Health as a Social Idea

Please note that this Course has Requisites listed.

Offering Information

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Course Team

Ros Darracott

Summary

The formal health system is a major employer of social work professionals in Australia. The International Federation of Social Workers acknowledges that social workers practicing in all domains ‘are engaged in health work.’ Health cuts across all aspects of life; so wherever social workers are employed, “health” will be an essential element. Using a critical social work lens, knowledge of human behaviour, and social systems, social workers undertake emancipatory work that enables people to realise their potential and assist them to enjoy full, active, and creative lives. This course is a second-year course, positioned to be completed prior to the first placement; allowing students to draw upon their first-year experience.

Health is traditionally understood through a biomedical framework: people are sick and in need of medical treatment that aims to cure them. While medicine plays an important role, this course introduces health as a “social” idea and argues that it is better suited to the social sciences rather than the medical sciences. Students examine the social and commercial determinants of health in order to better design and tailor interventions and service responses to the needs of individuals and communities. They undertake practical workshops that enable them to acquire knowledge and skills that enable competency in undertaking psychosocial/spiritual/ cultural/biomedical assessments using an ecological approach. While health is explored across the lifespan, the impact of neoliberalism is examined. Students are asked to reflect on whether capitalism is bad for your health? They explore key health issues facing Australians and more generally all global citizens across the lifespan. There is focus on promotion of health and wellbeing for populations with specific needs, including: older people, people living with chronic health conditions, people from diverse cultural backgrounds, homeless people, rural and remote populations, Asylum seekers and refugees, First Nations peoples, and people with diverse gender identities.

There is a mandatory two-day residential school situated in the mid-trimester break for this course. Students will be encouraged to plan ahead to ensure attendance.

SynopsisThe course builds the emerging knowledge base of students; hence, it is located in the second year. Health is considered as a 'social' idea with the implications of medicalisation and pathologisation of the human condition critically examined in the context of neoliberalism. Informed by the social and commercial determinants of health, students acquire knowledge and practical skills that enable them to confidently undertake psychosocial/spiritual/cultural/biomedical assessments. They will be able to work solo or within interprofessional or transdisciplinary team settings. Their skill development also includes writing of case notes and summaries, oral presentations and health advocacy, use of technology including emails; and making effective referrals. The course takes them beyond the formal health care setting and into the community. The course attends to many different fields of practice where health and wellbeing emerge as priority issues. Students will work with authentic case studies and participate in face-to-face practical experiential workshops. They will be undertaking simulations that involve engagement with the health of children and young people; older people living well; survivors of domestic and family violence; social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations peoples; homelessness; rural and remoate populations; people coping with cancer; end-of-life care; the health of people from refugee backgrounds and asylum seekers; people living with disabilities; female genital cutting; and people with diverse gender identities.

Requisites

Course Co-requisite

Other Requisites or Enrolment Rules

Other

Completion Requirements

Mandatory attendance

Offerings

Trimester 3

EXT-TWMBA-TR3

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, graduates will be able to:

Evaluate and critique definitions and conceptualisations of health and wellbeing, current health services, and social and political structures that contribute to the health and wellbeing of Australian and international populations;

Apply the social and commercial determinants of health when assessing and working with individuals and communities;

Through authentic complex case scenarios, engage with clients experiencing health issues across the lifespan and in different contexts, including children, young people, adults and older people;

Identify and appropriately respond to consequences of chronic health issues; domestic and family violence; homelessness; incarceration; refugee or asylum seeker status; disability; and diverse gender identities;

Undertake a psychosocial/spiritual/cultural/biomedical assessment, working solo or within an interprofessional or transdisciplinary team setting;

Tailor health assessments and interventions to the needs of First Nations peoples, and people with diverse cultural identities and, or backgrounds; aiming to contribute to cultural safety;

Undertake case formulation and develop an intervention strategy informed by Social Work theory and knowledge, that advocates for health promotion and appropriate interventions required by individuals, communities, and society.

Topics

1. Global perspectives of health: Definitions and contemporary health challenges in the Global North and the Global South 2. The Australian health care system 3. Understanding health as a “social “idea”: social and commercial determinants of health 4. Impacts of neoliberalism, capitalism and healthism 5. Health across the lifespan: children,… For more content click the Read More button below.

1. Global perspectives of health: Definitions and contemporary health challenges in the Global North and the Global South

2. The Australian health care system

3. Understanding health as a “social “idea”: social and commercial determinants of health

4. Impacts of neoliberalism, capitalism and healthism

5. Health across the lifespan: children, adults and older people: issues, theories, frameworks, interventions and contexts

6. Social Work with populations with priority needs: First Nations peoples, homeless people; people who are incarcerated; people from refugee backgrounds and asylum seekers; victims of domestic and family violence, people with disabilities; people living in rural and remote areas; and people with diverse gender identities

7. Psychosocial/spiritual/cultural/biomedical assessments, including written skills, referrals and the interface with technology

8. Health advocacy: Bridging micro, meso and macro perspectives in search of systemic change

Assessments

Assessment due dates (as listed in Week Due) are indicative until finalised by the end of Week 1 for each Study Period (Offering). After Week 1, Assessment due dates may change with the approval of the Dean (Academic) or Delegate in limited circumstances. All Assessment due date changes approved after Week 1 will be communicated to students accordingly via Handbook and StudyDesk.

UniSQ Handbook

SWK2300 - Health as a Social Idea