Course Title: Field Education 1
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Field Education 1
Credit Points: 24.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
HWSS2206 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2015, Sem 1 2017, Sem 2 2018, Sem 1 2019, Sem 2 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 2 2020, Sem 1 2022, Sem 2 2022, Sem 1 2023, Sem 2 2023, Sem 1 2024 |
HWSS2206 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Workplace |
Sem 1 2016, Sem 2 2016, Sem 1 2018 |
Flexible Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
HWSS2206 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
PGRDFlex22 (All) |
HWSS2206 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face or Workplace |
PGRDFx2020 (All) |
Course Coordinator: Rob Cunningham
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 5809
Course Coordinator Email: rob.cunningham@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: Building 8. Level 10.
Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
Enforced Pre-Requisite Courses
Successful completion of HWSS2049 Critical Social Work , HWSS2111 Casework Counselling and Advocacy and, HWSS2209 Ethical Legal and Organisational Contexts of Practice
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.
Required Concurrent Study
You should undertake HWSS2211 Discourses of Care, Control and Protection at the same time as this course as it contains areas of knowledge and skills which are implemented together in practice. If you are studying part-time, it is recommended that you complete HWSS2211 Discourses of Care, Control and Protection before undertaking this course.
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 is 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.
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:
- Critically analyse theories informing social work practice and the contemporary policy context to develop an evidence base for ethical professional practice
- Apply advanced problem solving skills and techniques of intervention that bring together complex information transferable across different institutional and cultural contexts of practice incorporating innovative interventions to effectively meet the needs of individuals, families, groups and communities
- Theorise and develop interventions that address the social structural and political levels through which poverty and inequality are generated and critically assess policies and programs developed to address disadvantage
- Practice as an autonomous ethical and critical social work practitioner with a commitment to lifelong learning
- Engage in practice which acknowledges the fundamentally multicultural nature of contemporary societies and acknowledges the unique position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, seeking to promote the rights of these groups
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate beginning level capabilities in social work practice as documented in the Learning and Assessment Report.
- Articulate and reflect on your own professional learning and development
- Apply contextually relevant ethics and standards for social work practice in accordance with the AASW Code of Ethics and Practice Standards in all areas of engagement.
- Identify and critically appraise the organisational, legal and political contexts of human services policy and practices.
- Apply and critically reflect on theories, practice approaches and research informing social work practice.
- Form constructive relationships with individuals, groups and communities including user groups, colleagues, professionals and people in other significant roles.
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 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. This will include information and resources placed on the MSW Program Canvas page, pre-placement seminars, newsletters and placement preparation modules.
A Field Education Manual will provide a detailed framework and administrative arrangements for placements. The Manual will include a learning management plan that identifies the learning goals and performance expectations of students for the placement in accordance with AASW Practice Standards and ASWEAS General and Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes.
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 RMIT student portal.
Overview of Assessment
Learning Plan and Assessment Report, 100% CLO1, CLO,2,CLO3, CLO4, CLO, 5 and CLO 6
The assessment task will receive a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory grading.
Satisfactory performance to AASW Practice Standards Accreditation Requirements beginning capability across the following 9 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 across all 9 learning areas.
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.