Unit rationale, description and aim
Social work is a distinct discipline and social workers demonstrate their professional identity by applying and integrating social work values, ethics, knowledge and skills in diverse practice contexts. Students undertake a supervised field placement of 500 hours inclusive of scheduled integration seminars. This final field education unit encourages students to build on knowledge and practice skills gained in Social Work Field Education 1, to strengthen critically reflective practice and to facilitate a strong social work professional identity as graduating social workers. Learning in this unit is informed by the AASW Practice Standards (ASWEAS 2024) and the AASW Code of Ethics.
The aim of this unit is that students develop a graduating level of competence in social work practice in an agency setting.
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.
Understand and prepare for Field Education process...
Learning Outcome 01
Apply knowledge and skills developed in campus-bas...
Learning Outcome 02
Assimilate and demonstrate professional and ethica...
Learning Outcome 03
Evaluate and reflect on own performance through se...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Interactive discussions and experience-based learning activities are used to explore students’ placement experiences, with a focus on:
- Relating theory and knowledge to practice
- Exploring values and ethics in practice
- Critical reflection
- Building social work identity
Assessment strategy and rationale
Students are assessed on a range of activities which reflect developmental and experiential learning principles. Prior to placement, a preplacement quiz promotes the student’s understanding of the process and expectations of placement and a mark of 100% must be achieved before commencing placement; there are unlimited attempts for this hurdle.
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 evidence required to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes.
The Mid Placement report and presentation enables students to demonstrate their progress toward their learning goals at mid-point and 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. These 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.
Students must submit a signed timesheet to show they have completed 500 hours of practice, as required to meet AASW accreditation; the placement is not complete until the student has completed 500 hours so no further attempts are possible.
The final year allied health conference presentation is an ungraded hurdle task that may be attempted twice.
In order to pass this unit, students must demonstrate achievement of every unit learning outcome, submit and pass all assessment tasks and the ungraded hurdle tasks, attend integration seminars and complete make up work as per the attendance requirements, and complete 500 hours of placement, as evidenced by a signed timesheet.
Overview of assessments
Hurdle Task preplacement quiz Reinforces the inf...
Hurdle Task preplacement quiz
Reinforces the information about placement processes and what to expect during placement.
Hurdle Task
Assessment Task 1 - Learning Agreement Ena...
Assessment Task 1 - Learning Agreement
Enables students to identify their learning goals, tasks and timeframes for completion in alignment with AASW Practice Standards
Pass/ Fail
Assessment Task 2 - Mid Placement report and Pre...
Assessment Task 2 - Mid Placement report and Presentation
Demonstration of Student Progress against the goals set out in the Learning Agreement
Pass/ Fail
Ungraded Hurdle Task 2 Brief Oral Conference Pre...
Ungraded Hurdle Task 2
Brief Oral Conference Presentation of Theory to Practice / Ethics in Practice Presentation School of Allied Health Final Year Student Conference
Enables students to present on an aspect of their practice learning and development as a social worker at the School of Allied Health Final Year Student Conference. Enables students to showcase and celebrate their placement learning to a broader audience in the context of a professional presentation and to demonstrate commitment to ongoing professional development.
Hurdle
Final Placement Report Final r...
Final Placement Report
Final report of student learning achieved on placement and identification of areas for future development.
Pass/
Fail
Ungraded Hurdle Assessment Task 4 Completed Time...
Ungraded Hurdle Assessment Task 4
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
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
For this practice education unit, learning happens in three asynchronous, online preplacement sessions, the 500-hour practice placement, inclusive of the integration seminars. The main teaching and learning strategies include experiential learning, reflective learning, practice - theory integration and skills development.
Planned learning goals and strategies for the specific placement are recorded in the Learning Agreement.
Punctual and full attendance on the placement is an essential requirement for this unit. Attendance at all Integration seminars is expected and an attendance record of all seminars will be kept. Students are required to attend at least 100% of all Integration seminars scheduled for this unit. In integration seminars, students will be interacting with each other and developing skills which will be used in professional/clinical practice. Students who do not attend are at risk of not developing these essential skills. Attendance is required as part of meeting the AASW requirement to integrate campus learning with field placement learning and skill development.
