Social Work Field Education 1 is the first of two fieldwork placements that you are required to complete. You will complete onsite, agency-based interactions and learning tasks in a practice context supervised by an approved agency worker. You will participate in the range of activities, tasks, and processes that the agency encompasses by negotiation with the supervisor and subject to agency rules and procedures. During the first placement you are invited to consolidate and apply your learning from the first two years of study within an agency placement context. You will observe other workers, participate in the operations of the agency and should be able to critically analyse and articulate your developing professional practice framework within the context of the field placement. A Field Education Manual will guide you through the placement process, providing a detailed framework and administrative arrangements, including attendance and assessment requirements, as well as roles and responsibilities of all parties. The manual outlines the inherent requirements and performance expectations based on the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Practice Standards and ASWEAS General and Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes. You are required to attend the compulsory residential school associated with the co-requisite unit, SOWK13010, and participate in designated call-back sessions.

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from SUTE

Very supportive, flexible & knowledgeable, easy to approach. One of my best teacher in my this social work practice study .

This is great to hear and we will continue to be available and offer a positive experience.

Feedback from SUTE

The tasks and deadlines I found, weren't very clear and I had to work hard to put it into a weekly schedule that I could keep track of for myself. If I hadn't done that, I would certainly have missed things.

Subsequently we have supplied a task list for all students to track all requirements.

Feedback from SUTE

Possibly include in a previous residential 6 to 12 months prior a day to discuss SONIA. I had started just prior to last placement and I could sense much anxiety and confusion. Discussion about roles of field educators etc. But I felt supported during the placement. By both my supervisor, field educator and CQU staff. I had to take a day off and an extension due to personal reasons. But always felt supported!

This has begun with an introduction to the concept of SONIA in the year one residential and a more comprehensive overview in the year two residential.

Feedback from SUTE

More contact with lecturers throughout the term. More information/ examples and expectations for professional practice framework during term instead of all at Resi it was too overwhelming to do it at Resi.

We are increasing contact and education around this task with a tutorial added for this cohort next year.