Unit rationale, description and aim
Youth workers often work with extremely vulnerable young people who present with multiple-complex issues and, often, significant trauma. This unit enables students to build a framework for analysing and responding to the complex issues pertaining to young people in these contexts. The aim of this unit is to develop the skills required to practice young-person centred and holistic responses for vulnerable young people, including how to tailor interventions to fit with the unique needs and experiences of each client, and beginning work from 'where the young person is at'.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Identify and critically reflect on the factors whi...
Learning Outcome 01
Articulate and critically examine their own unders...
Learning Outcome 02
Demonstrate effective and respectful responses to ...
Learning Outcome 03
Apply a range of skills suitable for use by youth ...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
- Skills related to areas of vulnerability (such as mental health, substance use, self-harm and suicide) and to help a young person explore a range of effective responses to assist them avoid harm and initiate and maintain change.
- Different interventions that may be appropriate to the range of issues experienced by a young person (including their problems and their strengths), and when and how these different interventions can be most profitably introduced and configured.
- The provision of holistic care that involves recognition that a wide range of biological, psychological and social factors impact upon the young person and the issues they bring to a particular service
- Processes of working with young people with multiple and complex needs, such as alcohol and drug use problems, mental health problems, experiences of neglect and abuse, homelessness, social marginalisation, and involvement in the criminal justice system.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessments in this unit encourage students to develop their understanding of the issues facing vulnerable young people using reflection and analysis (Vulnerability reflection), to engage with the scholarship surrounding youth vulnerability (exam) and to be able to analyse and development appropriate interventions (therapeutic group work). The schedule provides scaffolded learning with opportunities for students to monitor their own progress, practise their skills and receive feedback.
Overview of assessments
Vulnerability Analysis Students are required to ...
Vulnerability Analysis
Students are required to respond to a series of reflection questions regarding vulnerability.
20%
Therapeutic Group Program Students are required ...
Therapeutic Group Program
Students are required to develop a therapeutic group program for vulnerable young people
40%
Exam Students are required to undertake an exam ...
Exam
Students are required to undertake an exam on the scholarship surrounding youth vulnerability.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This 10-credit point face-to-face unit provides hands-on learning, including collaborative learning and has been designed to develop and deliver learning outcomes over 150 hours. It takes the form of a face-to-face class incorporating activities through which students will gain a deep processes and strategies for working with vulnerable young people. Key learning activities will include different interventions that may be appropriate to the range of issues experienced by a young person. The lectures provide students with content and analytical frameworks necessary for understanding and analysing processes of working with young people with multiple and complex needs and assist students to synthesise a broad range of material.