Placement Requirements

Use the links below to find the placement requirements for your course:

 

• Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)

• Bachelor of Counselling

• Bachelor of Counselling (Minor in Coaching)

• Bachelor of Psychological Science and Counselling

• Graduate Diploma of Counselling

• Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy

• Bachelor of Social Work

• Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

ANCHOR – Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)

 

 

 

Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)

 

WORK PLACEMENT

Work placement is a period of learning where a student is placed with an agency from the Community Services Industry. Many students remember their work placement above all their other work as the most influential part of their course. The work placement will offer you the opportunity to see and implement models of practice; test out your areas of interest for future work; and to develop an understanding how community services is delivered across the industry in the context of the wider community. Most importantly it is a time when a student can develop a professional identity to assist them in their endeavours to secure employment.

 

 

Diploma of Community Services (Case Management) Work Placement:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

1. What is the purpose of Work Placement?

The purpose of the Work Placement is to turn theory into practice by providing learners with the opportunity to put knowledge and skills learned in the classroom into practice under the guidance of experienced youth work supervisors. Work Placement involves the active participation of the student in a workplace and a placement cannot be only observational.

 

Work placements are conducted in host agencies that provide community services and meet the professional standards of the VET work placement program.

 

By the end of the placement learners will have:

• Been exposed to the workplace environment
• Observed experienced community workers in action
• Developed and practiced skills studied in the classroom in the workplace
• Been assessed in a real work environment working under appropriate supervision over a period of time
• Had the opportunity to developed the capacity to reflect on their own work practices and growing knowledge and practice base

 

 

2. What are the requirements of Work Placement?

Prior to the commencement of placement students must complete a Working with Children Check and a National Criminal Record Check.

 

The work placement commences in the 2^nd trimester of study.

 

 

3. What is the structure of Work Placement?

You are required to complete 120 hours of work placement across 1 or 2 trimesters; 5 hours are completed in online peer supervision sessions.

It is recommended that placement be conducted as 1-2 days per week (7.5 to 15 hours). Other options such as block periods may be considered if the block is completed so long as any one block does not comprise more than one third of the minimum hours.

 

These arrangements can be negotiated with your Host Agency and Placement Adviser.

 

 

4. How do I find a Work Placement?

You will be given access to Sonia, ACAP’s placement management system. Sonia contains all of the information you need to secure a placement. You will be required to complete a Work Placement Registration form in Sonia. The form has questions asking about your availability hours, areas of interest you would like to be involved in and any ideas of where you would like to do your placement, for example; your Local Neighbourhood or Community Centre.

 

We encourage you to research and source a suitable and appropriate Agency that is of interest and fits in with your studies, ask if they take Diploma students on Work Placement and if they have a vacancy. Once you have the information, please forward it to your Placement Adviser and they will follow it up and formally set up the placement.

 

If are unable secure your own placement don’t worry! Your Placement Adviser will work with you to source an appropriate placement for you.

 

 

5. What will I be doing on Work Placement?

Students are expected to behave in a professional manner and work directly with clients and be involved in the direct delivery of some type of program/project.  This may be assisting with the running of an existing activity program; it may be assisting in the setting up and implementation a new program.

 

It may also be working with small or large groups of clients or it may be that they are working with an agency to support a number of individuals.

 

Such programs and tasks may include:

• Mentoring
• Class room aid
• Advocacy and referral
• Administration including filing
• Assist with intake forms and case work
• First point of contact / reception
• Recreation activities
• Arts and crafts
• Life skills and leadership workshops
• Men’s’ or Women’s’ group
• After school youth programs

 

Work Placement is supported in different units in each trimester:

In the Diploma of Community Services (Case Management), work placement is supported by HLTWHS004 Manage Work Health and Safety, CHCPRP003 Reflect on and Improve Own Professional Practice and CHCLEG003 Manage Legal and Ethical Compliance, Work Placement A, Work Placement B and Work Placement C.

