THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF

WELFARE AND COMMUNITY WORKERS INC.

THE ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE PROFESSIONALS

Vic. Reg. A0036440S      ABN 28 696 828 620

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR FIELD EDUCATION

 

The following is a summary of field education requirements and recommendations for Basic Campus Approval with the Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers Inc. These requirements also apply to individual graduates of welfare work/ community services courses who apply for membership of AIWCW. Educational goals and other course requirements can be found in the Basic Campus Approval documents. This document is the result of a resolution by the AIWCW National Executive on 17th September 2005.

      

Required are:

 

1.1     Two separate field education experiences totaling at least 400 hours.

 

1.2          If only two placements are undertaken, neither should be of less than 140 hours duration

 

2.1         Professional supervision oriented to general educational goals will normally be undertaken by a social welfare worker at no less than the rate of one hour of educational supervision for every 40 hours of placement. However, other appropriately qualified and experienced staff may act as supervisors, if the nature of the placement is conducive to this. For example, if the placement is primarily community based, an experienced community worker is acceptable; if clinically based, a clinical psychologist is acceptable, etc.

 

2.2         In special circumstances (such as in a day center for the intellectual disabled), the day-to-day functional supervision may be performed by someone without social welfare work or similar qualifications, but only if in addition to educational supervision, professional supervision for at least one hour per week is performed by a suitably qualified and experienced person approved by the educational institution. Here, therefore, supervision totaling 2 hours per week is required.

           

3.1     Student attendance is expected at locations usually occupied by agency staff, and weekly days and hours are to be negotiated between the student, the college, and the agency.

 

3.2     Normally the student will be on duty during the same hours per day as the staff of the agency.

 

3.3     A placement will usually occupy the student for a minimum of two days per week, but this may be less in special circumstances, such as an elongated community development or research-based placement.

 

4.       The two required placements should not be in the same or very similar setting, field of practice, or method; they should vary significantly in at least one of these. The two separate experiences of field education may be within the same large agency, as long as they vary significantly, have two separate reports, and are supervised by different people (perhaps outside the agency).

 

5.       Visits of observation to agencies organised for groups of students by course staff will not count as field placement days.

 

6.1     One placement may be in either the student’s current workplace, or in a previous workplace, and in either case, the experience should be similar to a field education placement, with adequate professional supervision. A report by a supervisor should attest to this.

  6.2      Credit for past field education experience (Recognition of Prior Learning or RPL) can apply to any one placement, but not to more than one, and it can apply to either first or second placement.

  6.3      Applications for RPL should include a full description of duties and educational outcomes, and include a supervisor’s report which pays particular attention to educational aspects (as if it were a field education placement). The applicant’s report should be substantial (generally in excess of 1000 words).

 

6.4.1     In no circumstances can a second previous period of field experience (paid or voluntary) be counted retrospectively.

 

 

 

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6.4.2          However, in exceptional circumstances, to avoid unusual hardship to the student, a current workplace may be counted as field experience, after a previous field experience has been credited via RPL. For example, a student might be employed in one of the few social agencies in a country town, other placements might not be available, and the student’s financial situation might preclude leave from the job to engage in a traditional placement. The course leader should be satisfied that the circumstances warrant this exception, which should not be granted lightly.

 

6.4.3          In such instances the provisions of Par. 4 must be strictly observed, and the educational supervision of any current workplace experience must be independent of any workplace arrangements. This means that any workplace supervisor must not provide the provisions in Par. 2, either within the workplace or privately. A different supervisor must be engaged (at the expense of the applicant if necessary) who is willing to liaise with the course staff regarding placement requirements. A course staff member may act as such a supervisor, if available. The requirements for reporting outlined above should also apply.

 

 6.5       Some educational authorities (TAFE in particular states, e.g.) require independent external assessment of RPL applications (such as by staff at another campus). AIWCW supports this protocol, while recognising that it is not always possible because of resource limitations.

 

7.1           The Fieldwork Co-ordinator at the educational institution should have at least two years of full time experience (or part time equivalent) as a welfare worker or social worker.

 

7.2           For each placement, at least three liaison visits should be made by a suitably experienced staff from the educational institution; each visit to last at least 1.5 hours, and to include the student and field supervisor.

 

7.3           In addition, supportive and/or monitoring communication (e.g. written, person-to-person, electronic) for a minimum of a half hour per placement is required.

 

7.4           In special circumstances (such as remote locations), only two visits may be possible.

 

7.5           The purpose of the visits is to discuss the educational progress of the student and to deal with any problems which may have arisen.

 

7.6           If a student’s progress or behaviour is unsatisfactory for any reason, adequate discussion with the student and college staff should precede any action, which can include extension of the placement or a failing grade.

 

7.7           The educational institution should have an appeal process re this, for use of students; but also for college staff and supervisors, when these substantially disagree.

 

8.       An applicant who has completed a qualification which is generally very satisfactory regarding AIWCW requirements in all other respects, but which has field work deficiency, may be allowed to complete a supplementary professionally supervised field education program, after referral to the Membership Assessment Panel.

 

  9.1     Students should not be primarily responsible for finding or organising their field education.

 

9.2           Students may make informal enquiries regarding field education availability if there is some pre-existing contact with the agency, but casual contact by students with agencies (`cold calling’) should not be permitted.

 

9.3         In any case, the first formal approach to agencies should come from the educational institution.

 

9.4         Students are responsible for producing a substantial written report (usually at least 1000 words) on each field education experience after discussion of this with the field supervisor, who should read and sign it. The field supervisor may add an additional report if desired, but cannot insist upon changes to the report by the student.

 

  10.1    The educational institution should provide opportunity for field supervisors to meet as a group with staff, preferably at least once per year, to discuss the program in general, and any associated problems.

 

Further enquiries about this document may be addressed to the

AIWCW National Office

PO Box 42, FLINDERS LANE VIC 8009     Tel: 03 9654 8287     Email:   info@aiwcw.org.au          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                CRSE.04 Ver Apr08