CQUniversity Unit Profile
SOWK13009 Fieldwork Education 1
Fieldwork Education 1
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All details in this unit profile for SOWK13009 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

Social Work Field Education 1 is the first of two fieldwork placements that you are required to complete. You will complete onsite, agency-based interactions and learning tasks in a practice context supervised by an approved agency worker. You will participate in the range of activities, tasks, and processes that the agency encompasses by negotiation with the supervisor and subject to agency rules and procedures. During the first placement you are invited to consolidate and apply your learning from the first two years of study within an agency placement context. You will observe other workers, participate in the operations of the agency and should be able to critically analyse and articulate your developing professional practice framework within the context of the field placement. A Field Education Manual will guide you through the placement process, providing a detailed framework and administrative arrangements, including attendance and assessment requirements, as well as roles and responsibilities of all parties. The manual outlines the inherent requirements and performance expectations based on the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Practice Standards and ASWEAS General and Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes. You are required to attend the compulsory residential school associated with the co-requisite unit, SOWK13010, and participate in designated call-back sessions.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 18
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.375

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisites: Students must have completed all first and second year units before attempting SOWK13009. Corequisite: SOWK13010 Integrating Theory and Practice I.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2026

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Website

This unit has a website, within the Moodle system, which is available two weeks before the start of term. It is important that you visit your Moodle site throughout the term. Please visit Moodle for more information.

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 18-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 37.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 450 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Regional Campuses
Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Metropolitan Campuses
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Professional Practice Plans (learning plans)
Weighting: Pass/Fail
2. Presentation
Weighting: Pass/Fail
3. Learning logs / diaries / Journal / log books
Weighting: Pass/Fail

Assessment Grading

This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.

CQUniversity Policies

All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

You may wish to view these policies:


This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from SUTE

Feedback

appreciated Robyns feedback/comments of my learning agreement and her responses felt encouraging and helped me feel like I was on the right track. Robyn also helped me feel prepared for placement by providing relevant information and explaining the different processes and requirements. Thank you!

Recommendation

We will continue to provide relational support and clear guidance in feedback, with a focus on ensuring students feel encouraged and well-prepared for field education.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Develop and demonstrate the integration of professional social work knowledge, skills, and values within the placement context, in alignment with the AASW Code of Ethics and AASW Practice Standards, and organisational context for practice, including adherence to legislative and policy frameworks.
  2. Reflect on your professional practice, incorporating self-care strategies, use of self in the organisational context along with problem-solving skills, and cross-cultural competency.
  3. Create opportunities to develop your skills in the assessment of clients' needs, evaluating appropriate intervention strategies using social work theoretical frameworks.
  4. Construct a professional practice framework relevant to your emerging social work practice and demonstrate its application in various contexts.

All of the learning outcomes are linked to the AASW Practice Standards.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Professional Practice Plans (learning plans) - 0%
2 - Learning logs / diaries / Journal / log books - 0%
3 - Presentation - 0%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Information for Textbooks and Resources has not been released yet.

This information will be available on Monday 16 February 2026
Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?