Child & Adolescent Welfare Strand

This strand is directed primarily at those working in, or wishing to work in the area of child and adolescent welfare and child protection. However, the strand remains sufficiently broad for other graduates. Developed with industry consultation, students who have completed relevant industry training (e.g. with the NSW Department of Community Services) will have that prior learning recognised.

The strand comprises nine specific subjects. The first two years in the part-time/distance mode are the same as the general social welfare strand.

The specific objectives of this strand are:

a sound theoretical understanding of the psychosocial and welfare needs of children and adolescents in need of care and protection;
a grounding in the philosophical, legal and policy issues relating to the care, protection and welfare of children and adolescents;
the knowledge and skills to enable graduates to practice as competent workers in the field of child and adolescent welfare;
an extended opportunity for the development of practice skills by means of field education within the NSW Department of Community Services or other agencies involved in child and adolescent welfare.

Enrolment through

Wagga Wagga campus

Study mode

On campus
Distance education

Normal course duration

Full-time 3 years (6 sessions)
Part-time 6 years (12 sessions)

Course requirements

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 192 subject points (normally equal to 24 subjects).

Course structure

Part-time distance education mode

Session 1

WEL106 Introduction to Social Welfare
PSY111 Fundamentals of Psychology 1S

Session 2

WEL107 Mental Health in Society
PSY113 Child & Adolescent Psychology

Session 3

SOC101 Introductory Sociology
PSY209 Community Psychology

Session 4

WEL216 Groupwork
POL105 Politics & Policy in Australia
Session 5
WEL104 Welfare Economics
WEL108 Casework

Session 6

WEL217 Social Dimensions of Disability
SOC203 Sociology of Youth

SOC204 Family & Gender

Session 7

SOC308 Community Analysis
WEL403 Child & Adolescent Welfare -Philosophy & Policy

Session 8

WEL202 Community Work
WEL404 Child Protection

Session 9

WEL407 Child & Adolescent Welfare in Aboriginal Communities
[ ] Elective 1

Session 10

SWK323 Methods of Social Inquiry
LAW401 Legal Issues in Child & Adolescent Welfare

Session 11

[ ] Elective 2
WEL334 Field Education Placement 3 (starts)

Session 12

WEL422 Substitute Care
WEL334 Field Education Placement 3 (ends)

Note: Electives may be selected from subjects in Disability, Youth or Juvenile Justice.

Inquiries

Course Coordinator
Lila Kirilik
School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Telephone: (02) 6933 2326
Facsimile: (02) 6933 2792
Email: lkirilik@csu.edu.au