Social Work Education Practice Group

Contact Convenors

Inez Chambers - inezchambers@icloud.com
Linette Hawkins - ann.linette.hawkins@gmail.com

Purpose

Critique social work education standards in changing context with focus upon local history and challenges in fluid community and human service industry

Background

The social work education group began in 1999 as one of the Special Interest Groups affiliated with the Victorian Branch of the A.A.S.W. We operated with a main objective to increase interaction and collaboration between social work practitioners, field educators and schools of social work in order to reflect on common trends in social work practice.

Meetings during the first year centred around social work practice in the year 2000 and beyond. In conjunction with the AASW we organised the launch of ‘Transforming Social Work : Post Modern Critical Perspectives ‘, co-edited by Jan Fook and Bob Pease.

Since then our aims have broadened to provide a “constructive critique of social work education in changing context, with a focus upon local history and challenges in the community and. Human service industry” (Report to AASW Vic Branch 2018).

With this more inclusive framework we have been drawing attention to various factors in social work education. Examples of other projects undertaken by our group include the following;

Consumers Research Project (2001) in conjunction with a reference group (RMIT) exploring how consumers of social work services might contribute meaningfully to social work education programs.

A Lyra Taylor grant ( 2004) funding interviews carried out by Jane Wexler leading to publication of a small book “The Chancellor , CEO, Consultant, Director, Publisher and President - People in Significant positions reflect on their social work education” (2007 AASW Vic & Flat Chat Press, NMIT)

Proposed changes to the AASW Constitution regarding a “Pathways” approach to social work education led to organising a meeting (9 June 2011) with other relevant networks, to raise awareness of the potential impact of this upon social work education and the social work profession in Australia.

We welcome new members who are interested in social work education and have current knowledge in the field to join our group. This may be a particular interest to social worker practitioners and student supervisors alike.

Upcoming Events

Meetings are generally held bi-monthly, following dinner, at 6.30pm at Graduate House , University of Melbourne ; 220 Leister Street . Carlton-3053 - DATES TBC