Research Pathway Social Work Practicum unit (HGW606)

Introduction

This unit is the final placement in the social work degree and serves as a key capstone experience. You will complete a minimum of 500 hours of supervised practice in an agency relevant to social work. Placements are normally undertaken on a full-time basis, although part-time arrangements may be negotiated where available. 

During the practicum, you will apply and extend advanced social work knowledge and skills, including assessment, intervention planning, ethical decision-making, critical analysis, and professional communication. You will design and implement social work methods, interventions, and strategies, and document their development, application, and evaluation. As emerging practitioners, you are expected to demonstrate increasing autonomy, professional judgement, and readiness for entry-level social work practice. 

By the end of the placement, you are required to demonstrate that you meet the standards of professional social work practice and are prepared to transition into the workforce as a newly qualified social worker. 

You are required to attend preparatory seminars in Semester 1 prior to commencing placement, as well as integration workshops during the placement period to support reflective learning and professional development. 

Summary

Unit name	Research Pathway Social Work Practicum
Unit code	HGW606
Credit points	25
College/School	Health Social Work Program
Discipline	Social Work
Coordinator	Doctor Tina Kostecki
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Postgraduate

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Learning Outcomes

• Critically evaluate and apply advanced ethical, inclusive, and culturally responsive social work practice, demonstrating professional leadership and sound judgement in complex, diverse, and uncertain practice environments. (Practice Standards 1,2,3, & 4)
• Critically analyse, synthesise, and apply a range of social work theories to inform sophisticated assessment, intervention, and decision-making in complex professional contexts. (Practice Standard 5)
• Design, implement, and critically appraise complex social work tasks, interventions, methods, and techniques, demonstrating autonomy, accountability, and evidence-informed professional practice. (Practice Standards 3, 6, & 9)
• Model, adapt, and justify advanced professional attitudes, behaviours, and communication strategies, exercising expert interpersonal competence and leadership in complex, sensitive, or high-risk situations. (Practice Standards 1, 4 &7)
• Engage in rigorous critical reflection within professional supervision, demonstrating advanced reflexivity, self-awareness, and the capacity to integrate reflective insights into ongoing professional development and complex practice decision-making. (Practice Standard 8)

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Concurrent Prerequisites

HGW609, HGW605, HGW608 and HGW631

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Students undertake at least 14 weeks FTE of placement. Placements are undertaken on a full-time basis. In some circumstances part-time placements may be negotiated, subject to availability. Full-time placements are undertaken over a period of 14 weeks. Students will also be required to attend preparation seminars prior to placement, some of these may occur in Semester 1.
Assessment	Final Placement Assessment|Mid-placement Assessment
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Cleak, H & Wilson J. 2022 , Making the Most of Field Placement, Thomson, Australia.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.