 

These are co-requisites of the following units respectively and work placement must be undertaken in the trimesters that these units are studied.

• ‘HLTWHS004 Manage Work Health and Safety, CHCPRP003 Reflect on and Improve Own Professional Practice and CHCLEG003 Manage Legal and Ethical Compliance – planning for and finding your placement considered as 10 hours of placement
• ‘CHCDEV002 Analyse Impacts of Sociological Factors on Clients in Community Work and Services‘, CHCDIV003 Manage and Promote Diversity – conducting 100 hours of placement
• ‘CHCCCS007 Develop and Implement Service Programs and CHCMGT005 Facilitate Workplace Debriefing and Support Processes – conducting 10 hours of placement

 

In each of these units some assessment tasks are directly linked to the work placement. Other units also have assessment tasks that are required to be completed while on Work Placement.

6. How will I be supported?

Students are supported in their placement through peer-supervision sessions conducted IN the units ‘Work Placement B & Work Placement C.

These sessions are facilitated by the Work Placement Supervisor (Placement B and C) and they provide students with the support necessary to develop a Workplace Learning Plan, ensure accurate record keeping, review their work practices and develop critical reflection tools, link classroom theory to practice, understand the supervisory relationship, review completion of work tasks and develop a portfolio of performance that showcases their work placement work to future employers.

 

In the placement the Agency Supervisor provides supervision and support to the student. They must have a supervisory role within the organisation and not have a direct family relationship with the student.

 

 

7. How will I be assessed?

The work undertaken in your Work Placement forms the basis for key assessment tasks in the units ‘HLTWHS004 Manage Work Health and Safety, CHCPRP003 Reflect on and Improve Own Professional Practice and CHCLEG003 Manage Legal and Ethical Compliance; CHCDEV002 Analyse Impacts of Sociological Factors on Clients in Community Work and Services‘, CHCDIV003 Manage and Promote Diversity and ‘CHCCCS007 Develop and Implement Service Programs and CHCMGT005 Facilitate Workplace Debriefing and Support Processes. You will be given access to Sonia Online, which will include the following forms to be completed at various stages of your placement: Work Placement Learning Plan, Peer Review Log, Work Placement Reflective Journal and timesheets. You will also have to submit a final Work Placement Portfolio which will include a Final Placement Reflection Report and examples of project-based assessments conducted on placement.

 

The Agency Supervisor completes an Agency Supervisor’s Work Placement Final Evaluation. In addition, students will have subject-specific assessments that will ask them to draw on work done in placement or to engage with the young people they are working with. Agency Supervisors may also be asked to sign additional Agency Supervisor’s Assessment Reports for specific units.

 

 

8. Will I be able to complete my placement at my workplace?

If you are currently working in an appropriate community welfare agency, you can discuss using your current employment as part of the placement requirements. However, this will need to be discussed with the Placement Adviser to obtain approval. Considerations will be made based on the agency, type of work, and level of supervision.

 

 

9. Can I enrol into more than one placement unit in a term?

Ideally it’s best for students to complete their whole placement at the same agency for consistency and continuity of their experience in the community. However, you can split the hours within two agencies provided all the placement requirements are met.

 

 

10. If I don’t find a placement can I still study full time that term?

Placement is part of the curriculum and as such, it is a requirement to complete placement as part of the Diploma course. If you are unable to secure your own placement, ACAP has a list of various suitable agencies that take work placement students and we can assist in placing you. You can still study full time however you will need to assess your study load and work placement commitments.

 

11. Can all of my placements be at the same agency?

Yes, you only need to complete one placement, consisting of 120 hours at one agency.

 

 

12. If I change from one course to the other can my placement be brought across?

This is possible, however you must check with the Course Coordinator to ensure it meets curriculum requirements.

