SOAD9111- Social Issues and Social Policy

Task Overview

1.  Select one of the following Australian or South Australia social policies to form the basis of your analysis:

1. South Australian Aboriginal Education Strategy

2.Strategy to Safeguard the Rights of Older South Australians 

3. National Drug Strategy. Specifically priorities: Enhancing access to services and support; or Reducing adverse health, social and economic consequences.

2.   Research your selected policy and issue. Look for evaluations or reviews of the policy and academic literature published on the policy and issue. How has the government responded to the issue in the past? What would a social justice response to the issue look like? What might be some of the implications of this policy for social work practice? The focus for your analysis is on the policy, in the context of the understanding of the issue.

3.  Use Carol Bacchi’s ‘What’s the problem represented to be?’ Approach to guide your critical analysis of your selected policy. You may use all 7 questions or select one or two questions to guide your analysis, remember more in-depth analysis is required. Read the academic literature that has used Carol Bacchi's WPR approach.

Please read the Marking Rubric which can be found in the assessment section of FLO. In summary your essay will be assessed in the following areas:

Extent of critical analysis of the policy and use of academic resources and independent research;

Coverage, knowledge of the policy selected;

Organisation of the ideas;

Quality of written expression;

Use of examples;

Relevance to social work, articulates a social justice approach.