Course Title: Social Work Field Education 1

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Social Work Field Education 1

Credit Points: 36.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
HWSS1137	City Campus	Undergraduate	330H Social Science & Planning	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006
HWSS1137	City Campus	Undergraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008
HWSS1137	City Campus	Undergraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011, Sem 1 2015, Sem 2 2015, Sem 2 2017, Sem 1 2024
HWSS1137	City Campus	Undergraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Workplace	Sem 1 2012, Sem 2 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 2 2013, Sem 1 2014, Sem 2 2014

Course Coordinator: Margareta Windisch

Course Coordinator Phone: 9925 3051

Course Coordinator Email: Margareta.windisch@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 8.10.39

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Enforced Pre-Requisite Courses  

Successful completion of 035681 HWSS2093 Group Work Theory and Practice AND  012087 HWSS1135 Casework and Advocacy.   

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course.  

For your information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage.  

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.   

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.    

Course Description

In this course you will undertake a professional placement of 500 hours (approx.70 days) and participate in two integrated learning seminars to delivered by RMIT that will frame and support your placement. You will be placed in an organisation and be involved in day-to-day social work practice, which can include direct practice with individuals, families and/or small groups and which may also involve project work and research. This course is based upon experiential learning in which your social work values, knowledge, skills will be applied and assessed in a workplace context and where feedback from industry and/ or community is integral to assessment of your experience and development of your professional competence.  

You will be allocated to a placement by the academic staff. The allocation based on a range of factors, including the information you provide in your Personal Planning Form (PPF) and whether you meet the requirements of the organisation. 

Please note that:

• You must be enrolled in Field Education to participate in the placement preparation and allocation process.
• The placement preparation and allocation process commences at least six months prior to your enrolment in Field Education. To be eligible for placement allocation, you need to participate in this process
• Refer to Part B for more information on all deadlines

Certain preparation tasks must be completed in advance of your enrolment in Field Education for you to be eligible to participate in the allocation process. For example, you must, complete by the appropriate deadlines: 

• A Police Check and Working With Children Check
• Required online Modules
• Uploading your PPF and a current CV into InPlace 

In the two integrated learning seminars you will have an opportunity to develop your understanding of placement requirements and the organisational context. You will be able to critically engage and reflect upon your placement experience and supervisory feedback with your peers. Participation in these seminars will assist in further developing and meeting your learning goals with key placement learning to be reflected in your Learning and Assessment Report.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes: 

In this course, you will develop the following program learning outcomes:  

2. Apply a body of interdisciplinary knowledge, research, values, ethical judgement and skills in working with and for society’s most vulnerable and marginalised individuals, families, groups and communities  

4. Demonstrate creativity, critical thinking and practical reasoning when identifying and solving problems in diverse contexts  

5. Communicate using diverse formats and strategies to stakeholders within and external to your discipline work with others in a range of roles and contexts, demonstrating cultural, environmental and social awareness while promoting respectful, ethical and reflective practice 

6. Apply initiative and ethical judgment in planning, problem solving and decision making in your current and continuing professional practice  

These course learning outcomes and program learning outcomes align with the AASW ASWEAS practice standards.  

 

Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:   

1. Apply contextually relevant values, ethics and standards for social work practice in accordance with the AASW Code of Ethics and Practice Standards in all areas of engagement  
2. Identify and critically review the organisational, legal and political contexts of human services processes  
3. Apply and critically reflect on theories and methodologies relevant to social work practice across different contexts  
4. Form constructive relationships with individuals, groups and communities including user groups, colleagues, professionals and people in other significant roles / positions 

Overview of Learning Activities

Learning activities include the 70 days (500 hours) field placement, the development of a detailed Learning and Assessment Report, and a mid and final placement review in line with the AASW ASWEAS and AASW Practice Standards. Learning activities on placement will also include active engagement with and participation in 21 hours of social work qualified supervision (which includes setting and preparing agendas, case studies, and reflective pieces). You will be supported through placement planning and preparation in consultation with the Social Work Field Education Coordinator and other relevant staff. 

You are also required to attend two Integrated Learning seminars where you will critically reflect on your experiences with peers and share knowledge and skills in peer facilitated group activities. Active participation in these seminars constitutes a key element of this course may include presentations in small group settings.

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal 

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Attendance at and participation in the two integrated seminars is required to pass placement. 

Assessment Tasks 
Assessment Task 1: Learning Plan, 25%, CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4  
Assessment Task 2: Mid-placement review, 25%, CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4  
Assessment Task 3: Assessment report, 50%, CLOs1, 2, 3, 4   

Assessment tasks will receive a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory grading. 

Satisfactory performance to AASW Practice Standards Accreditation Requirements beginning capability across the following learning areas as stipulated by ASWEAS: 

• Code of Ethics
• Working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
• Human rights and social justice
• Culture, identity, and intersectionality
• Critical thinking in practice
• Exercising professional judgement
• Professional Identity
• Professional Supervision
• Professional growth

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.