Re-positioning social work field education as a distinctive teaching pedagogy: An example from mental health service delivery

Authors and presenters

• Tina Kostecki, School of Social Sciences (Social Work), CALE

• Milena Heinsch, School of Social Sciences (Social Work), CALE

Summary

This presentation draws on a recently funded (2023) National Mental Health Pathways to Practice Program Pilot to demonstrate how social work field education is effectively preparing students for careers in mental health services across Tasmania.

Social work field education provides a unique opportunity for students to integrate knowledge, skills and critical thinking within the context of contemporary practice. The pedagogy of social work field education enables students to engage in a developmental learning process: demonstrating competence in applying evidence-based knowledge and theories and interventions across various levels of human service programs. This includes practice tiers such as in interpersonal, community and policy spaces.

This project is an example of how social work field education, as a distinctive pedagogy, prepares students for practice in mental health service delivery in Tasmania. Community partnerships and engagement are an integral aspect of this project to support the development of the next generation of social work graduates. Our learning from this project will be relevant for other disciplines that incorporate a placement component, but also where work integrated learning/experiences are utilised beyond allied health professions.