 

If you have any questions, please contact the Placement Team at [email protected]

 

ANCHOR – Bachelor of Counselling

 

 

 

Bachelor of Counselling 

All Bachelor of Counselling students are required to complete  one counselling placement one to two days per week for two consecutive terms. Placement is to be completed whilst enrolled in the units Work Placement Experience and Supervision 1 in the first term of placement, and  Work Placement Experience and Supervision 2 in the second term of placement. Students must complete a minimum of 200 hours placement including a minimum 40 hours of one to one counselling and if applicable, counselling group work*.

 

Counselling is defined by PACFA as ‘An explicitly contracted counselling relationship with a focus for change’. Counselling would usually take place over three or more face-to-face sessions to allow time for the counselling relationship to develop. Group work therapy also meets the requirements for counselling hours. Case management, counselling research, support groups, informal work utilising counselling skills with individuals, children or families would not be considered ‘counselling’ for placement purposes.

 

Students are expected to attend a placement agency for a minimum of one day per week from 9am to 5pm throughout the two terms of placement. The agency supervisor remains responsible for all clients seen by the student throughout the placement. Students must be supervised at all times (though your supervisor may not necessarily be in the room with you). Case notes must be kept and reviewed by the agency supervisor. Visits to external sites must be accompanied by an agency staff member. Mandatory reporting issues or other serious issues that arise during a counselling session must be brought to the attention of the agency supervisor immediately.

 

 

Placement Agency Supervisor

Your placement agency supervisor is the person with whom you work closely and who directs your activity and supervises you on a daily basis.

Your agency supervisor must:

 

1. Be a practicing counsellor, social worker, psychologist or psychotherapist
2. Be in a supervisory role in the organisation
3. Have a minimum of 5 years relevant experience in the helping profession
4. Not have any other relationship with the student (e.g. family, therapist, current educator etc)
5. Have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in counselling, psychotherapy or a related profession with equivalent qualifications, including appropriate professional registration

 

 

Clinical Supervision on Placement

Students undertaking placement must be concurrently enrolled in the units Work Placement Experience and Supervision 1 in the first term of placement, and Work Placement Experience and Supervision 2 in the second term of placement. Group Clinical supervision is undertaken during these classes. Further details are available by viewing the unit descriptions.

 

 

Appropriate / possible duties for counselling placement may include:

• Group therapy e.g. Anxiety, depression, anger management etc.
• Co-counselling
• Relationship counselling (not couples counselling)
• Person Centred counselling
• Solution focused counselling
• Crisis counselling*
• Counselling services within a community or welfare agency (youth counsellor, aged care, disabled care, alcohol and other drugs counselling etc.)
• Health care work or counselling in the allied health professions such as family support services, child, adolescent and family counselling
• Bereavement counselling and palliative care
• Observing, co facilitating or facilitating appropriate skilled assessment, information, referral and assistance to clients
• Liaising with co-workers and other service providers
• Casework, case notes liaising with other services
• Maintaining records and collecting client information
• Participating in the development, analysis, evaluation and planning of services
• Participating in the organisation as appropriate including the implementation of projects, programs and promotional activities
• Conducting individual interviews to identify clients’ circumstances and requirements
• Assisting in the provision of services, or referring clients to other community organisations which may be better able to provide more appropriate services
• Facilitating support groups

 

Students are expected to participate in all the activities of the organisation that a counsellor employed at the agency would participate in e.g. fill in on reception at lunch breaks, answer the phones if receptionist is busy and some administration work. However students should be primarily focused on counselling or counselling related work throughout their placement.

 

*Conditions apply, please contact Placement Staff for further details.

ANCHOR – Bachelor of Psychological Science and Counselling

 

 

 

Bachelor of Psychological Science and Counselling

All Bachelor of Psychological Science and Counselling students are required to complete  one counselling placement one to two days per week for two consecutive terms. Placement is to be completed whilst enrolled in the units Student Placement and Supervision 1 in the first term of placement, and Student Placement and Supervision 2 in the second term of placement. Students must complete a minimum of 200 hours placement including a minimum 40 hours of one to one counselling and / or counselling group therapy*.

