A Policy Proposal by Per Capita for the Australian Council of Heads of Social Work Education
There is a growing body of research highlighting the issues students face in completing degrees in social work.
The requirement to undertake 1000 hours of unpaid field education – equivalent to six months’ full time work – is contributing to a low completion rate despite the demand for social workers increasing.
In its White Paper, Working Futures, the Federal Government acknowledged this problem, noting that:
The requirement to undertake unpaid practicum placements discourages many student in care and teaching professions from enrolling and completing courses. The government will undertake scoping work on approaches to mitigate financial hardship placed on tertiary students completing unpaid mandatory practicum placements as part of studies in care and teaching professions.
It is critical that government consideration of the appropriate policy response is informed by pedagogical expertise within the social work education sector and representatives of the social work workforce, and not left entirely to bureaucratic processes removed from the experience of social work students, employers and the communities they serve.
The Australian Council of Heads of Social Work Education (ACHSWE) commissioned Per Capita to analyse various options to recompense social work students for the hours of mandatory workplace payments at an equivalent rate to the minimum wage.
It is hoped this proposal will be carefully considered by the Government as it undertakes the necessary scoping work to mitigate the often severe financial hardship experienced by students in this most critical field of social assistance and care.
It is critical that government consideration of the appropriate policy response is informed by pedagogical expertise within the social work education sector and representatives of the social work workforce, and not left entirely to bureaucratic processes removed from the experience of social work students, employers and the communities they serve.
The Australian Council of Heads of Social Work Education (ACHSWE) commissioned Per Capita to analyse various options to recompense social work students for the hours of mandatory workplace payments at an equivalent rate to the minimum wage.
