I will be uploading a proper guide in a file, but the assignment is a change proposal about existing policies in Australia.
CHANGE PROPOSAL GUIDE CONTEXT OF HUMAN SERVICES Assignment 3: Change Proposal Change Proposal Topic: Addressing Inequality in Australia Building on your understanding of inequality from Assignment 1 and the unit content to date, please consider how an issue of inequality could be addressed in Australia. The issue you choose to focus on can be a local, state, national or global issue. Consider ways in which you could make a difference and assess the feasibility of your proposal in the current socio political context. The proposal should specify the issue in need of change, the way it should be changed and the expected benefits the change will bring. Important: Please note your proposal for change can illustrate a very small change something that you could manage to do NOW. Feasibility must be considered and the strengths and limitations of your proposal outlined. Please refer to the marking guide. Marking criteria for assessment 3 Change Proposal includes: Description of the issue, demonstrating an understanding of inequality Proposal for change – way/s that you could make a difference Assessment of feasibility SOURCES You can find information about gaps in policy or problems not addressed properly in: 1) Media Reports- Use media wisely, to highlight public concern about an issue but always take a critical stance. Always back up with other sources 2) Issue based Reports (a) Government: Eg Royal Commissions, Ombudsman – Clth and NSW, Law Reform Commissions, Productivity Commission (Clth), Audit Office (NSW) (b) Non -Government- Peak bodies Eg Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) NSW Council of Social Services (NCOSS) Refugee Council of Australia Also: Human Rights Watch Law and Justice Foundation 3) Academic Sources: Refereed journal articles and books are always the best sources. Use them to a) Describe the area of inequality you have chosen to address b) Illustrate the relevance of your proposal to current academic thought c) Set the context for your feasibility assessment · Identify the issue you want to address or change. · Identify and briefly describe the group or communities that are facing the issue · Identify the responsible body -Government Department, Member of Parliament, Minister responsible for a government department, local organisation or group · Provide evidence about inequality or social injustice relevant to your proposal – use academic sources to relate your proposal to the reduction of inequality Structure Make sure you have a proper Introduction and Conclusion · Outline your proposal- · What is your proposal? Clearly state how it differs from the current policy. · Is it policy change or more resources to be spent on an existing program or a specific project? · Be careful about suggesting legislative change without fully assessing feasibility and understanding the process. Some proposals will require both but be specific. · Be as specific as you can – relate your proposal to the evidence that you have found Feasibility Assessment · What are challenges that face this project or proposal. · What is the socio -political climate in which you are working? · Where is the support for the project? · How likely would it be for your project or idea to be supported? · What would help or challenge this idea for change? · What are the expected benefits of your proposal? How will the proposal make a difference? · What are the weaknesses of your proposal? How can these be addressed? CONTEXT OF HUMAN SERVICES CONTEXT OF HUMAN SERVICES Assessment Item 3- Policy Change Proposal Question: Develop a change proposal to change a policy - either level of service, scope, funding etc Write a report with reference to: 1. The issue in need of change - this will require you to research the policy area 2. The way in which it should be changed - this is your change proposal 3. Feasibility of your proposal- addressing both (a)Macro issues such as prevailing ideologies, economic & political factors (b)Micro issues - such as the particular characteristics of the policy area, implementation issues like remoteness, access Make sure your proposal is specific enough to be able to assess feasibility effectively. How much will it cost? ( broadly – no need for specific costing) What is a policy? A policy is “a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual.” What is the difference between a policy and a issue? Policies are strategies and programmes developed in response to issues which emerge from evidence about social problems Eg The lack of affordable housing in capital cities like Sydney has led to increases in homelessness. That is the issue Policies to address this issue arise from 1) funding deals between Federal and State Government who then often contract out to 2)Non Government agencies who manage government housing stock and address specific areas of need So, policies on Housing are either at the macro level of funding between Governments – or between the State Government and the agencies who deliver the service, who also devlop their own policies Change : Is it necessary? The idea of your Change Proposal is that you make an argument based on the evidence that a change is needed in an area of social policy in order to improve outcomes for the people at whom the policy is targeted ie people who are already socially or economically disadvantaged It is expected that you make a strong case that the policy needs to be changed – on the basis of the evidence you have found that important needs are not being met