HCS525 Social Work Field Education 1 (16)

This is the first of two field education subjects in the Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying).
Students have the opportunity to demonstrate professional practice skills, knowledge, values and develop their social work identity in a work setting. Students are required to demonstrate the entry level standards of professional practice to meet first placement expectations as specified by the Australian Association of Social Workers. The subject has two strands. The majority of students undertake the Placement Strand, which involves completing a placement of approximately 500 hours. Students who are assessed as eligible for recognition of prior learning based on relevant professional experience undertake the Professional Practice Assessment Strand.

Placement Strand - Students undertake a structured, individualised period of experiential learning in an approved real-world work site, under the supervision of a qualified and experienced social worker.

Professional Practice Assessment Strand - Eligible students undertake a reflective exploration of their existing professional knowledge, skills, practices and values and apply these to a social work framework of professional thinking, doing and being (identity) under the guidance of a social work academic.

Availability

Year-long Period 1 (31)
Online
Wagga Wagga Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: HCS525. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

SY/US

Duration

One session

School

School of Social Work and Arts

Enrolment Restrictions

This subject is only available to students enrolled in the Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying).

This subject is not available to students who have completed HCS505.

Assumed Knowledge

Students are required to have completed or be co-enrolled in subject HCS507.

Subject Relationships

HCS505 Shares similar content

Incompatible Subjects

HCS505

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to engage with and work towards achievement of entry level standards of professional practice according to the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Social Work Practice Standards and Code of Ethics, as well as requirements for Field Education in the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards;
  • be able to demonstrate engagement with the assessment stages of social work practice, as reflected in the standards;
  • be able to formulate, define and evaluate individual learning objectives, learning strategies and performance measures drawn from the AASW practice standards in consultation with field educators and academics;
  • be able to demonstrate investigation, analysis and synthesis of complex information, problems, concepts and theories applied to the placement context;
  • be able to independently research, design and implement professional methods of assessment, demonstrating practice skills and professional judgment at entry level professional standard (including integration of theory into practice);
  • be able to critically reflect on their own practice, values and knowledge of social work and identify strengths and areas for future development with a focus on professional identity;
  • be able to interpret ethical issues in the placement context and apply ethical professional practice standards in accordance with the AASW Code of Ethics to their own and others' practice;
  • be able to demonstrate and monitor sensitive communication practices (written, oral) that are appropriate to the professional context;
  • be able to synthesise culturally sensitive practices within the professional placement context; and
  • be able to engage in the learning experience. This includes: a constructive supervision relationship with their field educator, ability to give and receive constructive feedback, and awareness of their own learning style based on Kolb's learning inventory.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • Students in this subject complete either the Placement Strand, or if eligible, the Professional Practice Assessment Strand.
  • Placement Strand: Students undertake a structured, individualised syllabus of experiential learning in an approved real-world work site, under the supervision of a qualified and experienced social worker. The syllabus, including an embedded module focused on preparing students for placement, is based on the Social Work Practice Standards and Code of Ethics, as well as the requirements for field education in the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards. Design, implementation and assessment of the learning experience and student performance are undertaken collaboratively by the student, field educator and university staff. Students are required to apply insights from adult learning theories and theories of professional supervision. Placements will have either a direct focus in the syllabus for this subject (interpersonal skills, clinical casework or group work) or an indirect focus (community development, educational group work, policy or research).
  • Professional Practice Assessment Strand: Eligible students undertake a reflective exploration of their existing professional knowledge, skills, practices and values and apply these to a social work framework of professional thinking, doing and being (identity) based on the social work practice standards and Codes of Ethics as well as requirements for field education in the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards. In addition, students are required to apply insights from adult learning theories and theories of professional supervision. Students who fail any of the requirements in the Professional Practice Assessment strand other than the final assessment may transfer to the Placement Strand of the subject and complete those requirements.

Workplace Learning

This subject contains a 72 days Compulsory Workplace Learning component.

In this subject, workplace learning is undertaken across a year-long single session for 16 credit points.
Students complete approximately 500 hours of experiential learning/professional practice under the supervision of an experienced, qualified social worker in a real workplace. Learning and assessment are undertaken through a collaborative partnership articulated in an individualised learning plan.

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: June 2022. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

Back