PROFSUPV 710 : Stress and Trauma in Health and Human Services

Education and Social Work

2025 Semester One (1253) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores the complex dimensions of stress and trauma encountered by health and human services workers. The historical, cultural and conceptual basis for an understanding of the impact of stress and trauma on both clients and workers is considered. Critically explores research-led strategies to address personal, professional and organisational responses to stressful environments.

Course Overview

The course is delivered online with six three modules, and one presentation which will be delivered on the Auckland City Campus. It is open to students from a range of professions. The students will study the following topics:

Identify key contexts in which health and human services workers will encounter the impact of stress and trauma.
Develop a holistic understanding of  the impacts of human service work including indicators of stress, trauma and indirect trauma.
Identify contextual and organisational challenges for health and human services workers in response to stress and trauma.
Describe the role of professional supervision in attending to stress, trauma, and indirect trauma, and amplifying wellbeing and resilience.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: PROFSUPV 700

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Graduate Profile: Master of Social Work

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Articulate a holistic understanding of emotional labour, stress, trauma, indirect trauma, and resilience. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1 and 7.2)
  2. Identify and describe key contexts in which health and human service workers will encounter stress, trauma, and indirect trauma. (Capability 1.2, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1 and 7.1)
  3. Identify and analyse ways that professional supervision can support and counter emotional impacts of human service work that contribute to stress and trauma, and amplify resilience. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1 and 6.1)
  4. Critically examine contextual and organisational challenges for health and human services in response to stress and trauma. (Capability 1.2, 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Presentation 40% Individual Coursework
Assignments 60% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Presentation
Assignments

To pass this course students must submit both assignments and undertake the class presentation. Students must achieve 50% across the three assessments in order to pass the course.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend approximately 300 hours of study for the semester.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures and class time, leaving approximately 130 hours for independent study (reading and thinking about the content) and approximately 130 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Online

Attendance is required at scheduled online activities  to complete components of the course.
The course will include live online events including lectures and these will be recorded.
Attendance on campus is required for the presentation.
Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement.
This course runs to the University semester/quarter timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Previous SET evaluation not available.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.