BSWUG3005 Social Policy: Development and impact
In a society marked by increasingly inequitable distribution of resources, social workers require skills and knowledge to interpret, critique, and shape social policy. This course provides students with foundational knowledge about how social policy influences the lives of individuals, families, communities, and how social workers and the social work profession are influenced by, and can influence, social policy. Specifically, the course focuses on competing definitions of social policy, social welfare, the role of political ideologies and values in shaping policy development, implementation and evaluation. This course introduces students to the `social construction of problems¿ that influence the development, implementation of social policy using Carol Bacchi¿s critical social policy framework. The course will introduce students to social policy in action and apply theoretical frameworks of social policy to an area of social work practice, such as disability policy, housing and homelessness, family violence and poverty and welfare policy. Students will be required to develop skills to analyse discourses that underpin social policies, identify the political and ethical implications and advocate in macro settings.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A CSP is subsidised by the Australian Government and students pay a contribution amount. Each unit is classified into a band, depending on the study area of the unit (this discipline may be different from the study area of your course).
2025 contribution amount* $2,124
2025 grandfathered contribution amount* $997
Grandfathered contribution amount - if you are a continuing student, who commenced your course before 1 January 2021, you will continue paying the same amount as you would have, had legislative reforms not been implemented, for any units that would otherwise have an increased student contribution amount.
* For Clinical Psychology & Professional Pathways bands the unit fee amount is determined by accredited courses. Students in Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, Professional Pathway Psychology or Professional Pathway Social Work accredited courses should refer to the information below.
Professional Pathways CSP unit fees
For the Professional Pathways band, the student contribution is determined by the unit Field of Education code as well as the course in which you are enrolled. Only approved courses are eligible for the Professional Pathways fee. Students enrolled in courses not approved for this fee will pay the standard student contribution above. Check our CSP page for more details.
2025 professional pathways $1,164
2025 grandfathered professional pathways $997
This fee band is for:
- human welfare studies and services units (Field of Education code starting with 0905) in the Bachelor of Community and Human Services, Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work (Qualifying), Master of Social Work (Qualifying) (Children and Families).
- behavioural science units (Field of Education code starting with 0907) in the Bachelor of Psychological Science or Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours).
