Off campus learning Workshop Wednesday 18 th February 2009 SWK4560 Fieldwork Melbourne placements and Skills Coordinator: Stephanie Vrionis Room C4.04 Tel (03) Fieldwork Coordinator: Marija Dragic Room C4.02 Tel (03) du.au Rural and Interstate placements:

2 AASW and Monash requirements Prerequisite SWK4430 – Theory and Skills Full time or Part time (minimum 3 days)‏ Only ONE placement can be work based Only ONE placement can be with a task supervisor At least ONE placement in direct practice Two different fields of practice, different client groups

3 Issues for Consideration Think about taking a placement based away from where you live Learning needs – recommendations for further focus from 3 rd year fieldwork Fields in which you would like to gain experience and skills Balancing placement with the rest of your life –Work commitments –Travel time

4 Field Education Paperwork Police Checks National Police Check required annually The current volunteer fee for this service is $17. Online police check application form for the student concession rate. ce-checks.htmlpolice check application form ce-checks.html –It has Cathy Barnett's signature on it in section 7

5 Field Education Paperwork When you receive NPC: Download and complete the verification/permission formverification/permission Bring or post original NPC and verification/permission form to Fieldwork Admin for sighting and signing by Dr. Max Liddell, Marija Dragic or R&I coordinator The verification form will be kept on file The NPC will be returned to you

6 Field Education Paperwork Working With Children Checks Victorian students working with children must obtain a WWC prior to placement Download WWC form and verification form check.html WWC ID card and verification forms must be sighted by faculty Interstate students should refer to SW website for details of WWC requirements in their state

7 Field Education paperwork BEFORE YOU COMMENCE 1.National Police check and verification form 2.WWCC (or equivalent) and verification form 3.Pre placement form 4.Consent form Must be received by the Coordinator

8 Nuts and Bolts RURAL AND INTERSTATE PLACEMENTS Review of finding placements Use contacts Community services guide for the Local Government area If the first person can’t offer a placement, ask if they know who might Get the paperwork in early; ask if you are not sure

9 Nuts and Bolts MELBOURNE-BASED PLACEMENTS Do NOT contact agencies Marija Dragic and Stephanie Vrionis will compile a preference form This list will be put into groups such as: –Families –Clinical –Education –Youth –Counselling, and more Preference form will be ed to you, return by 12 MARCH

10 Nuts and Bolts MELBOURNE-BASED PLACEMENTS Submit your 3 preferences Fieldwork team will then secure placements according to preferences Some will get 1 st preference – some won’t We will answer questions and provide lots of detail in at Briefing sessions (July/August)‏ Interview Secure placement (Complete Appendices D&E)‏

11 Meeting with potential supervisor Read up on organisation ie annual report, websites etc Reflect on why you want to do a placement at chosen agency; what are your learning goals; what skills, values and knowledge do you want to attain through the placement; what skills do you have What are your expectations from supervisor, supervision arrangements, practical arrangements ie desk; phone What are expectations from the university

12 OVERSEAS PLACEMENTS INDIA PHILIPINES SOUTH AFRICA

13 INDIA and the PHILIPINES Seminars at RMIT –Wednesday, pm, RMIT Building 8, level 7, meeting room 6 –10 March; 14 April; 19 May Community development work Student unit (pairs or 4’s) SzSxYQ

14 SOUTH AFRICA Oxfam projects Direct practice work in counselling service working with Monash African students Child and Youth development degree good on-campus accommodation in Johannesburg Available September

15 Next workshop June workshop will cover: What are the required pieces of documentation throughout the placement and why we need them How to write a learning agreement What to expect from supervision –Types of supervison –Role of supervisor –Role of student

16 Additional information You will receive a fieldwork manual – this outlines (almost) everything you need to know The website has all the forms you need for placement AASW website has the educational standards and expectations of fieldwork

17 Reflections and comments Any thoughts, suggestions, lessons learned from last year?

18 GOOD LUCK – enjoy, learn and have fun Questions, comments, applause…