessary to provide safe, professional support when participating in group aspects of the curriculum and on field placements.
Adjustments
Adjustments for verbal communication must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safety and appropriate support.
Exemplars
As a student you must:
- make verbal presentations in tutorials and as required when on filed placement in host agencies
- communicate appropriately in any exchange or encounter in the field placement setting, e.g. in supervision, interviews, staff and interagency meetings
- display consistent and appropriate awareness of own verbal communication style and and their impact on others and show sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences.
- provide clear instructions, guidelines, feedback and reporting in the context of the situation.
Nonverbal communication skills
Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to counselling practice and human services/community work and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, non-judgemental and appropriate to the practice context.
Students will demonstrate:
- capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues
- consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours and their impact on others.
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because:
- The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic, professional and practice settings.
- Displaying appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic, professional and practice settings.
- Being sensitive to individual differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships that are essential for effective professional support.
Adjustments
Adjustments must enable the recognition, interpretation and appropriate response to nonverbal cues as well as initiation of effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner.
Exemplars
As a student, you must:
- recognise and respond appropriately to non-verbal cues in classroom and assessment situations
- recognise and respond appropriately to non-verbal cues in the field placement environment.
Written communication skills
English literacy is a fundamental counselling and community work requirement in Australia with professional and legal ramifications. Proficiency in other languages can also be highly valued in some practice settings.
Students will demonstrate:
- capacity to construct coherent, timely and professional written communication in English appropriate to the circumstance
- reading and comprehension of a range of literature and information in English
- capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances
- capacity to understand and implement academic and practice conventions to construct written text in an appropriate manner for the intended audience.
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because:
- Construction of written text-based assessment tasks in English to reflect the required academic standards is necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter and for demonstrating counselling/criminal justice practice standards.
- Accurate written communication, including record keeping, written reports and case notes is vital to provide consistent and accurate assessments and for demonstrating professional standards in the field placement context.
- The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for safe and effective assessment, treatment and professional support in the field placement context.
Adjustments
Adjustments must allow students to meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective acquisition, recording, comprehension and transmission of information in both academic and field placement settings.
Exemplars
As a student you must:
- construct essays, case notes, reports and other written work that meet academic and professional standards
- paraphrase, summarise and reference in accordance with appropriate academic, professional and/or organisational practice conventions
- construct a social work report in a timely manner that meets professional standards
- develop a written framework for social work practice as an outcome of field placement.
Information and communication technology (ICT) skills
The capacity to acquire and demonstrate sound working skills in applying information and communication technologies (ICT) to communicate via a range of ICT applications and systems in both academic and professional settings.
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because competent ICT skills are essential to:
- successfully accessing, applying and communicating information to meet learning outcomes
- preparing and completing assessment tasks, WIL placements and submitting assessment items online.
Adjustments
Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively use a range of ICT to apply and communicate accurate information. UniSC has in place a range of strategies and technology to support students with disabilities. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the University’s AccessAbility Service.
Exemplars
As a student you must:
- employ a range of ICT skills, such as internet searching and word processing, to complete written and audio-visual learning and assessment activities
- use a range of software, applications and devices for academic, research and placement purposes, in face-to-face and online synchronous and asynchronous communication environments.
Behavioural and Social Skills
The capacity to demonstrate:
- Ethical behaviour
- Behavioural stability
- Behaviour within legal parameters
- Relational skills
Ethical behaviour
Students undertaking social work studies are governed by practice standards and codes of ethics where students are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts. A core requirement of these standards is professional integrity.
Students will demonstrate professional integrity and knowledge of and engage in ethical behaviour in practice.
Justification
This is an inherent academic requirement of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because of the requirement to:
- comply with professional standards and requirements
- be aware of and be guided by relevant codes, guidelines and policies that demonstrate professional integrity, including competent interactions and relationships with other students and/or the people they engage with on field placements. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all.
- have knowledge of, and practice in a manner consistent with the AASW Code of Ethics, and the AASW Practice Standards, as a requirement of course accreditation mandated in the AASW Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards.
Adjustments
Adjustments must ensure the codes and standards are not compromised or result in unethical behaviour.
Exemplars
As a student, you must demonstrate:
- an ethical approach to discussions
- appropriate behaviour with confidential information in classroom and field placement settings
- ability to reflect on ethical considerations and issues and take responsibility for ensuring own awareness of ethical behaviour
- ability to apply ethical principles and processes to decision making in field placement settings.
Behavioural stability
This is a core requirement of the program because students are required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in this role.
Students will demonstrate sufficient behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse academic and field placement environments.
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because of the requirement to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. The nature of working with vulnerable people, groups and communities means students will often be exposed to highly complex human situations and will be required to have sufficient behavioural and emotional stability to engage and respond appropriately, and the capacity to seek appropriate supervision and support when needed.
Adjustments
Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and field placement settings.
Exemplars
As a student, you must:
- be aware of own emotional reactions and appropriately engage in supervision and support to maintain appropriate behaviour
- be able to work effectively with others sharing responsibility for outcomes in a range of roles and contexts
- be receptive and professional in responding appropriately to constructive written and verbal feedback
- maintain respectful communication in times of increased stress or workloads during field placements.
Behaviour within legal parameters
This is a core requirement of social work, criminology and justice students because the practice of these professions is often occurring in the context of specific legislative, regulatory, administrative and common law requirements, which provide a context for the delivery of safe and appropriate services.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of, and compliance with the legal requirements relevant to the practice of Social Work, Criminology and Justice, professional regulations and roles undertaken including in field education placements. Students may need to use such knowledge for the benefit of client individuals, organisations, groups and communities, as part of the commitment of social work and criminal justice professionals to social justice and human rights. Given the law may not be clear in its application to particular practice situations, students must demonstrate the capacity to appropriately seek advice and supervision about the legal aspects of practice situations.