Graduate Attributes and the Practice Standards (ASWEAS, 2024)
This Unit has been mapped to the ACU Graduate Capabilities and the Graduate Attributes and the Practice Standards (ASWEAS, 2024) . The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and the Graduate Attributes and the Practice Standards (ASWEAS, 2024).
Relating to
Conduct themselves according to the values, principles and guidelines of the AASW
Code of Ethics 2020
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Relating to
Have a clear sense of accountability for their actions and accept responsibility for the
decisions they make and their professional actions
Relevant learning outcomeLO3
Relating to
Recognise and take responsibility for what is within their power, control or
management
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO3
Relating to
Can articulate the ethics underpinning their approach to decisions and actions
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Are willing and able to seek advice from supervisors or senior colleagues on ethical
issues
Relevant learning outcomeLO3
Relating to
Practice in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to support
their priorities and aspirations
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO4
Relating to
Are aware of the diversity among, and differences between, Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander cultures throughout Australia
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2
Relating to
Respect the knowledge and lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples, and privilege their voices
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3
Relating to
Can recognise and draw upon the cultural knowledge, experience, and wisdom
provided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to guide approaches to
practice
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Adopt appropriate cultural and communication protocols
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3
Relating to
Advocate for human rights and practice in ways that aim to achieve access, equity, participation and legal protection for all
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Ensure that the rights of the people they work with are promoted, protected, and
upheld
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Support action to enable people to live a life free of abuse, neglect, exploitation and
violence
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Promote public policy initiatives aimed at eliminating structural and systemic
inequities experienced by people
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Conduct their approach to practice respectfully and inclusively with regard to culture
and diversity
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Apply an intersectional lens in their approach to complexities around culture and
diversity
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Respectfully engage with people who have culturally diverse identities
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Adapt and modify their practice on the basis of a critical awareness of how their
personal values, cultures and beliefs impact on their interactions with people
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO4
Relating to
Practise within a professional knowledge framework informed by a critical
understanding of contemporary social work theory and research
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Work from a clearly articulated framework for reflective practice
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Contribute their critical perspectives in interactions with other professions in a
positive and constructive manner
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO4
Relating to
Practise within the limits of their professional scope, knowledge and skills and, where
necessary, direct people to alternative sources of professional advice
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Relating to
Make professional decisions on the basis of a holistic assessment of the needs,
strengths, goals and preferences of people
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Recognise, and use responsibly, the power and authority they have when exercising
professional judgement affecting people
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Critically assess the quality and veracity of all relevant information to support their
decisions
Relevant learning outcomeLO2
Relating to
Make decisions aimed primarily at achieving the best possible outcomes for people
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Assess the nature and level of risk to people and incorporate that into the overall
assessment
Relevant learning outcomeLO2
Relating to
Make assessments and decide courses of action informed and guided by the lived
experience, wishes and preferences of service users to the fullest extent possible
Relevant learning outcomeLO2
Relating to
Consult with other professional practitioners who are contributing to the wellbeing of
the people they serve or work with
Relevant learning outcomeLO3, LO4
Relating to
Actively contribute to strengthening and promoting the identity and standing of the
profession
Relevant learning outcomeLO3
Relating to
Articulate and promote the unique scope and contribution of social work to the
people they serve, including within interdisciplinary settings
Relevant learning outcomeLO2
Relating to
Treat colleagues and all who contribute to the wellbeing of service users with
courtesy, and demonstrate respect for their individual expertise
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4
Relating to
Actively participate in professional supervision to build and strengthen their practice
Relevant learning outcomeLO3, LO4
Relating to
Undertake formal supervision, relevant to their area of practice, by an appropriately
trained, senior social work qualified supervisor
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Relating to
Maintain a record of supervision for the duration of the supervisory relationship
Relevant learning outcomeLO2
Relating to
Use supervision to examine and critically reflect upon their personal and professional
values and the implications for practice
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4
Relating to
Use supervision to demonstrate integration of professional knowledge and theoretical
approaches to practice
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4
Relating to
Monitor, evaluate and review their skills, knowledge and expertise
Relevant learning outcomeLO4
Relating to
Identify their current and future professional learning needs
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO4
Relating to
Be active learners, open to new and emerging knowledge, research and evidence
informing their practice
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO4