SWRK5001: Homelessness Among Older Women in Australia: A Feminist View Mini Essay Assessment 1

Assessment 1

Task Description

This assignment involves overviewing an area of social work practice that interests you. This may be mental health, problematic substance use, domestic and family violence, discrimination, homelessness etc. You can be as specific as you want and/or you may choose to focus on two issues that often intersect and compound e.g. mental health and young (or older) men; domestic/family violence and youth homelessness; older women and homelessness; or discrimination and refugees. Your essay may focus, for example, on: “Mental health among young men in Australia” or “Homelessness among older women in Australia”. It would help to then justify your choice of focus, using government statistics, maybe from the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare (AIHW), the United Nations (UN) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) etc.

You will then outline some common issues clients present with in your chosen area of practice. After outlining the common issues, choose a theoretical framework that can be used to critically analyse the underlying issues that lead to the issues in this area of practice. For example, how can a feminist or trauma-informed perspective be used to understand mental health issues among adolescent girls/ young men, or how can critical theory help us understand homelessness and housing in Australia?

Finally, please discuss how social work’s ethical principles of Social Justice, Respect for Persons and Professional Integrity, as articulated in the AASW Code of Ethics, can be used to inform how you work with clients in the area you have chosen. For example, how is mental health a social justice issue, and how can respect for persons and professional integrity be ensured when working with people with mental health issues?

Assessment Structure

• Introduction and justification of the area you have chosen to focus on (app. 125 words) 
• Overview of the chosen area of practice and the commonly presenting issues for clients (app. 250 words) 
• Critical discussion of a theoretical framework that can be used to understand the issues clients commonly present with in your chosen area of practice (app. 250 words) 
• Identification of how the Social Work ethical principles of Social Justice, Respect for Persons, and Professional Integrity can inform how you work with clients in the area that you have chosen (app. 250 words) 
• Conclusion (app. 125 words)

Brief Summary of Assessment Requirements

Assessment 1 requires students to develop an academic essay that explores a specific area of social work practice of personal and professional interest. Students may focus on a single issue (such as mental health, homelessness, or discrimination) or on intersecting social issues (for example, homelessness among older women or domestic violence and youth homelessness).

Key pointers to be covered in the assessment include:

• Selection and justification of a relevant social work practice area using credible statistics (e.g. AIHW, UN, WHO)
• Identification of common issues faced by clients in the chosen area
• Application of a theoretical framework (e.g. feminist, trauma-informed, or critical theory) to analyse underlying causes
• Integration of AASW ethical principles:
  • Social Justice
  • Respect for Persons
  • Professional Integrity
• Clear academic structure aligned with the prescribed word limits for each section

The assessment aims to test students’ understanding of social issues, theoretical application, ethical practice, and academic writing skills.

Academic Mentor’s Step-by-Step Approach

The academic mentor guided the student through a structured and supportive process to ensure clarity, relevance, and academic rigor across all sections of the assessment.

Step 1: Understanding the Task and Selecting the Focus Area

The mentor first clarified the assessment objectives and marking expectations. The student was guided to select a specific and manageable practice area, ensuring it aligned with both personal interest and available research data. Emphasis was placed on choosing an issue with strong policy and statistical support.

Step 2: Introduction and Justification

The mentor helped the student frame a concise introduction that:

• Clearly introduced the chosen practice area
• Justified its relevance using government and international statistics
• Established the importance of the issue within the Australian social work context

This ensured a strong academic foundation for the essay.

Step 3: Overview of Practice Area and Client Issues

The mentor then supported the student in identifying commonly presenting client issues, encouraging a focus on both individual and structural factors. Guidance was provided on maintaining an objective, evidence-based tone while clearly linking social conditions to client experiences.

Step 4: Application of a Theoretical Framework

The student was guided to select a suitable theoretical framework that aligned with the chosen issue. The mentor explained how to:

• Introduce the theory clearly
• Use it to critically analyse underlying causes of client issues
• Demonstrate critical thinking rather than descriptive writing

This step helped the student move beyond surface-level discussion.

Step 5: Ethical Principles in Practice

The mentor supported the student in linking theory and practice to AASW ethical principles, explaining how:

• Social Justice addresses structural inequality
• Respect for Persons ensures dignity and self-determination
• Professional Integrity guides ethical decision-making in practice

Practical examples were encouraged to strengthen application.

Step 6: Conclusion and Cohesion

Finally, the mentor assisted in writing a focused conclusion that:

• Summarised key arguments
• Reinforced the importance of ethical, theory-informed social work practice
• Maintained alignment with the introduction and overall essay purpose

Outcome Achieved and Learning Objectives Covered

Final Outcome:

• A well-structured academic essay aligned with all assessment criteria
• Clear justification of the chosen social work practice area
• Strong integration of theory, ethics, and evidence
• Logical flow and adherence to word limits

Learning Objectives Achieved:

• Understanding of contemporary social work practice areas
• Ability to apply theoretical frameworks to real-world social issues
• Ethical reasoning aligned with professional standards
• Development of academic research, writing, and critical analysis skills
• Increased confidence in structured academic assessment writing

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