 

Counselling is defined by PACFA as ‘An explicitly contracted counselling relationship with a focus for change’. Counselling would usually take place over three or more face-to-face sessions to allow time for the counselling relationship to develop. Group work therapy also meets the requirements for counselling hours. Case management, counselling research, support groups, informal work utilising counselling skills with individuals, children or families would not be considered ‘counselling’ for placement purposes.

 

Students are expected to attend a placement agency for a minimum of one day per week from 9am to 5pm throughout the two terms of placement. The agency supervisor remains responsible for all clients seen by the student throughout the placement. Students must be supervised at all times (though your supervisor may not necessarily be in the room with you). Case notes must be kept and reviewed by the agency supervisor. Visits to external sites must be accompanied by an agency staff member. Mandatory reporting issues or other serious issues that arise during a counselling session must be brought to the attention of the agency supervisor immediately.

 

 

Placement Agency Supervisor

The Agency Supervisor directs the student’s activity and provides daily supervision.

They must:

 

1. Be a practicing counsellor, social worker, psychologist or psychotherapist.
2. Be in a supervisory role in the organisation.
3. Have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in counselling, psychotherapy or a related profession with equivalent qualifications, including appropriate professional registration (or be eligible to apply for professional registration as approved by ACAP).
4. Have a minimum of five years relevant experience in a profession as listed above, or a minimum of three years in the profession, plus two years in the helping profession, such as youth work, medicine, nursing, education, life coaching, ministry, child safety officer, mental health case worker, or a registered carer.
5. Not have any other relationship with the student (e.g. family, therapist, current educator etc.).

 

Note: ACAP provides clinical supervision for counselling students on placement, however the Agency Supervisor must provide adequate daily support, and regular supervision for the student.

 

 

Clinical Supervision on Placement

Students undertaking placement must be concurrently enrolled in the units Student Placement and Supervision 1 in the first term of placement, and Student Placement and Supervision 2 in the second term of placement. Group Clinical supervision is undertaken during these classes. Further details are available by viewing the unit descriptions.

 

 

Appropriate / possible duties for counselling placement may include:

• Group therapy e.g. Anxiety, depression, anger management etc.
• Co-counselling
• Relationship counselling
• Family counselling
• Person Centred counselling
• Solution focused counselling
• Crisis counselling*
• Counselling services within a community or welfare agency (youth counsellor, aged care, disabled care, alcohol and other drugs counselling etc.)
• Health care work or counselling in the allied health professions such as family support services, child, adolescent and family counselling
• Bereavement counselling and palliative care
• Observing, co facilitating or facilitating appropriate skilled assessment, information, referral and assistance to clients
• Liaising with co-workers and other service providers
• Casework, case notes liaising with other services
• Maintaining records and collecting client information
• Participating in the development, analysis, evaluation and planning of services
• Participating in the organisation as appropriate including the implementation of projects, programs and promotional activities
• Conducting individual or family interviews to identify clients’ circumstances and requirements
• Assisting in the provision of services, or referring clients to other community organisations which may be better able to provide more appropriate services
• Facilitating support groups

 

Students are expected to participate in all the activities of the organisation that a counsellor employed at the agency would participate in e.g. fill in on reception at lunch breaks, answer the phones if receptionist is busy and some administration work. However students should be primarily focused on counselling or counselling related work throughout their placement.

 

*Conditions apply, please contact Placement Staff for further details.

ANCHOR – Graduate Diploma of Counselling

 

 

 

Graduate Diploma of Counselling 

All Graduate Diploma of Counselling students are required to complete  one counselling placement one to two days per week for two consecutive terms. Placement is to be completed whilst enrolled in the units Field Placement and Supervision 1 in the first term of placement, and Field Placement and Supervision 2 in the second term of placement. Students must complete a minimum of 200 hours placement including a minimum 60 hours of one to one counselling and / or counselling group therapy*.

