Purpose 🎯
This assessment task is designed to develop and assess students’ critical thinking and reflective skills, essential for counselling professionals in educational contexts. By engaging in a literature review, students will deepen their understanding of contemporary theories and practices, fostering their ability to critically analyse and synthesise information. The reflective essay component encourages students to connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications in their professional contexts. Allowing the use of AI for research acknowledges the evolving landscape of technology in education and prepares students to leverage advanced tools responsibly. This task aligns with the Australian Qualifications Framework Level 9 by promoting advanced cognitive and communication skills, ensuring students can critically evaluate, apply, and communicate complex concepts effectively.
Research Topic 🔎
You are to critically review contemporary literature exploring counselling theory and practice in educational contexts, focusing on the topics covered so far this this course (Counselling in education contexts, the nature of adolescence, key concepts in counselling process and practice, young people’s environment, primary counselling functions, and theoretical perspectives for mental health problems).
You will then write a reflection on how these theories and practices can be applied to your professional context.
As part of this assessment, you are required to complete both:
Literature Review:
- Select and critically review a minimum of five contemporary sources (published within the last five years) on counselling theory and practice in educational contexts.
- Summarise key points, critically analyse the literature, and discuss the relevance of the findings to contemporary educational settings.
Reflective Essay:
- Reflect on how the reviewed theories and practices can be applied to your professional context.
- Include specific examples and practical applications.
- Discuss any ethical considerations related to the application of these theories and practices.
Additional Information 📚
To help you complete this task successfully, the following resources are provided:
- Marking Rubric — refer to this to understand how you will be assessed
- Cadmus Manual — refer to this for information about academic skills (click the book icon in the bottom right to access the manual)
- Checklist: How to write a Literature Review — use this to help you complete Part A of the task (below)
- Checklist: How to write a Reflective Essay — use this to help you complete Part B of the task (below)
