196-420 The Legal Context of Human Services

Formerly available as 196-011. Students who have completed 196-011 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Admission into the Bachelor of Social Work or, for BA students, 100 points of first-year subjects.

This subject provides an overview of the Australian and Victorian legal systems and their components, and the values and principles upon which law is based. The subject does not attempt to cover all issues raised by a consideration of the law. However, it does explore the relationship between the law and the human services to develop students' understanding of the major legal structures that impinge on welfare practice and the values and attitudes which underpin those structures. The subject makes use of video resources to explore the giving of evidence to tribunals and courts of law; the ethics of practice; the Australian legal system; protection of human rights in Australia; the role of the state in income maintenance; family law; and state intervention in the family and domestic violence.

Assessment in this subject may include participation in computer-based multimedia exercises, observation and comment upon of particular legal settings, class participation and presentation, and written work. Assessment totals 4000 words or equivalent. Attendance at a minimum of 75% of seminars is a hurdle requirement for this subject.

Students should check with the subject coordinator prior to purchase of texts as additional or alternative texts may be substitutees for those listed below.

• P A Swain, In the Shadow of the Law. Federation Press, 1995.
• S Tarakson, Everyday Law. 2nd edn, Federation Press, 2002.
• S Charlesworth, N Turner & L Foreman, Disrupted Families. Federation Press, 2000.
• Fitzroy Legal Service, The Law Handbook. 2003.