Field education is at the heart of social work education. It's a core component of Australian undergraduate and postgraduate social work courses.
Field placements, part of field education topics, are structured learning experiences where a student is placed in an agency or community working on particular tasks under the supervision of a social worker.
The information provided here has been prepared to help students navigate the steps involved in the field education pre-placement process and into a successful and rewarding placement experience.
Prior to going on placement, students are required to prepare for professional practice in a placement organisation as well as meet university compliance requirements as detailed below.
Compliance checks are required by both the University and your host organisation. They are there to protect you and the people you work with and to ensure you are safe on placement. You cannot start placement until all you have completed all your compliance requirements and they have been verified by the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Support Team.
You should keep all original copies of documents in a safe place, as you may be asked to produce these by your host organisation.
You will not be eligible for placement until deemed fully compliant.
Activity | What you need to do |
Form / more information | Submit to |
---|---|---|---|
Fitness for placement declaration | Declare your fitness for placement by reading and acknowledging the Fitness for Placement statement on InPlace. Let the University know if you have an access plan. |
N/A | InPlace |
Student consent for placement | Read and acknowledge the relevant essential conditions around student consent for placement using the applicable form. (Please note: if you are required to undertake multiple placements during your degree, you may be required to read both student consent documents, check with your WIL Support Team if you are unsure.) | Placements undertaken outside Flinders University - Student Consent for Placement Statement (PDF) OR Placements undertaken within Flinders University ONLY - Student Consent for Internal WIL Placement with Flinders University Statement (PDF) |
InPlace |
Intellectual property for placement |
Watch the student IP declaration, then acknowledge your understanding in InPlace. |
Student Intellectual Property Statement (PDF) | InPlace |
Emergency contact |
Confirm your emergency contact details are up to date in the Student Information System. | Student System |
Police Check | You will need to provide a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC). ‘An acceptable Police Check must meet the following requirements:
|
Read the Police Check detailed compliance information listed below under further information about placement. | InPlace |
Activity | What you need to do |
Form / more information | Submit to |
---|---|---|---|
DHS Working with Children Check | We will initiate this check on your behalf. You will need to check your University email address and complete the process. Interstate students need to complete their state specific equivalent. |
DHS compliance information |
InPlace |
DHS Aged Care Sector Related Screening | We will initiate this check on your behalf. You will need to check your University email address and complete the process. Interstate students do not need to complete this clearance. | DHS compliance information | InPlace |
Safe environments - through their eyes training | Arrange to attend a safe environments training session. Upload your documents to InPlace. Interstate students need to complete their state specific equivalent. |
Department for Education safe environments training providers |
InPlace |
Activity |
What you need to do |
Form / more information |
Submit to |
---|---|---|---|
State-based Working With Children Clearance
|
Different states and territories have their own clearances required for working with children. Please refer to instructions from the WIL Support Team if you don’t already have a clearance relevant to your placement location. |
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InPlace |
State-based Mandatory Reporting |
Different states and territories have their own mandatory reporting requirements. Please refer to instructions from the WIL Support Team if you don’t already have a clearance relevant to your placement location. |
|
InPlace |
Activity |
What you need to do |
Form / more information |
Submit to |
---|---|---|---|
Immunisation Compliance Certificate |
See a GP to complete and document the necessary immunisation requirements on the Immunisation Compliance Certificate. |
InPlace |
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SA Tuberculosis Services screening for SA Health based placements |
Complete the online questionnaire and follow any instructions you receive by email from SA TB Services. Upload your questionnaire results to InPlace. IMPORTANT: Some vaccinations can interfere with the blood test that is used to screen for Tuberculosis. For this reason, you should delay any vaccinations until AFTER you have been cleared by SA TB Services, or until you have received your IGRA test results. |
InPlace |
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Sunrise EMR and PAS trainingEMR (Sunrise) training |
Complete the Sunrise EMR and PAS eLearning for Students on FLO. Access your FLO page and locate the current year module located in your additional tab section. All parts of each module must be completed before commencing the module assessment. To pass the course, you to need to score a minimum of 80% in the assessment. Acceptable evidence is a screenshot showing student name and confirmation of completion.Flinders University provides students with Sunrise EMR training via online modules in FLO. Undertake training in FLO (PDF) |
InPlace |
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SA Health Better Placed Deed Poll |
