International graduates of Australian social work education – where are they now?

ABSTRACT

International student numbers entering Australian social work programs have consistently grown in recent years, and subsequent discourse has problematized their educational experiences. However, no known research has described this cohort after graduating or explored their post-study outcomes. An anonymous online survey was conducted with 49 recent Master of Social Work graduates from 16 Australian universities, coming from 15 countries. The study findings suggest that migration to Australia was a key motivator for respondents when enrolling in social work study, with most remaining in the country after graduating. Securing professional employment was challenging for most due to having a temporary visa status; self-reported language barriers; competition with local graduates; and unfamiliarity with the local context. Initial post-study pathways were shown to be distinctly challenging for this cohort, due both to an individual sense of difference and to systemic barriers connected to migration policy and locally held biases. Despite this, many graduates persisted in their pursuance of a social work career. Further in-depth examination of the transition from international student to practitioner is required to understand the post-study experiences for this graduate cohort. Such information can also contribute to more inclusive settings in social work education where international students’ capacities are more widely recognized.

KEYWORDS:

• Social work education
• newly qualified social workers
• employment
• migration
• international students
• student mobility

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Professor Rosemary Sheehan for suggestions made in an earlier draft of this report.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author [L.B]. The data are not publicly available due to information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Notes

1. While a notable decline in numbers has been observed in 2020 due to international border closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, an existing cohort of international students has presumably remained in Australia to continue their studies. While the outcomes of the pandemic are yet to be realized, international students may return to Australian universities given the pandemic’s lesser impact on the country, compared to other popular destination countries.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program [RTP] scholarship.

Notes on contributors

Lana Battaglia

Lana Battaglia is a doctoral student in Monash University’s social work department. Her research focuses on social work education, cross-cultural social work, and early social work practice.

Catherine A. Flynn

Dr Catherine A. Flynn is a senior lecturer in social work at Monash University, with research interests in international social work, social work education, and criminal justice systems.

Fiona McDermott

Assoc Prof Fiona McDermott has an adjunct position in the department of social work at Monash university. Her interests are in health, mental health, and research training. She is the editor of Australian Social Work.