or that a certain practice is inefficient or can be improved. Research the area and read what consumers, practitioners and academics have to say about the way the policy is meeting or not meeting the needs of the communities it is meant to serve. What does feasibility mean? Essentially, feasibility is a practical question. Can it work given the current socio- political climate ? If governments aren’t spending , expensive programs are less feasible. How difficult is is to achieve? If it requires changing lots of legislation or is completely outside of what has been done already What kind of policy? Human Services workers often work with people who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Look for policies that can decrease inequality , Your Change proposal may include : Refocusing existing policy and/or service , Developing new policy and/ or services or responses to issues of disadvantage This can be in relation to a relatively simple issue like developing outreach rather than requiring people to attend a service Marking Criteria Description of the issue, demonstrating an understanding of the specific issue you focus on Proposal for change - way(s) that you could make a positive difference applying a strategy or initiative Assessment of feasibility, demonstrating an understanding of the concept of feasibility and how it applies to the viability of your Change Proposal The assignment length is 1,500 words, with a 10% + or - tolerance. Library Resources Library Reading List Analysis and Policy Observatory https://apo.org.au/ Australia’s Welfare in Brief 2019 https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2019/09/apo-nid258136-1385626.pdf https://subjectguides.library.westernsydney.edu.au/socworkcomm Structure of the report 1. Identify the issue you want to address or change. Identify and briefly describe the group or communities that are facing the issue Identify the responsible body -Government Department, Member of Parliament, Minister responsible for a government department, local organisation or group 2. Outline your proposal 2. Outline your proposal- What is your proposal? Clearly state how it differs from the current policy. Is it policy change or an increase in resources to be spent on an existing program or a specific project? Be careful about suggesting legislative change without fully assessing feasibility and understanding the process. Be as specific as you can – relate your proposal to the evidence 3.Feasibility 3. Feasibility Assessment What are challenges that face this project or proposal. What is the socio -political climate in which you are working? Where is the support for the project? How likely would it be for your project or idea to be supported? What would help or challenge this idea for change? What are the expected benefits of your proposal? How will the proposal make a difference? What are the weaknesses of your proposal? How can these be addressed? Resources 1) Media You can find information about gaps in policy or problems not addressed properly in: 1) Media Reports Use media wisely, to highlight public concern about an issue but always take a critical stance. Always back up media reports with other sources Never take a news report as the authoritative source on a topic – news is written with news value in mind Resources- Issue based reports- Government 2) Issue based Reports (a) Government: Eg Royal Commissions, Ombudsman – Commonwealth and NSW, Law Reform Commissions, Productivity Commission (Clth), Audit Office (NSW) Resources (b)Non- government peak bodies Eg: Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) NSW Council of Social Services (NCOSS) Refugee Council of Australia Law and Justice Foundation Human Rights Watch Resources 3) Academic Sources Note: I have only put these last because for students a good research plan is to start with newspaper reports, government and non gov reports and finally academic sources. 16 Refereed journal articles and books are always the best sources. Use them to a) Describe the area of inequality you have chosen to address b) Illustrate the relevance of your proposal to current academic thought c) Set the context for your feasibility assessment Policy areas See P 176 Chenoweth & McAuliffe What policy area will I choose? As this course is focused on the Human Services, choose an area dealing with issues faced by HS clients who are often socially and economically disadvantaged You can pick you own area as long as you can find appropriate references The following are suggested policy areas with references on the Library Reading List which you can choose to address HEALTH Health Health is usually a State government responsibility, but Medicare is run by the Commonwealth Focus on the Human Service aspects Indigenous Australians Issues relating to remote or rural Australia Elderly Australians MENTAL HEALTH Mental Health Mental health is part of the Health portfolio and is run by the States Equitable provision of services in the community Young people – availability and appropriateness of services Human rights issues related to involuntary detention CALD and indigenous communities and mental health CHILD PROTECTION Child protection Child protection is a State government responsibility Examples of policy issues: Restoration , permanency and adoption Support for children who have been in State care after they turn 18 Issues relating to Australian Aboriginal people and child protection Issues relating to CALD communities and child protection Domestic and Family Violence 25 DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE Domestic and family violence are