DFVP20006 - Working with Victims/Survivors of Domestic and Family Violence

Showing: 2026 HE Term 1
General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit will provide you with opportunities to develop specialist knowledge of safe and respectful approaches to working with victims/survivors of domestic and family violence. It provides a theoretical framework of trauma as it relates to victims/ survivors of this violence and the effect it has on personal development and relationships. Using a gendered approach, critical use is made of evidence-based research, and practice and policy documents addressing issues related to victims/ survivors of violence. You will explore legal and safety considerations that arise from working with this client group and you will consider ethical, professional and self-management implications for practice. Particular consideration will be given to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and victims/survivors.

Details

Level Postgraduate
Unit Level 8
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 4
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites There are no pre-requisites for the 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).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Be Different Intakes

2024 - Online
January February March April May June July August September October November December
2025 - Online
January February March April May June July August September October November December
2026 - Online
January February March April May June July August September October November December

Higher Education Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2021

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Portfolio 30%
2. Portfolio 30%
3. Written Assessment 40%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

Previous Feedback

Term 1 - 2021 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 4.40 (on a 5 point Likert scale), based on a 25% response rate.

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.

Source: Student feedback via Unit Evaluation Report
Feedback:
 Student experiences were positive

Recommendation:
 Continue to use personalised student experience

Action Taken:
 A personalised approach was taken with students including email and phone contact as well as individual Zoom meetings to support student learning.
Source: Student feedback via Unit Evaluation Report
Feedback:
 Students valued the unit content

Recommendation:
 Continue to use content that caters for students who already work in the DFV field and those who aspire to become DFV practitioners

Action Taken:
 The Unit Coordinator ensured appropriate and up-to-date content was provided to assist the diversity of students (those who already work in the DFV field and those who are new to the sector).
Source: Student feedback via personal communication
Feedback:
 Students valued practice-oriented assessment tasks

Recommendation:
 Continue to devise assessment tasks that are relevant and could be applied to the DFV practice workplace

Action Taken:
 Assessment tasks were relevant to DFV practice.
Source: Student feedback via Unit Evaluation Report
Feedback:
 Student experience was positive and students were satisfied with the unit content

Recommendation:
 Continue to provide interesting and relevant content that assists in knowledge development.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Source: Student feedback via Unit Evaluation Report
Feedback:
 Students highlighted the lecturer's knowledge and the provision of a safe learning environment

Recommendation:
 Continue to provide a positive learning environment and willingness to share experiences as a DFV practitioner.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Source: Student feedback via Unit Evaluation Report
Feedback:
 Students requesting reading materials to complete assessment

Recommendation:
 Provide explanation as to the need to undertake research on a specific topic and find appropriate literature to complete an assessment task.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Source: Student feedback via Unit Evaluation Report
Feedback:
 Students appreciated quick turnaround of assessments which reduced distress

Recommendation:
 Continue to provide a quick turnaround of assessments.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Examine safe approaches to working with victims/ survivors of domestic and family violence and ethical and legal implications in practice
  2. Identify issues considered to be precipitants or causal factors in domestic and family violence victimology and how these intersect with gender, culture and ethnicity.
  3. Formulate safety and self-care plans for victim/survivors and those who work with them in domestic and family violence contexts.
  4. Evaluate the diversity of factors that influence program development and policies nationally and internationally in domestic and family violence contexts.
  5. Evaluate specific system and program initiatives related to the provision of social services for victims of domestic and family violence in Queensland and Australia.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Portfolio • • •
2 - Portfolio • •
3 - Written Assessment • • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Knowledge • • • • •
2 - Communication • • • • •
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills • • • • •
4 - Research • • • • •
5 - Self-management •
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8
1 - Portfolio • • • • • •
2 - Portfolio • • • • • •
3 - Written Assessment • • • •