Sap101 Assessment Task 4: Essay

Assessment instructions

You are asked to show you understand that social issues are understood differently from different theoretical

perspectives. This is a key skill in community services work because different theories are dominant at different times, and you will need to develop your practice theoretical framework to inform your practice.

Your paper will show you understand that there is never one complete explanation for social issues but there may be multiple explanations

The second part of the paper asks you to recognise that governments can act on social issues through policy responses. The constitutional structure of government in part shapes the response.

The essay therefore crosses sociology, politics, and policy.

Essential Reading and Referencing

This paper must be drawn from:

the given literature for your topic in this unit

at least two peer reviewed journal articles using the college library https://lms.stotts.edu.au/course/view.php? id=10

one of those articles must come from the Australian community workers association

journal https://www.acwa.org.au/ajcw/current-issue/

at least one from the ProQuest sociological data base https://www.proquest.com/?accountid=192049

you may use information found on Australian state or federal government web pages

you may use information found on Australian non-government or peak organisations identified in this unit

The paper will be written in academic style and use APA 7 referencing including correct referencing for E book titles, and online accessed journal articles and web sources. See Acknowledge Education guide to APA 7 https://lms.stotts.edu.au/course/view.php?id=10

Topics

1. Describe two explanations for a contemporary Australian social issue identified in this unit.
2. Identify the level of government that is constitutionally responsible for this social issue and the Commonwealth State arrangements for the associated social policy.
3. Identify and describe one current policy response to that social issue.

The explanations for the problem can be identified through the Essential reading and/ or the journal articles.

The social issues can be framed in the language of your explanations but need to be covered in this unit; for example, poverty, inequality, family-based issues such as violence or harm to children, youth issues, mental health or problematic drug and alcohol use. You can also narrow down your topic by examining the issue in relation to a particular group based on for example, location (rural or remote), gender, age, non-English-speaking migrants, or Indigenous Australians.