Program Overview

HCS205 Child Abuse and Child Protection

This subject provides students with a core knowledge base about the definition, identification, and consequences of all types of child maltreatment. It also provides information on the legal, organisational, and professional responsibilities placed upon professionals to respond to such maltreatment.

Introduction

This is an introductory subject for undergraduate students about child abuse and child protection. The subject deals with a major social problem, child abuse, and the complex and often controversial policy and community response to that problem, child protection. The subject will explore how these matters are socially constructed in an Australian context. Students should be aware that the content of this subject deals with case studies, and descriptive content about how children are abused and the consequences of that for the child and family and professionals that may be confronting and/or upsetting. The subject must not be used as an avenue for investigating personal experiences of abuse or child protection practices.

Availability

• Session 2 (60)
• Online
• Wagga Wagga Campus

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

• be able to understand the significance of child maltreatment as a social problem in Australia and elsewhere
• be able to articulate the common operational definitions of physical, emotional/psychological, sexual abuse and neglect of children including the major physical, social and behavioural indicators of these types of maltreatment
• be able to demonstrate understanding of the significant contextual aspects of child maltreatment including; poverty, social displacement and disadvantage, violence, authority and power
• be able to articulate the role and responsibilities of different professional groups in the identification of and response to child maltreatment as defined by law and policy
• be able to demonstrate understanding of the significant effects of a child's experience of maltreatment in terms of their health, education, and wellbeing
• be able to demonstrate understanding of the complexity of child protection responses and the significance of inter-disciplinary processes in giving effect to those responses

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

• Construction of Child Abuse 1 - weeks 1 & 2
• Construction of Child Abuse 2 - weeks 3 & 4
• Child Abuse and Child Protection in Australia - weeks 5 & 6
• Child protection over time, place and culture - weeks 9-10
• Protecting children by remedial interventions and preventative actions in family and individual lives - weeks 11 & 12
• Debates and dialogues about child abuse and child protection - weeks 13 & 14