CQUniversity Unit Profile.

In this unit, you will explore the concepts of intersectionality and social justice in social work practice to address systemic inequalities and promote equitable outcomes when working with individuals, groups and communities. Using critical intersectional and identity theoretical frameworks, you will critically examine the fluidity and complexity of identity. You will explore how social constructions, such as ethnicity, culture, gender, religion, class, sexual orientation, age, disability, and other identity markers, intersect to create nuanced experiences of oppression and privilege. This analysis will help you to understand how groups are categorised, stratified and often stigmatised based on their conformity to or deviation from dominant social and cultural norms. This knowledge and the AASW Code of Ethics (2020) will inform holistic and collaborative social work assessments considering service users' lived experiences of multiple intersecting identities. You will employ intersectional-informed critical reflection to examine your identities and experiences, facilitating awareness of social work’s positionality and power relations. Reflecting on your cultural background, biases, and assumptions will promote culturally safe and sensitive social work practice. The unit explores discriminatory structures and practices and their impact on social work in Australia. It will equip you with skills to advocate for systemic changes and promote social justice to support diverse service users effectively.