Year
2024Credit points
30Campus offering
Prerequisites
SWTP620 Social Work Theories, Context and Fields of Practice AND SWTP622 Social Work with Individuals AND SWTP633 Social Work, Mental Health and Wellbeing AND SWTP634 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Social Work , Students must meet Faculty of Health Compliance in order to undertake this unit
Teaching organisation
Attendance mode: 500 hours of field practicum supervised social work practice inclusive of 10 hours of integrative seminars. Seminar workshops will be held on specific dates.
ACU Online: 500 hours of work integrated learning (supervised placement) inclusive of 14 hours of online practice-theory integration activities.
Unit rationale, description and aim
ATTENDANCE:
This unit is the first professional practice placement unit offered in the Master of Social Work that facilitates practice learning in the field. Field Practicum 1 comprises of a 500 hour placement and 10 hours of campus-based integrative seminars. The aim of the unit is to provide exposure to practice in context, and through experiential learning to facilitate integration of learning of practice knowledge and skills and professional identity development. The learning gained is further consolidated in subsequent units, including Field Practicum 2 (SWTP 631). Learning in this unit is informed by the AASW Practice Standards and the AASW Code of Ethics. The learning outcomes of the unit are consistent with the Social Work curriculum that embeds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and prepares students for practice with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
ACU ONLINE:
This unit is the first professional practice placement unit offered in the Master of Social Work that facilitates practice learning in the field. Field Practicum 1 comprises of a 500
hour placement inclusive of 14 hours of practice-theory integration activities. The aim of the unit is to provide exposure to practice in context, and through experiential learning to
facilitate integration of learning of practice knowledge and skills and professional identity development. The learning gained is further consolidated in subsequent units,
including Field Practicum 2 (SWTP 631). Learning in this unit is informed by the AASW Practice Standards and the AASW Code of Ethics. The learning outcomes of the unit are
consistent with the Social Work curriculum that embeds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and prepares students for practice with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
| Learning Outcome Number | Learning Outcome Description | Relevant Graduate Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| LO1 | Implement knowledge of social work practice and service delivery in an organizational setting | GC1, GC2, GC6, GC7, GC9 |
| LO2 | Assimilate and demonstrate professional and ethical behaviour appropriate to the practice setting as stipulated by the AASW | GC1, GC3, GC4, GC7 |
| LO3 | Apply knowledge and skills developed in campus-based units and in the placement setting to demonstrate AASW practice standards at a beginning level of capability | GC1, GC2, GC3, GC5, GC8, GC9, GC11 |
| LO4 | Understand and prepare for Field Education processes and experiences | GC3, GC7, GC8, GC9 |
AASW Practice Standards
This Unit has been mapped to the ACU Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes. The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes provided in the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards: https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/13565
1.Values and ethics |
2.Professionalism |
3.Culturally responsive and inclusive practice |
4.Knowledge for practice |
5.Applying knowledge to practice |
6.Communication and Interpersonal skills |
7.Information recording and sharing |
8.Professional development and supervision |
ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes
This Unit has been mapped to the ACU Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes. The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes provided in the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards: https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/13565
| Standard/Attributes/Criteria | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
1.1 Practice in accordance with the AASW Code of Ethics 1.2 Manage ethical dilemmas and issues arising in practice 2.1 Represent the social work profession with integrity and professionalism 2.2 Behave in a professional manner and be accountable for all actions and decisions 4.1 Understand higher-level systemic influences on people with respect to area of practice 4.2 Understand and articulate social work and other relevant theories and concepts 4.3 Understand the role of research and evaluation in obtaining and generating new knowledge for practice 4.4 Understand and articulate how and when theories, knowledge bases and knowledge sources inform practice | LO1 |
1.1 Practice in accordance with the AASW Code of Ethics 1.2 Manage ethical dilemmas and issues arising in practice 2.1 Represent the social work profession with integrity and professionalism 2.2 Behave in a professional manner and be accountable for all actions and decisions | LO2 |
1.1 Practice in accordance with the AASW Code of Ethics 1.2 Manage ethical dilemmas and issues arising in practice 2.1 Represent the social work profession with integrity and professionalism 2.2 Behave in a professional manner and be accountable for all actions and decisions 3.1 Work respectfully and inclusively with cultural differences and diversity 3.2 Respect, strive to understand and promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultures 5.1 Assess and analyse needs to inform practice 5.2 Work collaboratively 5.3 Use a range of social work methods and techniques appropriate to the area of practice 5.4 Apply critical and reflective thinking to practice 6.1 Communicate with a diverse range of people 6.2 Communicate the details and nature of the service offered to people 6.3 Work with others in a team environment 6.4 Use information technology to communicate and provide services 7.1 Record and manage information appropriately 7.2 Keep and maintain information in accordance with ethical principles and relevant legislation 8.1 Actively participate in professional supervision 8.2 Engage in continuing professional development 8.3 Engage in continuing professional development of others. | LO3 |
Content
ATTENDANCE:
Integrative seminars respond to the learning needs of students as they work toward meeting the AASW requirements for placement. Seminars are interactive and experience-based discussions and exercises that explore placement processes and experiences with a focus on:
- relating theory and knowledge to practice
- exploring values & ethics in practice
- critical reflection
- building social work identity.
ACU ONLINE:
This unit content is determined by the placement allocated to the student by ACU Field Education staff.
