This unit has a focus on developing your knowledge and understanding of skills to prevent and respond to violence against women (VAW). The most prevalent forms of this violence in Australia are domestic and family violence and sexual assault. They are recognised as “gendered crimes” that have an unequal impact on women. Although VAW occurs across all demographic groups, many women experience violence in ways that are specific to their circumstances. In Australia, for example, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women with disabilities and women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are recognised in policy as priority populations. In this unit you will learn about different types of VAW, analyse sources of data that will help you to understand this violence, and examine various models that have informed policy and practice in the area of VAW. You will identify the health, social and economic impacts of VAW at individual and community levels and apply your learning to create a plan to enhance the safety of women. Your safety plan will be based on a case study and draw on the contemporary evidence base.

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 Convenor reflection and student emails

Students did not take up the offered online learning sessions with the Convenor and largely indicated they would not attend such sessions.

Check with students at the beginning of the trimester to gauge their interest in participating in the learning sessions and garner suggestions for the content of these sessions. Ask students for preferred methods of engagement throughout the trimester.

Feedback from Student emails

Students who used the assignment activities found them helpful in putting together their assignments

Continue the assignment activities, but place them first each week and explore more interactive ways of presenting the material.

Feedback from Student feedback

Students would like more relevance to be highlighted between the material and social work practice.

Explore additional options to insert information relevant to social work practice in the material, beyond the existing videos speaking to social work practice in the field of domestic and family violence.