Understanding and Responding to Family Violence

Family violence affects the lives of many people in the community, and often comes to the attention of social workers in a wide range of health, education and human service settings. Social workers may have responsibility for providing frontline services to survivors and perpetrators of family violence, and for delivering programs designed to prevent future violence. Responding to situations involving family violence is seen as multi-disciplinary, and there is a need for coordination of efforts and collaboration with other people in relation to place-based initiatives. Social workers consider the structural, economic, cultural and political aspects of family violence and engage in assessment, casework, group work, counselling, research, advocacy and community development in order to bring about change This unit (ASW3096) of study engages students in a critical examination of the myths and stereotypes that help to reinforce the hidden nature of family violence. It focuses on the nature, incidence, and extent of family violence, the gendered nature of family violence, and the impacts of family violence. Students are supported to develop their ability to identify and assess for risk for the whole family and demonstrate professional report writing skills.