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SWK535 - Research for Community Development

2025

Sector

Higher Education

Discipline

Social Work

Credit Points

Equivalent Units

(SWK528)

Prerequisites

Must have passed 1 unit in (SWK521)

Incompatible

Coerequisites

Assumed Knowledge

Unit Description

In this unit, students will be introduced to research and how it can inform community development practice within a social justice framework. Students will critically reflect on their unique positionality and how this influences their ability to partner with a range of communities, including First Nations Peoples and diverse communities. Students will gain insights into how power is distributed within social structures, political discourse, and resource distribution at community and individual levels. Students will also gain an understanding of the tensions inherent in social work practice at the interface of personal concerns and societal issues.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.	Critically reflect on how positionality influences ethical research and social work practice with diverse population groups.
2.	Critically analyse how place, social structures, social issues, and organisational systems shape social work practice, research discourse, and the lives of individuals, families, and communities.
3.	Critically examine the role of research for community development to raise awareness, build resources and create change.
4.	Critically evaluate an example of a community development research project's features and how its context influenced its implementation.

Assessment Overview

	Assessment Task	Value (of total mark)	Related Learning Outcome/s
1.	Quiz (15 mins)	10%	1,2
2.	Presentation (15 mins)	40%	1,2,3,4
3.	Essay (2500 words)	50%	SWK52 8 - Advancing Social Work Research - Unit Learning Outcomes - 1,2,3,4

Unit Availability

Year	Semester	Att Mode	Location	Learning Method	Timetable*
2025	Semester 1	External	External Studies	OLR	View

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OLR: Internet access is required for this unit as students are required to access study materials provided on-line through Learnline. Please log into Learnline on the first day of each teaching period. For more information about Learnline, please click here.

Critical Dates

Important Dates for Students

Fee Information:
Fees and Payments
Student Services and Amenities Fees
2026 Domestic Unit Fees (PDF)
2025 Incidental Fees (PDF)