Term

Definition

Agency

The organisation where placement will be undertaken. Also referred to as ‘partner agency.’

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)

The AASW is the professional representative body of social workers in Australia and the accreditation body for professional social work courses in Australia.

Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS)

The ASWEAS set out the principles, standards, and graduate attributes for social work education in Australia.

Briefings

Compulsory sessions that provide key information about Field Education prior to placement.

Canvas

Canvas is RMIT’s Learning Management System (LMS).

Agency

The organisation where placement will be undertaken. May also be referred to as partner or host organisation.

Placement Cancellation

Process for managing suspension or cancellation of placement.

Equitable Learning Plan (ELP)

The ELP establishes how RMIT can provide ongoing assistance to students with a disability, long-term illness and/or mental health condition.

Field Education

The course within the Social Work program where students undertake placement.

Field Educator (Onsite)

A qualified agency-based social worker, with a minimum of two years’ practice experience. They provide social work supervision through the placement agency and are primarily responsible for the student’s Field Education.

Field Education Coordinator (FEC)

Refers to the academic coordinator of the Field Education program. They are responsible for the coordination and administration of placement activities for students in the course.

Field Education Liaison Officer (FELO)

An RMIT-appointed qualified social worker with a minimum of five years’ experience. They provide support to the student and Field Educator. The Field Education Liaison Officer completes a Liaison Recording Sheet for each of their liaison visits.

External Field Educator (Offsite)

A qualified social worker appointed by RMIT with a minimum of two years’ practice experience. They provide student supervision and are primarily responsible for the student’s Field Education where no agency-based Field Educator (see ‘Field Educator’) is available. A Task Supervisor must also be allocated (see ‘Task Supervisor’) in this instance.

Final Review

The Final Review (within the Learning and Assessment Report) confirms that the required level of practice competency has been achieved.

Global, Urban and Social Studies Work Integrated Learning (GUSS WIL)

The team of professional staff who provide administrative support for WIL activities across the School.

InPlace

InPlace is a web-based software system that provides Social Work students with an overview of their placement information, an upload portal for compliance checks and a submission point for applications in the Nomination Period.

Integrative Seminars

The Integrative Seminars are a Field Education course requirement and are held during placement to assist students to analyse their practice and critically reflect on their placement experience.

Learning and Assessment Report

The Learning and Assessment Report outlines specific learning goals and performance expectations for a student’s placement. The Learning and Assessment Report guides the student learning and assessment on placement and is aligned with the AASW Practice Standards and Accreditation requirements.

Mid-Placement Review

An assessment completed mid-way through a placement to track student progress and refocus learning for the remainder of the placement if required. This involves the student, Field Educator, Liaison Officer, and Task Supervisor (where appropriate).

Students complete their PPF via Smartsheet to assist the Field Education team in the placement allocation process. The PPF provides a snapshot of each student’s relevant personal details and learning goals. The PPF is for internal purposes only.

PebblePad

PebblePad is an online platform which houses the Field Education 1 and 2 workbooks. Each workbook contains the Learning and Assessment Report, student checklists, Placement Hours and Supervision Recording Sheet, and Liaison Recording Sheets.

Placement Hours and Supervision Recording Sheet

The Placement Hours and Supervision Recording Sheet is a document on PebblePad where placement hours and supervision times are recorded. This is signed off by the agency supervisor at the mid and final placement stages.

Police Check

A compulsory statutory criminal history check.

WIL Ready Module

An optional RMIT training module to prepare students for Work Integrated Learning.

Recognition of Prior Learning refers to credit for a course, which is granted based on prior experience. RPL is only granted for the first placement for students who have significant work experience in the human services sector.

An overarching agreement between RMIT and an agency that usually applies to all placements with the agency (or area within the agency).

Primary software platform utilised by Social Work Field Education team to collect student and placement information, allocate students to placements, and send the placement confirmation email to all parties. 

Compulsory pre-placement readiness modules reviewed via Canvas.

An online agreement that records placement details completed by the student and endorsed by the agency supervisor, then signed off by the Field Education Coordinator.

Supervision is an essential learning process for social work placements, offering educative and administrative support and critical reflection. Refer to ‘Supervision’ in Part B regarding supervision requirements.

A supervisor within the agency who is either not a social worker or is a social worker with less than two years’ experience. They provide day-to-day supervision.

A term used by RMIT to describe workplace learning.

The Victorian WWCC is a compulsory screening process for assessing or reassessing people who work with or care for children in Victoria.

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