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because of the need to demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements in order to reduce the risk of harm to clients, self and field placement agencies. Compliance with legislation and common law in the field placement setting reflects the requirement that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice.
Adjustments
Adjustments must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements.
Exemplars
As a student, you must:
- comply with relevant child protection and safety legislation
- hold a valid Working with Children Check in certain placements
- utilise principles of natural justice and procedural fairness within group assessment tasks and in field placement settings
- seek appropriate advice and supervision about the legal aspects of a practice situation when on field placement.
Relational skills
This is a core requirement of the program because social work practice requires the ability to make and maintain purposeful, equitable and appropriately bounded relationships with a wide range of individuals, groups and communities.
Students will demonstrate:
- ability to establish and maintain respectful relationships with clients, academic staff, supervisors and peers
- ability to engage and relate appropriately in individual and group supervision and experiential learning groups
- ability to develop, articulate and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because highly developed relational skills are a cornerstone of effective helping including effective engagement, assessment and intervention which may occur over a sustained period.
Adjustments
Adjustments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable level of effective relational skills.
Exemplars
As a student, you must:
- build rapport in a timely and appropriate manner with a client to engage them while on placement
- demonstrate appropriate boundaries in professional relationships consistent with the practice setting and social work/criminal justice standards
- manage tensions and challenges in relationships with clients, individuals, groups, placement agency staff and communities appropriately while on placement.
Intellectual – Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities
The capacity to demonstrate:
- consistent knowledge and cognitive skills
- reflective skills, including the ability to integrate a diversity of considerations
Consistent knowledge and cognitive skills
This is a core requirement of the student because knowledge and effective cognitive skills are essential for identifying and responding to the needs of clients and to undertake safe and competent practice.
Students will demonstrate:
- capacity for independent critical thinking, creative thinking, problem solving, critical analysis, decision making, rational inquiry and self-directed learning
- capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information and process information relevant to practice
- ability to integrate and implement knowledge in practice.
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities are necessary for the students to be able to fulfil the required range of academic and practice tasks including providing safe and effective professional practice which appreciates the various contexts and contributing factors to people’s situations and issues, and is based upon knowledge that the student must source, understand and apply appropriately. This includes the knowledge of clients and communities, as well as research and professional knowledge.
Adjustments
Adjustments must not compromise or impede student’s ability to demonstrate the minimum acceptable level of knowledge and cognitive skills required to practise safely.
Exemplars
As a student you must:
- locate, conceptualise, and use appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items
- build strong conceptual frameworks and apply knowledge of theories, models, concepts, legislation, policy and practice; in classroom discussions, groupwork, assessments and professional contexts
- appropriately apply knowledge of policy and procedures in the field placement
- identify, critically analyse and synthesise knowledge from various appropriate sources, including the views of client individuals, groups, communities and staff they practice with to inform assessment and the development of practice responses.
Reflective skills
This is a core requirement of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because professional practice require self-awareness and a capacity for reflectivity to consider the effect of one's own issues, actions, values and behaviours on practice. The social work/criminal justice practitioner is required to regularly undertake critical reflection about the nature of people’s issues and needs. This can involve the dual challenge of both assisting people’s functioning and identifying and responding to systemic issues that create inequity and injustice. The professional practitioner must also possess the ability to appreciate and reflect on the social, economic, cultural and situational contexts of people’s lives and the implications these have for practice.
Students will demonstrate:
- the ability to accurately reflect on their own values and life experiences, and how these influence their professional practice
- the ability to identify and critically reflect on various contexts for the issues people face, including the social, cultural, legal and economic contexts of people’s situations and experiences, and the implications of these for practice
- the ability to accept feedback on their professional practice and respond constructively.
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because:
- Reflective self-awareness and commitment to social justice are core requirements of ethical social work/criminal justice practice.
- The ability to appreciate and reflect on the various contexts in which people experience difficulty is a core requirement for appropriate assessment and support.
- Participation in supervision is a key teaching strategy in counselling education and this requires a well-developed understanding of oneself to facilitate ongoing learning.
- Working with clients and stakeholders while on placement and understanding and responding to them requires well developed understanding of oneself and the ability to effectively manage one's reactions to situations that may arise.
Adjustments
Adjustments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable minimum level of capacity in this area.
Exemplars
As a student you must:
- be able to identify, critically reflect on relevant contexts which influence how people experience difficulty and use this reflection to develop integrated responses to academic and field placement challenges.
- demonstrate in assignments and field education processes the capacity to reflect on your own values and experiences and how these influence your practice.
- demonstrate an ability to appreciate and respond to complexity in social work/criminal justice practice.
- identify when a practice issue is outside your scope of expertise or when one's practice may be negatively affected by personal experience and/or reactions.
Sustained Performance
The capacity to demonstrate sustained performance is a core requirement of this program because social work/criminal justice practice in the field placement context requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level.
Students will demonstrate:
- consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time
- capability to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus on the activity until it is completed appropriately
- capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of time.
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice because sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and effective support in field placement and professional contexts.
Adjustments
Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a required period.
Exemplars
As a student you must:
- participate regularly in tutorials, lectures, workshops and skill development assessments
- engage consistently in field placement practice over the required time frame
- respond appropriately to academic set-backs through self-evaluation and when experiencing difficulties make this known to appropriate academic and University staff members and/or the work placement supervisor.
Post-admission requirements
In order to commence field education placement you must:
- Hold a valid Blue Card, throughout the duration of your program, which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the field education component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements
- Travel to attend field education placements
- Please note, while all endeavours will be made to place students in a given semester, this is not guaranteed and students may need to enrol at a later time should a position in an agency be unavailable in the preferred semester