A Student’s Reflection on Participating in a Non-Traditional Social Work Field Placement During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Keywords:
Field placement, Covid-19 pandemic, Distance education, Social work education, Barriers to educationAbstract
This article outlines just some of the barriers student social workers face in accessing field placement due to the rigid requirements set by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). This article reflects on how these barriers are further exacerbated due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With field placements affected by the pandemic, many placements were altered or delayed due to office closures and social distancing requirements. This article details my experience as a student of a non-traditional field placement that was created in response to the pandemic and explores the potential for the introduction of similar placements in response to a rapidly changing world and advancing technologies. This approach has the potential to reduce barriers and increase accessibility to placement for students whilst still meeting the essential requirements outlined by Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS).
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