 

Counselling is defined by PACFA as ‘An explicitly contracted counselling relationship with a focus for change’. Counselling would usually take place over three or more face-to-face sessions to allow time for the counselling relationship to develop. Group work therapy also meets the requirements for counselling hours. Case management, counselling research, support groups, informal work utilising counselling skills with individuals, children or families would not be considered ‘counselling’ for placement purposes.

 

Students are expected to attend a placement agency for a minimum of one day per week from 9am to 5pm throughout the two terms of placement. The agency supervisor remains responsible for all clients seen by the student throughout the placement. Students must be supervised at all times (though your supervisor may not necessarily be in the room with you). Case notes must be kept and reviewed by the agency supervisor. Visits to external sites must be accompanied by an agency staff member. Mandatory reporting issues or other serious issues that arise during a counselling session must be brought to the attention of the agency supervisor immediately.

 

 

Placement Agency Supervisor

Your placement agency supervisor is the person with whom you work closely and who directs your activity and supervises you on a daily basis.

Your agency supervisor must:

 

1. Be a practicing counsellor, social worker, psychologist or psychotherapist
2. Be in a supervisory role in the organisation
3. Have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in counselling, psychotherapy or a related profession with equivalent qualifications, including appropriate professional registration (or be eligible to apply for professional registration as approved by ACAP)
4. Have a minimum of 5 years relevant experience in a profession as listed above, or a minimum of 3 years in the profession, plus 2 years in the helping profession, such as youth work, medicine, nursing, education, life coaching, ministry, child safety officer, mental health case worker, or a registered carer.
5. Not have any other relationship with the student (e.g. family, therapist, current educator etc.)

 

Note: ACAP provides clinical supervision for counselling students on placement, however the Agency Supervisor must provide adequate daily support, and regular supervision for the student.

 

 

Clinical Supervision on Placement

Students undertaking placement must be concurrently enrolled in the units Field Placement and Supervision 1 in the first term of placement, and Field Placement and Supervision 2 in the second term of placement. Group Clinical supervision is undertaken during these classes. Further details are available by viewing the unit descriptions.

 

 

Appropriate / possible duties for counselling placement may include:

• Group therapy e.g. Anxiety, depression, anger management etc.
• Co-counselling
• Relationship counselling
• Family counselling
• Person Centred counselling
• Solution focused counselling
• Crisis counselling*
• Counselling services within a community or welfare agency (youth counsellor, aged care, disabled care, alcohol and other drugs counselling etc.)
• Health care work or counselling in the allied health professions such as family support services, child, adolescent and family counselling
• Bereavement counselling and palliative care
• Observing, co facilitating or facilitating appropriate skilled assessment, information, referral and assistance to clients
• Liaising with co-workers and other service providers
• Casework, case notes liaising with other services
• Maintaining records and collecting client information
• Participating in the development, analysis, evaluation and planning of services
• Participating in the organisation as appropriate including the implementation of projects, programs and promotional activities
• Conducting individual or family interviews to identify clients’ circumstances and requirements
• Assisting in the provision of services, or referring clients to other community organisations which may be better able to provide more appropriate services
• Facilitating support groups

 

Students are expected to participate in all the activities of the organisation that a counsellor employed at the agency would participate in e.g. fill in on reception at lunch breaks, answer the phones if receptionist is busy and some administration work. However students should be primarily focused on counselling or counselling related work throughout their placement.

 

*Conditions apply, please contact Placement Staff for further details.

ANCHOR – Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy

 

 

 

Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy

All Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy students are required to complete  one counselling placement one to two days per week for two consecutive terms. Placement is to be completed whilst enrolled in the units Advanced Placement and Supervision 1 in the first term of placement, and  Advanced Placement and Supervision 2 in the second term of placement. Students must complete a minimum of 240 hours placement including a minimum 80 hours of one to one counselling and / or counselling group therapy*.

