Step into social work through the eyes of experts

Field Education: Creating Successful Placements aims to support students of social work field education subjects by ensuring students have access to quality learning experiences. Successful completion of these subjects complies with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) requirements for accreditation as a social worker. This book looks at what makes a successful placement from four different perspectives – lecturer, field educator, liaison person and student – helping to better prepare students for the rigours of social work and human services work. It encourages integrating theory with practice and provides an insight into the diverse organisations and practitioners involved in field education.

KEY FEATURES

• Strong focus on the student voice – select chapters are written by recently graduated students
• Perspectives from the four key field education players – lecturer, field educator, liaison person and student
• The wealth of contributors represent the diverse practitioners involved in field education, including those from indigenous and culturally diverse backgrounds
• Vignettes are provided throughout each chapter providing students with case examples from the field
• Critical reflection points are attached to each case study to encourage deeper thinking
• Tips in the student chapters provide insight into actions which may be disconcerting and advice on how to overcome them
• Margin notes link to other related areas in the book.

Introduction: Reflecting critically on successful field education
Fiona Gardner, Jacqui Theobald, Natasha Long and Helen Hickson

PART 1: CREATING SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL WORK PLACEMENTS: SETTING THE SCENE
1. Key frameworks: Understanding how to make your placement work
Fiona Gardner, Jacqui Theobald, Natasha Long and Helen Hickson
2. Understanding the broader picture
Natasha Long and Jacqui Theobald

PART 2: GETTING STARTED: CLARIFYING ROLES AND EXPECTATIONS
3. Working together and external supervision
Ines Zuchowski
4. Collaborating in complex organisations
Lynne Allan
5. Working together and task supervision
Anne Fahey
6. Valuing individual and group supervision
Jill Hanlon

PART 3: NAVIGATING CHALLENGES DURING PLACEMENT
7. Generating placement opportunities: A student’s perspective*
Rebecca Say
8. What happens when things go wrong?
Tim Adam
9. Building on challenges to create opportunities
Helen Hickson

PART 4: STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
10. Providing effective external supervision using technology
Lisa Derham
11. A framework for engaging in complex placements overseas or at home*
Annie Townsend
12. Learnings from an international placement*
Kate MacAulay
13. Supporting diversity and finding congruity in social work field education
Roslyn Giles and Rosalie Pockett

PART 5: ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH DIVERSITY
14. We’re not all the same: Managing placement*
Moses Paul and Fiona Gardner
15. First Nation Australian social work placements: Principles and processes
Mishel McMahon

PART 6: MANAGING TRANSITIONS: FINISHING YOUR PLACEMENT
16. What an experience! What happens next?
Helen Hickson and Natasha Long
17. Conclusion: Key learning for creating successful placements
Fiona Gardner, Jacqui Theobald, Natasha Long and Helen Hickson

*Student focused chapters

Fiona Gardner - Discipline Lead, Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University
Jacqui Theobald - Lecturer, Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University
Natasha Long - Social Work Field Education Coordinator/Lecturer, Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University
Helen Hickson - Adjunct Lecturer, Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University

Fiona Gardner is the Discipline Lead of Social Work and Social Policy at La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University. Jacqui Theobald is a Lecturer of Social Work and Social Policy at La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University. Natasha Long is a Social Work Field Education Coordinator/Lecturer of Social Work and Social Policy at La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University. Helen Hickson is an Adjunct Lecturer of Social Work and Social Policy at La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University.