Dave Case Study - Sam Case Study - Essay Writing Assignment

For this assessment, you will be required to choose a case study from the list provided below. You are then required to prepare an essay, proposing a detailed and integrated welfare system as a specific response to your chosen scenario. In your essay, you must:

• Identify the welfare system/s relevant to the case study framework.
• Identify resources and support for the specific target group that can be accessed within the relevant welfare system.
• Evaluate the services suitable for the scenario.

Case Study Options:

Dave Case Study:

Dave is a 26 years old male and has been unemployed off and on for the last 3 years. Dave had a difficult childhood and has been living and supporting himself since he was 14 years old. He enjoys the unemployment lifestyle because it allows him to be the master of his own time and gives him the freedom to do other things. However, the money he gets is barely enough to survive on, and so he supplements his unemployment payments with under-the-table casual, undeclared cash work. Dave has issues with drugs and authority but is confident in himself and his skills and abilities. He hates being bored and often skateboards around town, sometimes dropping into cafes to see if there is any work for him. The paid casual jobs that he’s secured have been from his own job search efforts. He strongly believes in his own abilities, although at times he feels employers can be judgemental about the way he looks. At present, he does not want a full-time job; his ideal lifestyle would be to work in the winter and then enjoy the summer by going on unemployment benefit. As a community services worker, how can you help Dave increase participation in work and reduce reliance on unemployment benefits?

Sam Case Study:

Sam is 17 years old and has been drinking alcohol for the last three years. Having been suspended from school at 15 years of age, Sam did not return to education and has been unemployed since 'officially' leaving school. Recently, Sam has become bored and has started hanging around with a group of older youths who are involved in offending and who drink every day.

Sam's parents have become increasingly concerned about him and are now at their wits' end because Sam has been charged with:

• Shoplifting

• Possession of cannabis

1. What are the issues for Sam?

2. What can be done here for Sam if he attended your place of work & were asked to assist him?

3. Who can help? What services can help Sam and how would you get Sam to engage with these services?

Lilian Case Study:

Lilian is a 22-year-old Aboriginal woman. She is 30 weeks pregnant with her first child. Her partner is Johnny, a 30-year-old man. They have been together for 18 months. Last week, Lillian and Johnny had an argument about finances which resulted in a physical altercation where Lillian was physically assaulted and choked. Lillian contacted the police for assistance. The local police responded and when Johnny answered the door, they asked for him to speak outside and spoke to Lillian separately inside. The police completed a family violence report and assessed Lillian and Johnny’s situation to be high risk. The police decided that they would apply to the Courts for protection for Lillian and her unborn baby from Johnny and removed Johnny from the home. Johnny had access to the accommodation at his mum’s house and the police issued paperwork excluding Johnny from the family home.

The police then referred Lillian to your organisation which specialises in assisting women who are victims of family violence.

• What are Lillian’s needs?  Take into consideration how Lillian may be feeling.

• What welfare services can be offered to Lillian so as she can move forward considering her baby is due very soon?

• Please discuss.

Steve Case Study:

Steve is a 21-year-old man. He has a history of growing up with family violence and as a result, he spent a lot of time in foster care and residential homes in Melbourne. He is Aboriginal but does not know much about his heritage and is having some identity issues. He has recently left foster care and is getting pressure from his friends to engage more in alcohol and drugs. He is not really sure what is next for him; he doesn’t have a job and feels overwhelmed about life.

Lance Case Study:

Lance is 76 years old. He has a great family that support him quite well and does not want to go into a nursing home. He lost his licence a few years ago because his eyesight was deteriorating. His wife also died two years ago, and he is starting to feel lonely as he feels all of his friends are passing away. He is not as social as he used to be. Although his family come and visit him weekly, he feels they are busy with their own lives. He does not want to be a burden as he feels he still wants to give back to the community. He struggles to clean the house and crime has increased in the area and he is worried that something might happen to him because he is old and an easy target for criminals.