Course overview
The aim of this course is to enable the students to develop and apply legal knowledge and skills required of social and 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, housing law and the role of the Coroner. As well as the understanding of the relationship between professional ethics and law, students will be able to apply their knowledge to the legal parameters for human service workers, the social justice and ethical issues involved, and confidentiality.
Course learning outcomes
- Identify the legal rights, obligations and responsibilities of human service workers
- Critically examine the relationship between legal, ethical and other regulation of professional practice
- Analyse human rights and legal issues commonly experienced by clients of human service organisations
- Recognise and access relevant information and resources when faced with a legal problem
- Apply legal knowledge to the facts of a human service problem
- Exercise professional judgement in working with evidence, time lines and arguments as required in a legal context