Field education for Master of Social Work students

The MSW Field Education Manual contains detailed information on field educationwithin the MSW Program. It outlines the programs, policies, practices and expectations of the MSW in relation to Field Education.

A copy of the manual will be provided to students undertaking field education placements. Once placements are confirmed students are required to provide a copy to field educators.

• MSW Field Education Manual (PDF 515KB)

• HWSS 2113 MSW Field Education 1 Course Guide (PDF 91KB)
• HWSS 2114 MSW Field Education 2 Course Guide (PDF 90KB)
• MSW FE1 calendar checklist (PDF 103KB)
• MSW FE2 calendar checklist (PDF 58KB)

• Australian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics
• Australian Association of Social Workers Practice Standards (PDF 98KB)
• Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (PDF 331KB)

You will be advised of the process for lodging your 2011 Expression of Interest form.

• MSW Personal Information Form (PDF 94KB)
  This form is to be completed as an initial step in identifying a suitable placement.
• MSW Placement Agreement Form (PDF 142KB)
  This form must be completed and signed prior to commencement of any placement

Students undertaking a Field Education course in the School of Global Studies, Social Science & Planning are required to complete a Placement Agreement Form. This document must be signed by the student, the RMIT representative, and the Host Organisation prior to the commencement of the placement.

To ensure your field education placement is properly processed and approved please read and follow these instructions.

1. Obtain a blank Placement Agreement Form

• You can obtain a hard copy of a blank Placement Agreement Form (PAF) either from class or download a copy directly from MSW Placement Agreement Form (PDF 143KB)

2. Signature from your Workplace Supervisor

• When you visit your proposed workplace and both parties have agreed that you will undertake your placement there, complete and sign the Placement Agreement Form.
• You must obtain the signature of your workplace supervisor.

3. Submitting your form

• Submit your original hard copy form, signed by you and the Workplace Supervisor, to Social Work Field Education located in Bldg 8, Level 7, Room 38.
• Only when this form has been received by the Social Work Field Education staff and final approval granted by the relevant RMIT Field Education Coordinator, can your placement proceed.

• Some departments and organisations are obliged to carry out a Police Records Check on potential students, employees and volunteers. Students should check with potential placement organisations if a police check is required and if the student is to arrange this themselves.
• Students must complete the pre-signed police check form available from the Field Education information sessions. As an alternative, for those doing placement at other times (or who miss the session) students can arrange to collect the new form from room 8.7.38 from Louise Forthun or Pierre Hayek.
• This may be required prior to a student commencing placement.
• Students must complete the form, enclosing a photocopy of driver’s license, passport or birth certificate.
• If a conviction has been recorded against the student during the past 10 years, Victoria Police Central Records branch will advise the organisation that has requested the police check (ie. conditional upon the signed approval of student to provide the information).
• There is a charge for each police check. Student is liable for the cost of this unless agency agrees to take responsibility.

• Learning Plan Proforma (Word 171KB)
• Sample Learning Tasks (PDF 53KB)
• Factors to Consider When Seeking a Placement (PDF 64KB)
• Learning About Your Placement Organisation (PDF 57KB)
• Guide to Documenting Evidence of Learning (PDF 104KB)
• Assessing Your Preferred Learning Strategies (PDF 122KB)
• Log Sheet (Word 45KB)
  Where a flexible time plan (e.g. shorter days or half day attendance) has been negotiated and approved by your Field Education Coordinator you are required to keep a record of your hours using a Log Sheet.
  You must submit your log sheet with your Final Report

• At completion of placement students are required to submit a Final Report, details of this are contained in the MSW Field Education Manual. See below for a proforma to use for this.
• MSW Students are also required to submit a 3,000 word Critical Analysis. This is due two weeks after completion of placement.
• MSW Final Report Proforma (Word 40KB)

• Attach an Assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment (PDF 124KB) making sure you fill in the Course/Unit Code (eg. HWSS2113) and Course Name (eg. SW Field Education 1 Adv). This will ensure that your report and assignment will be identified easily.
• All sections of your final report must be submitted in one document, signed by student and field educator. If any sections are missing the report will be returned to the student.
• It is important that you keep a copy of your final report. The original will be held on file.

Choose ONE of the following methods for submitting your assignments:

1. In Person: place a hard copy in the Assignment Box at reception counter located in Building 8, Level 7, Room 38
2. Via Email (applies to Critical Analysis only) to: socialwork.postgrad@rmit.edu.au * Do not email your Final Report as it requires signatures from all parties.
3. In Class: to either lecturer or tutor ONLY if instructed to do so by the lecturer or tutor.
4. By Post addressed to:

Social Work Field Education
Building 8, Level 7, Room 38
School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning
RMIT University
GPO Box 2476
Melbourne VIC 3001

• We recommend that if you are posting your final report or critical analysis you advise by phone or email message the MSW Field Education Coordinator that it is on its way.

• When your final report and Critical Analysis has been recorded as received, it will be referred to Judy Williams (MSW Field Education Coordinator) for marking.

For further information on field education please contact:

MSW Field Education Coordinator: Ms Judy Williams
Location: 8.7.14
Telephone: +61 3 9925 3060
Email:judy.williams@rmit.edu.au