The scheduled Integrative online webinars respond to the learning needs of students, as they work toward meeting the AASW requirements for placement. Live webinars are interactive and experience-based, encouraging discussions and exercises that explore placement processes and experiences with a focus on:
• relating theory and knowledge to practice
• exploring values & ethics in practice
• critical reflection
• building social work identity.
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
CAMPUS ATTENDANCE:
For this professional experience unit, learning happens in three asynchronous, online preplacement sessions, the 500-hour placement and in the classroom. The main teaching and learning strategies include experiential learning, reflective learning, practice - theory integration and skills development. These are used in the placement setting, and integration of this experience with social work knowledge, values and ethics is facilitated in 10 hours of campus-based integrative seminars. Planned learning goals and strategies for the specific placement are recorded in the Learning Agreement. This Unit Outline needs to be read in conjunction with the Social Work Field Education Handbook.
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS OF UNIT
Punctual and full attendance on the placement is an essential requirement for the unit. The attendance requirements are specified in ACU Assessment Policy and guided by requirements of AASW accredited social work programs. Attendance at all integrative seminars is expected and an attendance record of all seminars will be kept. Students are required to attend at least 80% of all integrative seminars scheduled for this unit.
Reasons why attendance is required
In integrative seminars, students will be interacting with each other and developing skills which they will use in interprofessional/clinical experience. Students who do not attend are at risk of not developing these essential skills.
ACU ONLINE:
For this professional experience unit, learning happens in three asynchronous, online preplacement sessions, the 500-hour placement and in the classroom. The main teaching and learning strategies include experiential learning, reflective learning, practice - theory integration and skills development. These are used in the placement setting, and integration of this experience with social work knowledge, values and ethics is facilitated in 10 hours of campus-based integrative seminars. Planned learning goals and strategies for the specific placement are recorded in the Learning Agreement. This Unit Outline needs to be read in conjunction with the Social Work Field Education Handbook.
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS OF UNIT
Punctual and full attendance on the placement is an essential requirement for the unit. The attendance requirements are specified in ACU Assessment Policy and guided by
requirements of AASW accredited social work programs. Attendance at all integrative seminars is expected and an attendance record of all seminars will be kept. Students are
required to attend at least 80% of all integrative webinars scheduled for this unit.
Reasons why attendance is required
In integrative webinars, students will be interacting with each other and developing skills which they will use in interprofessional/clinical experience. Students who do not attend
are at risk of not developing these essential skills by not connecting to peers during placement.
Assessment strategy and rationale
Students are assessed on a range of activities that accumulate prior to commencing placement and over the beginning, middle and end of the placement and which reflect developmental and experiential learning principles. Assessment of placement preparation is designed to reinforce the student’s learning in relation to the process of placement. The assessments of learning prior to placement and at the beginning, middle and end are designed to identify areas of competence and deficit, as well as strategies for students to address areas of deficit prior to the next assessment point. Students will have unlimited attempts to complete and pass the pre-placement quiz. They must achieve 100% for this quiz to be eligible to begin placement. This promotes the student’s understanding of the process and expectations of placement. The tasks that contribute to the assessments during placement include a Learning Agreement, Mid Placement Report and Final Placement Report. The mid and end of placement report are structured in line with Australian Association of Social Workers Practice Standards. Students are also required to submit a signed timesheet at the end of their placement. Each assessment task is informed by the identified learning outcomes for the unit.
The Learning Agreement is developed in collaboration with the social work supervisor. It sets out the specific goals and activities associated with the placement and the nature of evidence required to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes.
The Mid Placement report requires students to demonstrate their progress toward their learning goals at the mid-point of their placement. The report also includes feedback from the student’s Field Educators. This task provides students with the opportunity to review progress against learning goals and plan for tasks and strategies to meet goals for the remainder of the placement. The Mid Placement tasks enable students to articulate the connections between relevant social work theory and ethics to their placement experience in order to develop informed practice decision making.
In the Final Placement Report, students demonstrate their progress toward and achievement of the learning goals at the conclusion of their placement. The report also includes feedback from the student’s Field Educators. Students use the Final Placement Report to evidence beginning practice capability.
In negotiation with the ACU Liaison Visitor and Social Work Supervisor, students will be able to revise the Learning Agreement and Mid Placement Report in response to feedback on the requirements to achieve a satisfactory standard.
In order to pass this unit, Students are required to pass the preplacement quiz, submit all assessment pieces to a pass standard, complete all 500 hours of placement and attend integrative seminars as per the attendance requirements.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
Hurdle Task preplacement quiz Reinforces the information about placement processes and what to expect during placement. | Hurdle Task | LO4 |
Learning Agreement – Detailed statement of the learning activities and strategies for the student placement. | Pass/Fail | LO1, LO2, LO3 |
Mid Placement Report – Report of student progress against the goals set out in the Learning Agreement | Pass/Fail | LO1, LO2, LO3 |
Final Placement Report – Final report of student learning achieved on placement and identification of areas for future development | Pass/Fail | LO1, LO2, LO3 |
Completed timesheet - Students are required to maintain and submit a record of the placement hours completed in order to meet AASW requirements for graduation as a social worker. | Pass/Fail | LO2 |
Representative texts and references
Australian Association of Social Workers (2020). Code of ethics. AASW: Canberra.
Australian Association of Social Workers (2013). Practice standards. AASW: Canberra.
Cleak, H. & Wilson, J. (2019). (4th.Ed.) Making the most of field education. South Melbourne:
Cengage Learning.