Learning to ‘Think on Our Feet’: Producing a New Digital Resource for Teaching Social Work Students about Reflective Decision-making in Child Protection Practice in Australia

Abstract

This paper outlines an innovative approach to preparing students for practising in situations in which they are facing disclosures of abuse and neglect involving child protection. Funding was made available following a successful grant from The Australian Government (Office of Learning and Teaching) to produce a series of filmed case scenarios in a bachelor of social work degree. The design of the case scenarios draws from Lipsky’s theorising about the use of discretion by human service practitioners and is guided by authentic learning principles. In higher education embedding online digital resources depicting complex decision-making is an underutilised teaching technique rarely included in the social work curriculum. The methodology for the project involved interviewing experienced child protection social workers about their practice to assemble composite case studies. The case studies aimed to demonstrate the application of theory and legal principles in practice to enable students to build confidence in using discretion in their fieldwork placements. Through authentic learning opportunities in the final year of a bachelor of social work degree, the wider intention was to promote resilience and work readiness when students go out to work in rural and remote communities in Australia. The implications for social work education are discussed.

Keywords:

• social work
• authentic learning
• human service organisations
• child protection
• ethical judgement
• social work education
• reflective practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Australian Government (Office of Learning and Teaching).

Notes on contributors

Margaret Pack

Margaret Pack's research interests include discretionary decision making and clinician theories of self care. Previously from New Zealand, she now resides in Sydney, Australia. Correspondence to: Associate Professor Margaret Pack, Deputy Head of School Allied Health, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, Australia. Email: [email protected]