Welcome
Welcome to your placement within the Social Work Departments at Monash Health. Social work placements are provided in bed based; community and mental health settings across the organisation. Social Workers at Monash Health are committed to providing a supportive learning environment with diverse opportunities focusing on the development, expansion, and application of clinical and research skills.
Your Student Coordinator
Indy Fordham
Ph: 0417 665 238
E: SWstudentcoord@monashhealth.org
Contact with Clinical Agencies
Should you wish to pursue a clinical placement within social work at Monash Health please contact your Universities Field Education Department, as all enquiries of this nature need to occur between the Education provider and Placement Provider only. The Department of Health collects data on the volume and type of clinical placement activity taking place across Victoria, and there is a standardised schedule of Fees for clinical placement of students in Victorian Public Health Services. Monash Health adhere to this and work only with education partners whom we have a schedule with. This also includes queries related to work-based placements which need to be discussed with your Field Education Team in the first instance.
Upon allocation for a placement, potential students will undertake a screening phone call with the Social Work Student Coordinator followed by an interview by Monash Health social work staff prior to placements being offered and confirmed. Please ensure you prepare for your placement interview through undertaking research of the placement area you’re being considered for.
Clinical Placement Hours
Students complete a 13-14 week (65-day) placement on a full-time basis. Public holidays and weekends are not counted as part of your placement hours unless the service you’re in provide weekend shifts and this is agreed upon prior to placement commencing. Part-time placements are to be negotiated prior to allocation process however placements under four days per week are usually not offered. Placements are usually offered from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 5pm Students complete 8 hour shifts with an additional lunch break not included in this time.
Uniform
It is an expectation you will wear smart casual work attire with closed in toe/heel shoes. You will need to wear Monash Health swipe access card and University provided student name badge at all times. Please refer to Dress Code for more information.
Discipline services available at each site
Social work services are provided across bed based, community and mental health settings. Placements are offered in many varied settings; examples of which are women and children, sexual assault, rehabilitation, medical, surgical, drug and alcohol and youth, mental health and early in life mental health services The case load at each site depends on the type of service that is offered at that site.
Suggested preparation for clinical placements
After you have been offered a placement following a successful interview, please contact your allocated clinical supervisor two weeks prior to your placement to receive the relevant information on what you are required to prepare before commencing. It is recommended that you ask your clinical supervisor if there is any required reading that needs to be completed prior to commencing.
Students should understand that professional practice is grounded in Social Work theories and revise accordingly before the commencement of placement especially with theories surrounding psycho-social assessments, ecological systems theory and grief and loss theory. Students have a responsibility of familiarising themselves with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Code of Ethics, Practice Standards and the Code of Conduct for Social Work Field Education.
You can find more information in the links below: