21143 Current Issues in the Community Sector

Subject level: Undergraduate

Handbook description

This subject provides an opportunity for students to keep up-to-date with current issues, and to apply the theoretical frameworks already gained to systemic problems and concerns. Through regular seminars, students explore the social, political and economic issues affecting the operation of community organisations.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should have:

1. developed the capacity to explore and discuss the social, political and economic issues affecting the operation of community organisations.
2. developed skills in analysis of theoretical issues.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject provides an opportunity for students to keep up to date with current issues and to apply the theoretical frameworks already gained to systemic problems and concerns. Through participation in Block sessions and planning an action research project as part of the subject assessment, students will explore the social, political and economic issues affecting the operation of community organisations.

Teaching and learning strategies

Students will learn through a combination of set readings, lectures, workshop exercises, case studies and written assignments requiring them to apply concepts to their own work environment. Where appropriate, students will also be expected to conduct their own research in order to complete set assessment tasks.

Students will be encouraged to be active rather than passive learners. Each subject will feature 3 Block sessions through the semester, which may include a selection of the following teaching and learning strategies:

• full lectures or mini lectures (possibly including guest speakers)
• large group discussion
• practical group exercises
• small group discussion
• student presentations (individual or group projects)
• workshops on specific practical skills
• role play

Students are also required to maintain a regular reading schedule which may include a textbook, a prescribed set of readings and/or some selected key references. In some subjects there will also be an expectation that students will pursue their own research in areas relevant to their assessment tasks.

Central to the teaching and learning philosophy of this subject, is the integration of work based learning through assessment tasks that require students to apply theory to practice and reflect on this process in the context of their own communities and community organisations.

Specific details of teaching and learning strategies to be used in this subject will be provided during the relevant Block sessions.

Content

The content of this subject will vary from year to year as it is intended to canvass current issues. The content will primarily be provided during Block sessions by the subject lecturer and guest speakers, but will also be generated by students as part of their own research and presentations to the class.

As an example, current issues may include any of a wide range of issues that impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations, such as:

• the political context of funding
• broader Australian concepts of funding to Australian indigenous community organisations
• community vs government agendas

These are only some examples. This subject is intended to be topical, and relevant to how students operate as members of communities and/or community organisations, and how current issues affect this situation.

Assessment

Recommended text(s)

There is no prescribed textbook for this subject. Because of the nature of the subject, no single book is suitable as a text. However, students should be able to draw on materials used in previous subjects to assist with work in this subject.

Indicative references

The following references are provided as a starting point for your research in this subject. They are available on the internet.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commission. Social Justice Report, 2005

http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/sjreport05/index.html

Australians for Native Title and reconciliation

http://www.antar.org.au/