This document provides information about field education placements for social work students. It introduces key contacts for different locations and describes the placement subjects and requirements. Students must enroll and register for placements, which are negotiated by the university in consultation with students. Key requirements include national police checks, working with children checks, immunizations, and compliance documentation. The document outlines the timeline and process for setting up placements, as well as roles of various parties involved before and during placements.

1. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Ignatius Chida
Lava Kohaupt
Melinda Green
Serena Mathews

2. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Introductions
• Field Education & Subject Coordinator/ Academic Lead
Serena Mathews
• Workplace Learning Admin Officer
Jacqui Paton & Anna Gabrielle

3. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Your local contacts:
Dubbo: Ignatius
Port Macquarie: Lava
Wagga: Melinda
Taree: Sue
QLD: Rohena
ACT: Kirsten
Newcastle: Sim
All other support or general enquiries: Serena

4. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Today’s Session
• Overview of field education
• The Compliance Process
• Recognition of prior work experience

5. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
The Placement Subjects
Bachelor of Social Work
- HCS303 – 1st
Placement
- HCS402 – 2nd
Placement
- SWK424 – 2nd
Placement (one
semester)
Masters of Social Work (PQ)
- HCS 505 – 1st
Placement
- HCS 506 – 2nd
Placement

6. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
All subjects for Work Place Learning receive
either a
Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory

7. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Enrolling and Registering
 Enrolment commences from end of September onwards
 Upon enrolment a registration form will be emailed to you
for completion
 Please attach you resume to assist with locating a suitable
placement

8. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Key players before you start placement

9. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Negotiating your placement
Students are not to approach any agency or
negotiate their placement directly. All placements
are negotiated by CSU in consultation with
students.
From December onwards the Placement
Establishment Academic (PEA) starts sourcing
placements after reviewing the students needs

10. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Negotiating Placement
Once the PEA locates a potential placement:
Agency and students are provided with contact
details about the possible placement (Placement
Negotiation Form).
Student arranges the initial interview
Student return Placement Negotiation Form which
confirms the placement details including start date
– then you can start!

11. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Timing, Length of practicum – social work
To be eligible for AASW:
1,000 hours / 143 x 7 hour days
2 subjects to complete this – one full year of study
Each approx 72 days
=14 weeks full time
=6 months at 3 days per week
=6.25 months at 2 days per week with a 2 week block at
each end
Minimum 40 days
Must complete total 1,000 hours overall

12. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Type of practicum
 AASW:
At least 2 fields of practice
At least 2 practice settings
 Direct: Clinical emphasis casework,
counseling, interpersonal skills
 Indirect: Community
development/policy/research emphasis
 Group work – may be either direct or indirect,
depending on focus
 Mixed placements are fine

13. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Types of Placements
Prac 1 - focus on assessment
• must reach new graduate level in assessment (AASW
(2004) Practice Standards).
Prac 2 - intervention and evaluation
• must reach new graduate level in the AASW (2004)
practice standards.

14. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Planning Workplace Learning
1st
Placement – add new skills
• What have you always wanted to learn?
2nd
Placement – where do you want to work?
• A trial run, getting known
•(Sometimes getting what you don’t want works
best)

15. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Examples of Possible Placements
Centrelink Sexual assault
Child and family welfare services Aboriginal services
Community mental health Early childhood services
schools Disability services
Local councils Aged care
Juvenile justice Multicultural services
Youth Corrections / juvenile justice
Out of home care Housing – tenants rights

16. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Placement in student’s place of work
Employer must agree to conditions – sign contract
4 conditions apply :
Learning opportunities, sound educational processes in place
Field educator not your usual supervisor
Different tasks or project from usual work
No other workload during placement time (‘protected’ workload)
Student submits placement plan
ISSUE – boundary encounter between different identities.
Worker to student – challenge for mature aged students

17. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Prac overseas
Allowed for 2nd
placement only
Must be Group B (indirect), so ensure 1st
placement is Group A (direct)
Must be able to speak the local language
Not an option for students with RPL or PPA

18. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Key players during placement

19. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Time Frames for placement
1st
Placement and PPA Strand– Mid April onwards
2nd
Placement – commencement of the academic
year.
It is not possible to commence a placement
during Session Three (December to late February).
If you have any special needs to be taken into
account please speak with the PEA

20. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Alert
Field Ed registration deadline: end Week 1
(session one)
• No placement set up without registration forms
• You are withdrawn from Field Ed if no registration
form by end Week 1
Placement orientation plan and worksheets –
Assessment 1 – due end of Week 4
•MUST PASS ASSESSMENT 1 IN ORDER FOR
PRAC TO PROCEED

21. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Work Place learning Office
Do the following:
Registration for prac
 process placement documentation
Handle general inquiries about placement
Assist with communication between student the
field and academic staff
Please Contact
HumanServices-WPL@csu.edu.au
0269332784

22. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Establishing Compliance
In order to participate in field education, students must verify that they
have met compliance requirements.
Students may have completed these requirements when they
enrolled in the course. If not, they must begin the process on enrolment
in their first field education subject.
Be aware that some processes can take up to six months. Start
meeting compliance processes as soon as possible.
All students must complete -

23. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
All students must complete:
National Police Check
http://australia.gov.au/faq/police-criminal-history-records-check
Working With Children Check (WWCC) – Process of obtaining check
will vary between states.
For NSW the process as of 15th
June 2013 has changed and checks
must be applied for online at: www.kids.nsw.gov.au -
http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/Working-with-children/New-Working-with-
Children-Check

24. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Immunisations
The compliance process is mandatory for students undertaking a
health or associated placement.
NSW Health requires a copy of immunisation/compliance documents
prior to a student attending a placement at a NSW Health facility. If
you require a Vaccination Record Card (NSW) you can obtain this from
your local doctor, a Community Health Centre etc.
A student is likely to be refused a health practicum if they cannot meet
the immunisations/compliance requirements for NSW Health.

25. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Immunisations
The compliance process is mandatory for students undertaking a
health or associated placement.
NSW Health requires a copy of immunisation/compliance documents
prior to a student attending a placement at a NSW Health facility. If
you require a Vaccination Record Card (NSW) you can obtain this from
your local doctor, a Community Health Centre etc.
A student is likely to be refused a health practicum if they cannot meet
the immunisations/compliance requirements for NSW Health.

26. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Contact for questions about compliance
Please consult your doctor about your immunisation record, and for
specific questions on vaccinations needed or immunity, please contact
Coleen Pearce.
Coleen Pearce, CSU
Health Promotion Officer / Student Services Office
Email: copearce@csu.edu.au
Tel: 02 6933 2263
NSW Health website:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/resources/publichealth/immunisation/ohs/
pdf/Student_kit.pdf

27. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Alert
Please retain all your documentation.
Copies of health information are forwarded to the
WPLO for submission to NSW/ACT Health etc
Only Document No’s are required for Police and
Working with Children Checks

28. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Alert
It is the students responsibility to have originals
available for the placement staff to sight
Suggest students compile a placement folder or
portfolio
Review subject outline for further detailed
information
Refer to the school website

29. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Preparing for placement
Activity:
Break into pairs for ten minutes. Discuss the
following:
•Fears and concerns
•Skills and knowledge

30. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Preparing for the work place
Why is Emotional Intelligence Important at Work?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM_aLgYVuEY

31. DIVISION OR SCHOOL
Questions ?