Students will have access to a range of confidential information whilst attending a placement and need to be familiar with and understand the relevant requirements of maintaining confidentiality. Students must read, understand and sign the SA Health Deed Poll. |
InPlace |
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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) |
Attend and complete a practical training course that is compliant with (or equivalent to) the HLTAID009 - Provide CPR standard. Acceptable evidence includes a certificate of completion or a letter on company letterhead stating student name and the date of completion. |
InPlace |
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Face mask fit testing |
You will be contacted to arrange a suitable time for a face mask fit test. |
InPlace |
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Influenza Vaccination |
Every current influenza season receive an influenza vaccination from an immunisation provider. Take the Influenza Vaccination Certificate with you to record your vaccination. |
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COVID – 19 Vaccination | A primary course of vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended, followed by a booster dose for those eligible, even in individuals who have had past infection. Placements within SA Health, NT Health and Aged Care may require up to date vaccination against COVID-19. |
Please upload proof of vaccination to InPlace |
InPlace |
Activity |
What you need to do |
Form / more information |
Submit to |
---|---|---|---|
Hand Hygiene | Undertake the online National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) module:
Upload the certificate |
NHHI - Complete learning module | InPlace |
Influenza vaccination |
Every current influenza season receive an influenza vaccination from an immunisation provider. Take the Influenza Vaccination Certificate with you to record your vaccination. |
InPlace |
|
COVID – 19 Vaccination | A primary course of vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended, followed by a booster dose for those eligible, even in individuals who have had past infection. Placements within SA Health, NT Health and Aged Care may require up to date vaccination against COVID-19. |
Please upload proof of vaccination to InPlace |
InPlace |
Activity |
What you need to do |
Form / more information |
Submit to |
---|---|---|---|
RRHAN-EC training for school-based placements |
Register for a plink account if you don’t already have one, and refer to the link to find out what RRHAN-EC training you need to do. |
InPlace |
Activity |
What you need to do |
Form / more information |
Submit to |
---|---|---|---|
COVID-19 Vaccination |
A primary course of vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended, followed by a booster dose for those eligible, even in individuals who have had past infection. Placements within SA Health, NT Health and Aged Care may require up to date vaccination against COVID-19. |
Please upload proof of vaccination to InPlace |
InPlace |
Activity |
What you need to do |
Form / more information |
Submit to |
---|---|---|---|
NDIS Worker Check |
Initiate your NDIS Workers Check through the DHS Website and load evidence into InPlace. Hand Hygiene Student Health Practitioners Online Learning Module. Upload the certificate. |
InPlace |
Valid for three years from date of issue
Commonly referred to as a Police Check, a National Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) is a document that lists all criminal convictions recorded against a person in the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) database. For more information visit the ACIC website.
Police Checks (NCCHCs) can be issued by:
An acceptable Police Check (NCCHC) must meet the following requirements:
Please note – if you are completing a Police Check for a Northern Territory placement, please follow the instruction provided by Flinders NT or your discipline specific checklist. In the absence of this advice, follow the above instructions to complete the application form.
Students are responsible for the cost of obtaining their Police Check (NCCHC).
Students completing placements in South Australia may choose to apply for a Police Check (NCCHC) directly through their local police, or through a commercial broker. If a Police Check (NCCHC) is required urgently (e.g., sooner than 4 – 5 weeks) then it is advisable to apply online through an accredited broker that offers fast turnaround.
Police Check (NCCHC) providers:
Please note that Flinders University does not endorse these providers and cannot guarantee their turnaround times.
What happens if there are offences listed on my Police Check?
Students with criminal convictions should refer to the SA Health Criminal and Relevant History Screening Policy Directive. Students with serious criminal convictions may be precluded from placement. Students with criminal convictions are advised to meet with their course coordinator to discuss their ability to satisfy the requirements of their placement topic.
Will you accept a Teachers Registration Board (TRB) Registration Certificate?
No. The TRB undertakes a Police Check (Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check) as part of the registration process, however, no outcomes are listed on the registration certificate. You are required to obtain a separate Police Check (NCCHC).
How can I obtain a replacement Police Check?
Replacement Police Checks (NCCHCs) can sometimes be obtained by contacting the organisation that issued the original certificate. In many cases, students who have lost their Police Check (NCCHC) will need to apply for a new one.
Northern Territory (NT) Health placements and the National Police Certificate
In accordance with the NT government guidelines for clinical placements within NT Health, only National Police Certificates (NPCs) provided by police services in Australian states or territories will be accepted. NPCs issued by 3rd party providers are not accepted.
Valid indefinitely.
