Professional Practice
Credit points
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
Prerequisites
(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Co-requisites
(Corequisite units must be studied concurrently with this unit)
Overview
In this unit you will work alongside professional colleagues engaged in the provision of human services. This work based learning experience consists of a structured and supervised University organised field education placement where you will link and apply theory with social work practice. To best prepare and support you in your first placement, 10 hours of attendance in a pre-placement two-day intensive is required. The placement experience is enhanced by participation in University based seminars.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- Negotiate and validate a plan for professional learning consistent with the placement context of practice and aligned to AASW Graduate Practice Standards and Attributes (2019);
- Apply social work knowledge, values and ethics to a particular field of practice in accordance with the AASW Code of Ethics (2010) and AASW Graduate Practice Standards and Attributes (2019);
- Demonstrate cultural responsiveness, sensitivity and inclusive practice that promotes the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultures;
- Establish respectful and accountable professional relationships and communications with a diverse range of individuals, groups, colleagues and communities; and
- Effectively demonstrate use of social work theories and methods informed by a critically reflective approach to practice.
Assessment
For Melbourne campuses
Assessment in this unit is aligned with the Practice Standards outlined in the Australian Association of Social Workers Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS, 2019). Performance on field placement is assessed in relation to your individual professional learning plan, as detailed in the Social Work Field Education Manual.
Assessment type: Exercise | Grade: Pass/Fail
Plan for professional learning
Assessment type: Practicum | Grade: Pass/Fail
Mid placement assessment
Assessment type: Practicum | Grade: Pass/Fail
Final placement assessment
Students are required to complete a minimum of 500 hours supervised field education. Students are required to attend 10 hours (2 x 5 hour per day) pre-placement intensives. These pre-placement intensives are in-person and scheduled for the first week of the block in which placement occurs. Students are also required to attend 12 hours (3 x 4 hour) compulsory theory-practice integration seminars. These seminars are delivered online-real time and are scheduled across the 14 week placement period.
In the event of illness, students are required to make up missed placement hours. Where circumstances exist so that a student cannot attend the pre-placement intensive and integration seminars in person (e.g. rural/regional placement), engagement in the seminars will be by negotiation with the Unit Convenor.
Required reading
The following texts are Recommended Reading only: Cleak, H.M. & Wilson, J. (2018). Making the most of field placement (4th ed). Cengage Learning Australia (ebook) Gardner, F. (2014). Being critically reflective: Engaging in holistic practice. Palgrave MacMillan. Gardner, F., Theobald, J., Long, N. & Hickson, H. (2018). Field education: Creating successful placements. Oxford University Press.
As part of a course
This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):