University Social Work Course: PBL Readings on Politics and Policy

This document presents a curated list of suggested readings for Problem-Based Learning (PBL) assignments in a social work course, focusing on the intersection of politics and social policy. The readings cover a range of topics, including the structure and role of government and the judiciary, various political concepts such as ideology, federalism, and democracy, as well as pressure groups. Furthermore, it addresses social policy, its relevance to social work practice, and the impact of social, political, and economic factors on policy development. The document emphasizes the importance of critical reading and selecting relevant materials for understanding the complexities of political and social landscapes and their implications for social work practice. The readings are sourced from various e-books, e-reserves, and government publications, offering a comprehensive overview of the subject matter. This assignment is designed to help students develop a committed, informed, and politically aware perspective as future social workers.

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SUGGESTED READINGS for PBL KNOWLEDGE PROBLEMS (ie. the assessments!)
It’s important as a reader and a scholar that you learn to discriminate about what you read. Don’t assume that if something is in a text book or in the
library that it is useful. The readings below have various uses. You need to decide if it’s relevant to you. If you find yourself reading something over
and over, or something is really boring, it probably means it is not relevant to your learning.
For this unit, the material you select to read should be interesting and relevant to your idea of what it means to be a committed, informed, politically
aware social worker. Knowledge about politics and policy is vital for social workers because we, and the people we work with, live and breath the
impact of politics and social policy every day.
PBL # & topic Relevant, useful readings from E Reserve or E books Lecturers’ advice
PBL#1: Structure & role
of government and
judiciary
Tansey, S. & Jackson, N. (2008) Politics: The basics. (4th ed.). London, New York:
Routledge. Ch 1. (via E book; also emailed 26/27 July 2016)
A good introduction to politics. Highly
recommended & overview of what politics
means, it’s history in the Western world
(esp UK) & shows of how ideology
impacts on politics in a big way.
ditto Ward, I., &Stewart, R.G. (2006). Politcs one (3rd ed.). South Yarra, Australia: Palgrave
Macmillan. Ch 3, pp. 37-55.
(Via E-book)
On the judiciary & role of High Court –
heavy going but worth a skim read by
everyone in your group
ditto
Singleton, G., Aitken, D., Jinks, B., & Warhurst, J. (2009). Australian political institutions
(9th ed.). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson. Chapter 8 pp. 268-311
(Via E-Reserve)
This will give you a good overview of
elections and voting. Read up to where it
gets boring and then skim read to get the
interesting bits. Do you REALLY need to
know the % people who vote Tory in the
UK? Probably not.
PBL #2: Explaining
various concepts: eg.
ideology
Tansey, S. & Jackson, N. (2008) Politics: The basics. (4th ed.). London, New York:
Routledge. Ch 1, pp 41-66.
MUST READ IF YOU HAVEN’T
ALREADY
ditto Heywood, A. (2002). Politics. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave. Ch 3. 41-66
(Via E Reserve)
This is a must read for everyone on
ideology. Later edition (2013) is in the
High Use Collection on all campuses
and it is a highly recommended book.
PBL #2: Explaining
various concepts: eg.
federalism; federal/
(Commonwealth) govt.
Weller, P. & Fleming, J. (2003). The Commonwealth. In J. Moon & C. Sharman (Eds).
Australian politics and government: The Commonwealth, the states and the
territories. Port Melbourne, Australia: Cambridge.
(via E book)
My advice is skim read this one. You’ll get
additional information from the Australian
Parliament House website and Wikipedia.

PBL #2: Explaining
various concepts: eg.
democracy
Sorensen, G. (2008). Democracy and democratization [electronic resource] : processes
and prospects in a changing world. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
(E book)
Another one to skim read unless you’ve
volunteered to define and explain
democracy to the rest of your group..
PBL #2: Explaining
various concepts: eg.
pressure groups
Drum, M., & Tate, J.W. (2012). Politics in Australia: Assessing the evidence. South Yarra,
Vic.: Palgrave Macmillan. Chapter 11 pp. 256-281
(E Reserve)
Read the text if you’ve doing pressure
groups but don’t worry too much about the
detail.
PBL #2: Explaining
various concepts: eg.
pressure groups
Vromen, Al, Gelber, K. & Gauja, A. (2009). Powerscape: Contemporary Australian
politics (2nd ed). Crows Nest, Australia: Allen & Unwin. Ch 9 (Pressure groups),
pp. 231-259.
(E Reserve)
This is a juicy one. You’ll love it. This is
the stuff you are seeing every day (if you
are paying attention), especially around
election time.
PBL #3: Social policy:
What is it and what is its
relevance to social work
practice in relation to
your team’s specific
policy topic
Dalton, T. (1996) Towards a framework for understanding and participating in social policy
making. In T. Dalton, (Ed.), Making social policy in Australia: An introduction
(Ch.1 pp. 3-22). St. Leonards, Australia: Allen & Unwin.
(E Reserve)
A really good one and a must read for
everyone doing the unit.
ditto Robins, J. (2010). Welfare policy. In D. Woodward, A. Parkin & J. Summers, (Eds.),
Government, politics, power and policy in Australia. Frenches Forest, Australia:
Allen & Unwin. Ch 24, pp. 451-477
(E Reserve)
AND THIS ONE. Another really good
one for everyone doing the unit.
ditto Relevant if your group is looking at Disability Services:
Dept. of the PM & Cabinet (2011). Foundations for a stronger, fairer Australia.
Retrieve from:
http://www.rdasydney.org.au/imagesDB/wysiwyg/SocialInclusionreport2011.pdf
ditto Althaus, C., Bridgman, P., & David, G. (2007). The Australian policy handbook. Crows
Nest, Australia: Allen & Unwin. Ch 4, pp. 43-56
(E Reserve and Readings)
OR THIS ONE.
PBL #4 What is the
impact of social,
political & economic
factors on policy
development (local,
state or federal) which
Ife, J. (2002). Community development: Community-based alternatives in an age of
globalisation (Chapter 2, Foundations of community development: An ecological
perspective. pp. 21-47).French's Forest, NSW: Pearson Education
(E Reserve – type book title into the catalogue)
This is a classic chapter in Australian
social work. It sets out Ife’s framework for
linking social justice and ecological care.
This reading sets up later units in this
course in community development and
social activism.

supports social,
economic and/or
ecological
sustainability in
relation to your team’s
policy topic?
ditto Drum, M., & Tate, J.W. (2012). Politics in Australia: Assessing the evidence. South Yarra,
Vic.: Palgrave Macmillan. Chapter 11 pp. 256-281
(E Reserve)
Gives you a bit of background to this
issue: helps you think about whether or
not big business and NGOs help or hinder
our pursuit for social justice and
ecological care.
ditto Fawcett, B., Goodwin, S., Meagher, G., & Phillips, R. (2010). Social policy for social
change. South Yarra, Vic.: Palgrave Macmillan. Chapter 8, pp: 143-148
(E Reserve)
It can be good to focus on research as a
basis for developing progressive social
policy.
ditto Dept. of the PM & Cabinet (2011). Foundations for a stronger, fairer Australia.
Retrieve from:
http://www.rdasydney.org.au/imagesDB/wysiwyg/SocialInclusionreport2011.pdf
This focuses on disability services but it
also provides a framework for thinking
about how we make policy for an
inclusive, fair and progressive society.