Units / SWM5005
SWM5005 · Supervised professional practice 1
2026 Handbook18 credit pointsLevel 5Social Work
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
This unit will assist you in developing the essential knowledge and skills necessary for a career in the field of social work. It involves hands-on training in different practice areas and includes a minimum of 500 hours of supervised field education. This practical experience will give you the opportunity to observe, engage, and assess the role of social work within a health or human services environment. Assessments are designed to support your growth as a professional in the field, encouraging you to become a lifelong learner and an ethical reflective practitioner in a real-world setting.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Caulfield | First semester (extended) | Teaching mostly conducted outside of a classroom/campus environment (IMMERSIVE) |
| Caulfield | Second semester (extended) | Teaching mostly conducted outside of a classroom/campus environment (IMMERSIVE) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Learning agreement (1,500 words) (Pass/fail) | Artefact | — | Competency |
| 2 | Mid placement report (1,500 words) (Pass/fail) | Work integrated | — | Competency |
| 3 | End of placement report (1,500 words) (Pass/fail) | Work integrated | — | Competency |
| 4 | Critical reflection 1 (1,500 words) (Pass/fail) | Written | — | Competency |
| 5 | Critical reflection 2 (Pass/fail) | Presentation | — | Competency |
| 6 | Critical reflection 3 (1,500 words) (Pass/fail) | Written | — | Competency |
| 7 | Supervision record (1,500 words) (Pass/fail) | Artefact | — | Competency |
| 8 | Supervision hours timesheet (500 words) (Pass/fail) | Artefact | — | Competency |
| 9 | Placement hours timesheets (500 words) (Pass/fail) | Work integrated | — | Competency |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
prerequisite
prohibitions
- SWM5103 — Supervised professional practice 1
Learning outcomes
- Explain and apply the AASW Code of Ethics to the practice context or setting.
- Explain the impact of colonisation and institutionalised racism on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and identify culturally safe practices.
- Use a range of social work knowledge, assessment and strategies appropriate to the area of practice and apply culturally responsive principles.
- Explain and apply respectful and inclusive practices in regards to culture and diversity.
- Apply theory, legislation, research and policy frameworks to practice situations experienced whilst on placement.
- Apply contextual information to holistically assess risk, needs, strengths, goals and preferences of people.
- Explain a beginning social work professional identity within the realm of the agency or area of practice.
- Summarise the content of structured supervision sessions, professional development and identity and enact feedback received.
- Identify and address where to strengthen practice and attend professional development activities.
Workload
You are expected to attend up to 14 hours of integrated seminars with the Field Education team throughout your placement. Up to 7 hours will be within the first 250 hours of placement and the other remaining 7 hours will be in the second half of placement. As an immersive learning experience, this involves 500 hours of placement in an organisation.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 14 hours |
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