 

Counselling is defined by PACFA as ‘An explicitly contracted counselling relationship with a focus for change’. Counselling would usually take place over three or more face-to-face sessions to allow time for the counselling relationship to develop. Group work therapy also meets the requirements for counselling hours. Case management, counselling research, support groups, informal work utilising counselling skills with individuals, children or families would not be considered ‘counselling’ for placement purposes.

 

Students are expected to attend a placement agency for a minimum of one day per week from 9am to 5pm throughout the two terms of placement. The agency supervisor remains responsible for all clients seen by the student throughout the placement. Students must be supervised at all times (though your supervisor may not necessarily be in the room with you). Case notes must be kept and reviewed by the agency supervisor. Visits to external sites must be accompanied by an agency staff member. Mandatory reporting issues or other serious issues that arise during a counselling session must be brought to the attention of the agency supervisor immediately.

 

 

Placement Agency Supervisor

Your placement agency supervisor is the person with whom you work closely and who directs your activity and supervises you on a daily basis.

Your agency supervisor must:

 

• be in a managerial or supervisory role  in the organisation
• Have at least 3 years relevant experience in the industry
• Not have any other relationship with you (eg. family etc.)

 

 

Clinical Supervision on Placement

Students undertaking placement must be concurrently enrolled in the units Advanced Placement and Supervision 1 in the first term of placement, and  Advanced Placement and Supervision 2 in the second term of placement. Group Clinical supervision is undertaken during these classes. Further details are available by viewing the unit descriptions.

 

 

Appropriate / possible duties for counselling placement may include:

• Group therapy e.g. Anxiety, depression, anger management etc.
• Co-counselling
• Relationship counselling
• Family counselling
• Person Centred counselling
• Solution focused counselling
• Crisis counselling*
• Counselling services within a community or welfare agency (youth counsellor, aged care, disabled care, alcohol and other drugs counselling etc.)
• Health care work or counselling in the allied health professions such as family support services, child, adolescent and family counselling
• Bereavement counselling and palliative care
• Observing, co facilitating or facilitating appropriate skilled assessment, information, referral and assistance to clients
• Liaising with co-workers and other service providers
• Casework, case notes liaising with other services
• Maintaining records and collecting client information
• Participating in the development, analysis, evaluation and planning of services
• Participating in the organisation as appropriate including the implementation of projects, programs and promotional activities
• Conducting individual or family interviews to identify clients’ circumstances and requirements
• Assisting in the provision of services, or referring clients to other community organisations which may be better able to provide more appropriate services
• Facilitating support groups

 

Students are expected to participate in all the activities of the organisation that a counsellor employed at the agency would participate in e.g. fill in on reception at lunch breaks, answer the phones if receptionist is busy and some administration work. However students should be primarily focused on counselling or counselling related work throughout their placement.

 

*Conditions apply, please contact Placement Staff for further details.

ANCHOR – Bachelor of Social Work

 

 

 

BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK

The Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) include two placements totalling 1,000 hours. These placements are split into Field Education 1 (500 hours) and Field Education 2 (500 hours).

 

In the standard sequence, placements will be completed in T6 (Year 2) and T12 (Year 4). Planning for Field Education begins in the trimester prior to your placement.

 

A total of 28 hours of practice-theory integration seminars are included in the 1,000 hours across both placements, taught fortnightly. These seminars are designed to facilitate the integration of theory and practice during the students’ learning experience.

 

These placements introduce students to the real world of practice. Students will be placed in agencies where they get the opportunity to utilise the skills developed in studying social work theory and practice. Students are expected to develop practices that take account of the socio-economic structure of people’s lives as well as their psychosocial situations, to gain an understanding of the policy and organisational context of direct practice, and to explore the application of relevant theory and knowledge in the relevant fields of practice.

 

 

Field Education 1 (FE1)

The first placement introduces students to human services agencies and social work fields of practice. This is when the student immerses in the full integration of theory and practice applying the knowledge and skills learned in class. It is in this unit that the student commences experiencing themselves as emerging social work professionals. Students are mentored, supervised and supported to reflect critically upon their practice as well as their personal assumptions and beliefs.

