Pre-requisites

SS501 Introduction to Sociology

Co-requisites

None.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

• Appraise the policy, legislative and code of practice frameworks that shape professional practice.

• Apply professional ethical resolve and judgement from a variety of perspectives including that of a Christian worldview

• Explain how ethical understanding informs the professional role, practice, supervision and administration

• Plan critical-reflection and reflective-practice for ongoing and sustainable professional development and self-care.

Unit Description

This unit will examine what constitutes ethical practice in the clinical and social sciences, giving attention to ethical issues such as confidentiality, duty of care, dual relationships, working with minors, dependency and spiritual abuse.

These issues will be examined through a Christian Worldview with reference to general ethical principles and their application to workplace situations, and in the context of professional ethical codes of conduct and the legal requirements which frame the work of Community development, Counselling and Youth Work in the state of Victoria and across Australia.

The obligations of the practitioner and the profession to the wider community will also be considered.

The legal context as it pertains to counselling, community development and youth work in Australia will be examined, and professional conduct within legal situations such as court appearances will be discussed.

Students will examine what constitutes risky practice with reference to negligence, confidentiality, advertising, informed consent, record keeping, and privacy with reference to relevant Victorian legislation, as well as latest developments in the area of public liability under common law also including reporting crimes and abuse.

Other areas pertaining to ethical and profession practice will be discussed as it pertains to student prerequisite training for placement or field work.

Other areas of professional practice covered in the unit include: the significance and utilisation of supervision and professional development, membership of professional organizations, practice administration and management as well as working in and with multidisciplinary teams for the best interests of our clients.

Topics

• What are ethics
• Morals vs Ethics
• Confidentiality
• Boundary Issues - Boundaries: Crossing & Violations and Dependency
• Boundary Issues - Dual Relationships and Sexual Issues
• Focus - Ethics when working with Couples and Families
• Ethics with Groups
• Ethics and Multicultural Work
• Focus - Spiritual Abuse and Community Issues
• Legal Issues for those who Counsel
• Professional Competence and Self-Care

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Unit offerings

Face to face: Semester 2, 2026 (Every 2nd Year (Even), Semester 2)

Please note

The Unit Offerings listed above are a guide only and the timetable for any year is the final authority. The College may vary offerings based on demand, regulatory requirements, continual improvement processes or other conditions.

This unit may be available in different modes of delivery i.e. online and face-to-face as listed above. The unit content will not differ between these modes of delivery. There will possibly be a difference in the schedule and/or the prescribed assessment tasks, however both will cover and assess the same content.