Unit rationale, description and aim
The intersection of theory and practice is where the praxis of youth work is experienced. This encounter can be fulfilling, challenging and at times confusing. Field Placement One gives students the opportunity to experience the juncture of theory and practice and to begin refining their emerging youth work skills in a supported community- engaged environment. This practicum will provide students with an opportunity to undertake their first placement in a youth work agency context and requires 200 hours of placement. Through both reflection and action, students will examine the daily practices of an agency and consider the agency's organisational composition and goals. In consultation with the field educator, students will be expected to apply adult learning principles and experiential learning techniques to develop self-directed learning and autonomous work practices. This unit will deepen students' skills in actively incorporating a professional philosophy based on integrity that ensures their relationships with young people are non-exploitative.
The aim of this community-engaged unit is to assist students to evaluate their own emerging skill set, articulate a clear understanding of the host agency's service delivery and the role the student played within that.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.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.
Describe the host agency’s target group, objective...
Learning Outcome 01
Explain the professional structure and practices i...
Learning Outcome 02
Apply understanding of youth work practice and pri...
Learning Outcome 03
Articulate and evaluate their own value position o...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
- Critical appraisal of the agency's organisational structure, culture and modes of service provision;
- Impact of economic and political context on the agency, styles of management, levels of inter-agency co-operation and competition, nature of staff relations, understanding of the mode of work practice and client relations;
- Legislation which frames agency practice, and linkages with agency mission, principles, policies and procedures;
- Agency processes of professional supervision, developing work plans, time management, project planning, work appraisals, training and development, critical debriefing, and grievance resolution;
- Networking, personal branding and developing employability skills;
- Reflection on the professional, ethical, and social-political values-orientations involved in youth worker practice.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment tasks for this subject are pass/fail. Students are required to successfully undertake 200 hours of field placement in an approved youth service/agency. The 200 hours of field work allows students to actively engage in all aspects of the host agency’s youth work services and programs. Students will gain valuable first-hand experience working as part of a team in their support of young people, as well as participating in essential ‘behind the scenes’ program support and administration.
The report on the field work enables students to demonstrate their grasp of the systems, administration, programs and people that together make up the daily functioning of the host agency. Students will articulate their appreciation of the complexity of arrangements that lie behind effective youth service delivery.
The reflective journal provides students with an opportunity to articulate their own learning journey throughout the placement experience. Students will be challenged to share the highs and lows of this journey and identify areas of growth that occurred for them during the placement.
Hurdle requirement: To Pass the unit, students must: (1) complete 200 verified placement hours; (2) achieve ‘Satisfactory’ on the Agency Supervisor Evaluation, and (3) pass both the Fieldwork Report and the Reflective Journal. Non-completion or Unsatisfactory on any hurdle results in a Fail (NN) for the unit.
Overview of assessments
Assessment 1: Field Work Placement Student...
Assessment 1: Field Work Placement
Students are required to undertake 200 hours placement in a youth work agency and receive a satisfactory report from the agency supervisor.
Pass/Fail
Assessment 2: Report on Field Work Placement &nbs...
Assessment 2: Report on Field Work Placement
Students demonstrate their grasp of the systems, administration, programs and people that together make up the daily functioning of the host agency. This assignment will be assessed by the lecturer in charge or assigned ACU marker.
Pass/Fail
Assessment 3: Reflective Journal Students ...
Assessment 3: Reflective Journal
Students are required to complete a reflective journal on their practicum experience This assignment will be assessed by the lecturer in charge or assigned ACU marker.
Pass/Fail
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit is designed to support students' preparation for their 200-hour professional placement in a youth agency through a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) approach. The unit incorporates a range of learning formats, including lectures, workshops, seminars, case studies, student-led presentations, and a guest speaker, all of which simulate professional contexts and promote industry engagement and meets the requirements of the community engagement of the course. These learning experiences are structured to help students bridge theory and practice by developing the knowledge, skills, and ethical frameworks essential for effective youth work practice. Lecture-workshops emphasise applied learning and reflective practice, enabling students to build professional competencies and confidence prior to entering their placement setting.