Program Overview

Master of Child and Adolescent Welfare

The Master of Child and Adolescent Welfare is designed for human service practitioners and promotes the ability to display a child-centered approach to all practice and policy that deals with children and adolescents. To exercise critical judgment on behalf of the child in relation to options and alternatives in the care of children and adolescents. To critically evaluate policies in relation to the needs of children and adolescents, use research evidence to inform both practice and policy in relation to children and adolescents, and to demonstrate an appreciation of ethical practice and skills of team leadership in the context of child and adolescent welfare.

Course Details

• Award Names: Master of Child and Adolescent Welfare
• Availability: Subject to change, please verify prior to enrolment
• Duration:
  • Full-time: 1.5 years (3.0 sessions)
  • Part-time: 3.0 years (6.0 sessions)
• Admission:
  • Applicants should hold a relevant degree from a university or college or the Graduate Certificate in Human Services (Child and Adolescent Welfare) and substantial experience, or a qualification deemed to be equivalent
• Credit:
  • Students may, upon application, be awarded credit for equivalent subjects completed at a master level up to a maximum of six subjects
  • Within this standard CSU credit limit of 50% credit in a master degree, students with experience in the field can gain credit for prior learning to a maximum of one subject
• Graduation: To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 96 points

Course Structure

Core Subjects:

• ETH402 Vulnerability and the Ethics of Intervention
• HCS513 Understanding Children from Adversity
• SWK504 Human Services Research Methods
• LAW401 Legal Issues in Child and Adolescent Welfare

The Strands:

1. The Practice Strand

• WEL418 Case Management
• WEL423 Counselling Theory and Practice
• HCS505 Social Work Professional Field Education 1 (16)
• HCS521 Practice leadership in Human Services (16)
• WEL407 Child and Adolescent Welfare in Aboriginal Communities
• 1 restricted elective

2. The Coursework Strand

• HCS521 Practice leadership in Human Services (16)
• WEL407 Child and Adolescent Welfare in Aboriginal Communities
• WEL418 Case Management
• SPE501 Advanced Social Policy Analysis and Planning (16)
• HCS531 Leading Human Service Development (16)

3. The Research/Dissertation Strand

• SWK500 Social Work and Human Services Dissertation (16)
• WEL508 Social Policy Reading Subject
• HCS521 Practice leadership in Human Services (16)
• WEL407 Child and Adolescent Welfare in Aboriginal Communities
• WEL418 Case Management
• 1 restricted Elective

Restricted Electives

• EED441 Constructions of Adolescence and their Educational Implications
• HCS510 Social Work and Mental Health Practice
• PHL502 Law Ethics and Human Rights
• SPE502 Social Work and Social Policy Practice
• SSC503 Rural Populations and Places
• SWK414 International Social Development
• WEL418 Case Management
• WEL420 Working in Child Protection

Enrolment Pattern

Practice Strand

• Year 1
  • Session 1 (30): HCS513 Understanding Children from Adversity, LAW401 Legal Issues in Child and Adolescent Welfare
  • Session 2 (60): ETH402 Vulnerability and the Ethics of Intervention, SWK504 Human Services Research Methods
• Year 2
  • Session 1 (30): HCS521 Practice leadership in Human Services (16)
  • Session 2 (60): WEL407 Child and Adolescent Welfare in Aboriginal Communities, WEL418 Case Management
• Year 3
  • Session 1 (30): WEL423 Counselling Theory and Practice, HCS505 Professional Field Education 1
  • Session 2 (60): Elective, HCS505 Professional Field Education 1 (continued)

Coursework Strand

• Year 1
  • Session 1 (30): HCS513 Understanding Children from Adversity, LAW401 Legal Issues in Child and Adolescent Welfare
  • Session 2 (60): ETH402 Vulnerability and the Ethics of Intervention, SWK504 Human Services Research Methods
• Year 2
  • Session 1 (30): HCS521 Practice leadership in Human Services (16)
  • Session 2 (60): WEL407 Child and Adolescent Welfare in Aboriginal Communities, WEL418 Case Management
• Year 3
  • Session 1 (30): SPE501 Advanced Social Policy Analysis & Planning (16)
  • Session 2 (60): HCS531 Leading Human Service Development (16)

Research/Dissertation Strand

• Year 1
  • Session 1 (30): HCS513 Understanding Children from Adversity, LAW401 Legal Issues in Child and Adolescent Welfare
  • Session 2 (60): ETH402 Vulnerability and the Ethics of Intervention, SWK504 Human Services Research Methods
• Year 2
  • Session 1 (30): HCS521 Practice leadership in Human Services (16)
  • Session 2 (60): WEL407 Child and Adolescent Welfare in Aboriginal Communities, WEL418 Case Management
• Year 3
  • Session 1 (30): WEL508 Social Policy Reading Subject, SWK500 Social Work and Human Services Dissertation (16) (start)
  • Session 2 (60): Restricted Elective 2, SWK500 Social Work and Human Services Dissertation (16) (finish)

Workplace Learning

Please note that the following subjects may contain a Workplace Learning component: HCS505 Social Work Field Education 1.

Residential School

Please note that the following subjects may have a residential school component: WEL423 Core counselling skills for human service roles.