BRIEF REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTENT OF AN AIWCW APPROVED COURSE

The content of an Australian academic qualification approved by the AIWCW will generally be at least equivalent to an Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) 2-year Diploma and have a curriculum which includes:

A. Studies of society, including:

(i) the link between the individual and social and political structure

(ii) patterns of family and community life (e.g., including introductory sociology, family studies, politics, economics, human geography)

B. Studies of individual human structure and function, including:

(i) a range of physical, social and psychological aspects (e.g., including introductory psychology, biology, health studies)

C. A range of welfare services, including:

(i) the ongoing provision of services, service development, and the rights and interests of clients

(ii) studies which relate the practical application of aspects of welfare services (e.g., Aged Care, Alcohol and Other Drugs, Child Protection, Community Work, Community Housing, Mental Health, Youth Work, or Disability, and the like)

D. Foundations of welfare work, including:

(i) work with individuals (case work)

(ii) work with groups

(iii) work with communities

(iv) ecological, systems and structural approaches, values and ethics, and the development of welfare systems

(v) Skills acquisition (including some experiential work separate from field education; such as videoed or role-played counseling, meetings, group leadership experiences, and field study of communities, either during or separate from formal class sessions)

E. Research and evaluation

F. At least 400 hours of professionally supervised field work, in two separate placements, which is included and assessed as part of the academic qualification

G. Full-time study over at least two calendar years.