The Immunisation Compliance Certificate sets out the immunisation requirements for students and identifies acceptable evidence of immunity for each disease. The Immunisation Compliance Certificate must be completed by an immunisation provider, this can include General Practitioners (GPs) or Registered Nurses (RNs).
Students are responsible for:
Completing the Immunisation Compliance Certificate may require several appointments with an immunisation provider. The schedule of appointments will vary depending upon previous vaccination history and the availability of medical records. A typical appointment schedule may include:
The Immunisation Compliance Certificate must be completed by an immunisation provider in Australia. This can include General Practitioners (GPs) and Registered Nurses (RNs). Students are encouraged to utilise the Flinders University Health, Counselling and Disability service.
No. Immunity to Hepatitis B must be confirmed by blood test. For students undergoing a course of vaccinations, the blood test is to be completed 4-6 weeks after the final (3rd) dose of the vaccine.
If a student is confident of their previous vaccination against Poliomyelitis, the Poliomyelitis Statutory Declaration (PDF) can be completed and will be accepted as evidence of immunity. Students that are unsure of their vaccination history should complete a course of vaccinations.
There are several reasons why a student may not be able to fulfil the immunisation requirements:
Students who cannot be fully vaccinated/immunised for the above reasons will be required to advise the WIL Support Team as soon as possible to discuss strategies for ensuring the safety of themselves and others while on placement.
Students who refuse to be screened or vaccinated, or who refuse to provide this information to the University, are not considered as having met the immunisation requirements and will be refused a placement on this basis. Vaccination refusal will impact a student’s ability to complete their course; students that refuse vaccination are advised to meet with their course coordinator. Not applicable to Social Work students unless they are going to SA Health Placements.
Students are required to obtain an annual flu vaccination, and evidence of this may be required by your placement venue. Due to the seasonal availability of the flu vaccine, students are required to be vaccinated with the current calendar year vaccine, when it is available, usually March/April. Upload evidence on InPlace. Evidence of receiving the influenza vaccination can be recorded on the ‘influenza vaccination certificate’ link here or similar certificate utilised by the immunisation provider.
Valid for one year from date of issue.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training is completed annually. Students are responsible for organising their training through an external provider.
Acceptable training can include:
Acceptable evidence of training can include:
Course providers may include:
Find additional accredited training providers by searching for HLTAID001 courses near your location.
Enrolment in field placement topics (SOAD3102, SOAD9107, SOAD4007 or SOAD9208) is restricted until preplacement compliance requirements have been met. Students will not be able to enrol themselves into their allocated placement topics until advised.
If you have any queries, please contact swplacements@flinders.edu.au.
The AASW is the professional representative body for Australian social workers. It sets the standards for professional education and practice in social work which are set out in the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS). Social work education requires the integration of theory and practice. This is done by bringing together students, the University, placement agencies and field educator/s to work towards the shared goal of integrated social work knowledge, skills, and values. Field education in social work at Flinders aligns with the profession-specific (Social Work) Graduate Attributes (Section 2 ASWEAS 2021) and constitute ‘entry-level fitness for practice’.
The Flinders University Field Education program operates in accordance with the ASWEAS 2012 V2.1 (Revised November 2021), with particular reference to Guideline 1.2: Guidance on Field Education programs.
ASWEAS 2021, Section 4, describes field education as ‘a distinctive pedagogy for social work education. It enables students to integrate classroom learning with professional practice so that students notice and refine their ways of thinking, doing and being. Field education socialises students into the profession through immersion in real practice contexts, while allowing a constructive and reciprocal learning space to develop. Students make sense of what it means to be a social worker by developing their professional identity, integrity, and practice frameworks. Supported by field education partners in practice settings, students achieve deep learning through experimentation, reflection, feedback, and critique of practice experiences. Through this process of engagement and refinement of their understanding of their role, and of themselves as professionals, they understand the complex, changing and ambiguous nature of practice.’
The University’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Procedures, and associated Work Integrated Learning Policy, provide the framework for field education in the social work program. WIL, as defined in the policy, is a ‘broad term referring to any structured and purposefully designed learning and assessment activity in a course curriculum that integrates theory with the practice of work’. Social work placements are a form of WIL which enable students to ‘demonstrate development towards meeting required professional standards of practice, in accordance with professional accreditation requirements. Thus, while social work placements must meet the accreditation requirements set and monitored by the Australian Association of Social Workers, they must also comply with the University’s WIL Policy and Procedures. In addition, the Social Work Charter on Professional Conduct for Student Social Workers sets out the expectations for social work students in relation to professionalism and behaviour.
