Overview
This unit introduces you to foundational theories and concepts of human development, behaviour, health, and wellbeing across the lifespan. Using multidimensional and life course perspectives, you will explore how biological, psychological, social, spiritual, cultural, and structural factors influence human development, life experiences, and wellbeing from infancy through to later adulthood. As a foundation unit within the Bachelor of Social Work, the unit provides essential knowledge for understanding people within their social and environmental contexts. You will examine the influence of gender and sexuality, ageing, trauma, grief and loss, and resilience on people's lived experiences. You will also explore how social, economic, cultural, and environmental conditions shape opportunities, wellbeing, and life outcomes. The unit develops your ability to analyse the factors that influence human development and wellbeing and to apply key theories and concepts to real-world situations.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2027
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Academic Progression Policy and Procedure
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE data and SUTE Teacher report
Student comments were positive, noting the lecturer’s supportive and approachable manner. No specific concerns were raised.
Students will continue to be encouraged to provide detailed feedback in future evaluations to support ongoing enhancement of the unit.
Feedback from Informal verbal feedback.
Students reported that they enjoyed completing the online quizzes and found them helpful in maintaining engagement with weekly content.
Maintain the online quizzes assessment and continue expanding and refreshing the quiz question bank to support assessment integrity and sustained student engagement.
Feedback from Informal verbal feedback.
Students reported that they enjoyed exploring different social work fields of practice and found the practitioner interviews engaging and relevant.
Continue incorporating practitioner interviews to strengthen students’ understanding of diverse practice contexts