Program Overview

CDS2000 Ethical Issues and Human Rights in the Human Services

Overview

Respect for human rights, the promotion of social justice and ethical conduct are key requirements of professional practice, subject to evolving community expectations, legal requirements and service standards. This is particularly the case in human service work with people who are in unequal power relationships with others.

CDS2000 introduces students to the main legal, ethical, and social justice responsibilities that are integral to work in government and non-government human service organisations located in the Social and Community Services Industry. While considering a range of approaches to ethical theory and moral philosophy, students will focus on rights-based, anti-oppressive approaches to human services practice.

Course Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Define ethics, human rights and social justice;
2. Identify and describe the main currents of ethical theory and moral philosophy;
3. Discern the key factors that shape public perceptions and attitudes towards human rights and social justice in Australia;
4. Critically analyse the effectiveness of domestic legislative provisions for protecting human rights and promoting social justice;
5. Identify, analyse and resolve ethical dilemmas in professional practice;
6. Define and defend a rights-based, anti-oppressive approach to human services practice.

Topics

• Ethical frameworks and issues (20.00%)
• Human rights (20.00%)
• Social Justice (20.00%)
• Human services practice: Professional use of self (20.00%)
• Aspects of law (20.00%)

Text and Materials Required

• McAuliffe, D 2021, Interprofessional Ethics , Cambridge University Press, Singapore.

Student Workload Expectations

To do well in this subject, students are expected to commit approximately 10 hours per week including class contact hours, independent study, and all assessment tasks. If you are undertaking additional activities, which may include placements and residential schools, the weekly workload hours may vary.

Assessment Details

• Assignments: Written Quiz (20%) - Course learning outcomes 1, 2, 5
• Assignments: Written Case Study (40%) - Course learning outcomes 1, 2, 5
• Assignments: Written Essay A1 of 2 (10%) - Course learning outcomes 3, 4, 6
• Assignments: Oral Presentation (ind, grp, mltmd) A2 of 2 (30%) - Course learning outcomes 3, 4, 6

Staffing

Course Coordinator: Aastha Malhotra

Course Details

• Semester: 1, 2023
• Delivery Mode: Online
• Units: 1
• School or Department: School of Psychology and Wellbeing
• Grading basis: Graded
• Course fee schedule: Not specified