You are required to complete a total of 1000 hours of field education to graduate.
This will be fulfilled by undertaking two separate placements of 500 hours each.
Field placements are non-semester topics, and it is imperative that you are available to commence placement, or engage in placement related activities, at least one month before semester begins.
You are required to attend placement four days per week, which takes approximately 18 weeks (4 – 5 months) to complete your 500 hours. Bachelor and master students have different availability to attend placement due to their study timetable:
Field placements are non-semester topics, and it is imperative that you are available to commence placement, or engage in placement related activities, at least one month before semester begins.
Most South Australian students will undertake placements in the metropolitan Adelaide region. This includes the outer areas of Adelaide, such as Gawler, Victor Harbor and Murray Bridge. Some opportunities exist for rural placements. Interstate students mostly undertake their placements in their home state.
Social Work is a generalist degree. In accordance with the ASWEAS (2021) requirements, students will undertake field education experiences that enable them to demonstrate their ability to meet AASW practice standards across a range of diverse client groups and environments. This means students should expect, across two placements, to undertake their placements in different organisations, having different client groups and different methods of social work practice. Therefore, students can be placed with government, non-government, and private placement organisations, which cover a variety of fields of practice (e.g., homelessness, domestic violence, mental health, schools, and aged care) and methods of practice (e.g., working with individuals and groups, community development, social policy, advocacy, and research).
The learning that occurs during placement is supervised by qualified social workers who support students to integrate social work theory into practice. This aims to develop the skills, values, and knowledge to work effectively in contemporary social work settings. Most students are likely to have one placement with an on-site social work agency field educator and one with an external field educator (external social work supervisor) appointed by the University. If you have an external field educator, you will also have an agency supervisor to oversee your day-to-day activities.
A large proportion of placements are in the outer northern and south metropolitan areas, reflecting the areas of greatest social need. Consequently, students may be required to travel up to one and a half hours to their placement (one way), depending on public transport routes and availability. Occasionally a student may be required to travel up to two hours, but every effort is made to keep travel within one and a half hours or less. It is highly recommended that students hold an Australian driver’s licence or recognised International Drivers Licence as this is a requirement of many placement organisations, as well as having access to your own vehicle.
The College of Education, Psychology and Social Work WIL Support Team are responsible for placement compliance, matching and other pre-placement administrative tasks.
The WIL Support Team will communicate regularly with you via emails from swplacements@flinders.edu.au and the Social Work Field Education FLO site.
There will be a pre-placement information session available for students early in the Semester.
Confirmed placement matches will be communicated with students via their Flinders University email address and InPlace.
Students will need to become familiar with the University’s placement management system, InPlace. Students have their own page on InPlace, where documents and information can be uploaded and information about placements can be found. Refer to the student guide to InPlace.
Can I find my own placement?
It is against our policy for students in the Adelaide metropolitan region to organise their own placements (for many reasons, including our agreement with agencies and our responsibility to meet ASWEAS requirements). Students are asked not to contact agencies to find a placement.
Interstate Students: Conversely due to their local knowledge (and often contacts) interstate students are required to take the lead in finding their own placements with support from the WIL Support Team. For further information regarding sourcing an interstate placement, please read the Information Sheet: Interstate Student Placements found on the CEPSW Work Integrated Learning FLO site.
How does the placement matching process work and how long does it take?
It is essential that students have the opportunity to participate in a broad range of learning experiences in field education and the placement matching process takes this into account. Commonly, final placement students and those with variations to their placement will be prioritised in the placement allocation process, but this does not necessarily mean that they will be matched first.
While there are some exceptions, the placement matching process takes around 12 weeks to complete. Students will receive information about their allocated placements via InPlace and their Flinders University email.
What factors are considered in matching a student to a placement?
The placement matching process must consider multiple factors, including ASWEAS requirements, practical considerations (e.g., access plans, driver’s licence, where students live, availability of onsite social work supervision) and agency requirements. While final student interests are considered, there can be no guarantee that a student will be matched to an area of interest. Placement opportunities are entirely dependent on the pool of available placements and the matching of agency and student characteristics.
Agencies may have requirements that preclude some students from consideration. Agency requirements include: driver’s licence; minimum and maximum days a student can attend placement; dates for starting and/or completing placement; student’s level of experience; first or final placement students; after hours availability; variations in attendance (e.g. later start time); student’s communication skills; student’s undergraduate degree (some agencies will only consider MSW students with a related undergraduate degree); student’s interest in field and/or method of practice (e.g. group work); students ability to speak a particular language (e.g. Arabic).