 

Placement opportunities for the first placement include agencies and human service agencies, such as family and children’s services, local community centres, community health centres, crisis support and/or accommodation services, hospitals, housing services, mental health services, and large and small government and NGOs.

 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for Field Education 1 may be available on application. Please refer to the relevant section in the Field Education Manual.

 

 

Field Education 2 (FE2)

The second and final placement serves three purposes. Firstly, it provides students with an opportunity to build on and extend the professional knowledge and skills acquired on the first placement and to apply and ‘test out’ subsequent theoretical and critical skills learned. Secondly, students are challenged further to allow for greater depth of learning. Finally, the second placement offers students a contrasting practice setting, allowing them to transfer their learning across client populations, problem circumstances and organisational environments. This process facilitates the development of a professional identity based on an understanding of the ‘universals’ of practice.

 

Placement opportunities for the second placement include further options, such as local, state and federal governments, schools and universities, social enterprise and community development projects, and indirect practice opportunities such as research, advocacy and policy development.

 

 

Enquiries

Please refer to the Field Education Manual for more information and contact [email protected].

 

Please remember that Field Education is a subject that is broader than your placements. The pre-placement tasks, assessments and your interactions with key people involved in the placements are all part of demonstrating your professional readiness for practice. Your patience, courtesy and respectful interactions are noticed and appreciated.

ANCHOR – Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

 

 

 

MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK (QUALIFYING)

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) include two placements totalling 1,000 hours. These placements are split into Field Education 1 (500 hours) and Field Education 2 (500 hours).

 

In the standard sequence, placements will be completed in T3 (Year 1) and T6 (Year 2). Planning for Field Education begins in the trimester prior to your placement.

 

A total of 28 hours of practice-theory integration seminars are included in the 1,000 hours across both placements, taught fortnightly. These seminars are designed to facilitate the integration of theory and practice during the students’ learning experience.

 

These placements introduce students to the real world of practice. Students will be placed in agencies where they get the opportunity to utilise the skills developed in studying social work theory and practice. Students are expected to develop practices that take account of the socio-economic structure of people’s lives as well as their psychosocial situations, to gain an understanding of the policy and organisational context of direct practice, and to explore the application of relevant theory and knowledge in the relevant fields of practice.

 

 

Field Education 1 (FE1)

The first placement introduces students to human services agencies and social work fields of practice. This is when the student immerses in the full integration of theory and practice applying the knowledge and skills learned in class. It is in this unit that the student commences experiencing themselves as emerging social work professionals. Students are mentored, supervised and supported to reflect critically upon their practice as well as their personal assumptions and beliefs.

 

Placement opportunities for the first placement include agencies and human service agencies, such as family and children’s services, local community centres, community health centres, crisis support and/or accommodation services, hospitals, housing services, mental health services, and large and small government and NGOs.

 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for Field Education 1 may be available on application. Please refer to the relevant section in the Field Education Manual.

 

 

Field Education 2 (FE2)

The second and final placement serves three purposes. Firstly, it provides students with an opportunity to build on and extend the professional knowledge and skills acquired on the first placement and to apply and ‘test out’ subsequent theoretical and critical skills learned. Secondly, students are challenged further to allow for greater depth of learning. Finally, the second placement offers students a contrasting practice setting, allowing them to transfer their learning across client populations, problem circumstances and organisational environments. This process facilitates the development of a professional identity based on an understanding of the ‘universals’ of practice.

 

Placement opportunities for the second placement include further options, such as local, state and federal governments, schools and universities, social enterprise and community development projects, and indirect practice opportunities such as research, advocacy and policy development.

 

 

Enquiries

Please refer to the Field Education Manual for more information and contact [email protected].

 

Please remember that Field Education is a subject that is broader than your placements. The pre-placement tasks, assessments and your interactions with key people involved in the placements are all part of demonstrating your professional readiness for practice. Your patience, courtesy and respectful interactions are noticed and appreciated.