Further, as previously described ASWEAS (2021) requires students have a diversity of learning experiences. It is therefore expected that students will be open to diverse placement contexts and fully engage in their placement learning regardless of where they are placed.
If you have considerable prior experience working in human service agencies you may be eligible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), effectively crediting you for placement. RPL will only be considered for the first placement in MSW or BSW.
The application process has two stages requiring you meet specific criteria set by the ASWEAS and demonstrate learning from your prior experience in order to be granted RPL.
You can apply for RPL at any time, but due dates are set if you intend to go on placement in the following semester. Stage 1 applications are due the end of week 5 of semester and stage 2 applications are due by the end of week 10 of semester.
If granted RPL the ASWEAS outlines conditions for a student’s final placement following RPL.
Variation requests to the placement structure will need to be approved by the relevant Field Education Topic Coordinator.
The social work program is committed to facilitating the integration of students with disabilities into the University community. Reasonable adjustments can be made for students with disabilities provided those adjustments do not compromise topic requirements and the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS).
If students have a disability that may affect their ability to successfully complete a placement, they should contact Disability Services who may be able to prepare an access plan for them.
Students with an existing access plan who have any concerns about their ability to meet placement requirements are advised to have it reviewed the semester before enrolling in a field education topic.
Students with an access plan who require accommodations in their placement arrangements should contact their Topic Coordinator and update InPlace within the student information for placement criteria.
Students are required to attend an interview with the agency they are matched to (before their placement can be confirmed). First impressions matter and students need to be professional in all communication leading up to, and during, their interview. Guidance on setting up an email signature, template email communication and how to prepare for an interview can be found in the Placement Interview Guideline module on the CEPSW Work Integrated Learning FLO site.
You will need to take copies of your compliance documents to the interview.
Agencies may confirm a placement offer at the interview, but this doesn't always happen. If you haven't heard from the interview chairperson one week after your interview, you can contact them to confirm your placement.
If you are unsuccessful at your placement interview, every attempt will be made to match you to an alternative placement agency. The ability to rematch will depend on a number of factors including the reasons for an unsuccessful first placement match, timing in the pre-placement process or semester and availability of placements.
Students must email swplacements@flinders.edu.au if they have not been successful at their interview.
If you have completed the pre-placement requirements but can no longer go on placement please contact us immediately.
Students whose placement has already commenced should advise their Field Education Liaison and/or Topic Coordinator as soon as possible, withdraw from the topic and un-enrol.
Once your placement is confirmed you will be allocated to a field education liaison (FEL). Your FEL will make contact with you within the first two weeks of you starting placement.
If you require an external field educator (social work supervisor) your FEL will provide their contact details.
The organisation of placements occurs the semester before a student’s placement is due to commence. Before students can commence their placement, they must pass pre-requisite Topics and complete various compliance and administrative tasks which are communicated to students via the CEPSW Work Integrated Learning FLO site and their Flinders University email address. Students who do not complete all pre-placement tasks within the timelines provided will not be matched to a placement.
There will be a pre-placement information session available for students early in the Semester. The WIL Support Team will communicate regularly with you via emails from swplacements@flinders.edu.au and the CEPSW Work Integrated Learning FLO site. FLO is the Flinders Learning Online platform, with a corresponding FLO site with required learning material and resources for each topic students enrol in. Students studying Social Work at Flinders University will gain access to a separate pre-placement FLO site called Social Work Field Education Placements in the semester before they are due to go on placement. Students can find the FLO Application via their Okta Dashboard. For a video resource on how to use FLO and how it will assist in your learning, please click here. Students also need to become familiar with the University’s field placement management system, InPlace. Students will have their own page on InPlace, where documents will be stored and contain information about placements. Click here for InPlace User Guide.
Where students have not been successful at their placement interview, every attempt will be made to match the student to an alternative placement agency. The ability to rematch will depend on several factors including the reasons for an unsuccessful first placement match, timing in the preplacement process or semester and availability of placements. Students must email swplacements@flinders.edu.au if they have not been successful at their interview.
All forms can be found on the CEPSW Work Integrated Learning FLO site.
Email: swplacements@flinders.edu.au
Phone: 8201 5410
Education Building front office (level 4)
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
CRICOS Provider: 00114A TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12097 TEQSA category: Australian University
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