Switch to Social Work
Creating a contemporary, highly skilled, and diverse child and family services workforce.
Last updated: 11 Dec 2024
Vision and purpose
Switch to Social Work builds a contemporary, highly skilled, diverse, and purpose-driven child and family services workforce through a new and innovative employment-based Master of Social Work (Child and Family Practice) degree.
The Switch to Social Work program uniquely combines postgraduate education with integrated employment opportunities, allowing participants to seamlessly apply their learning in practical settings immediately.
Switch to Social Work eliminates common financial barriers associated with career changers. Through the program, participants receive scholarships to cover the costs of their MSW (Child and Family Practice) tuition, providing participants with a living wage throughout their first year and secure paid employment at a Host Organisation, where they will also complete their second field placement during their second year.
Information sessions
As a host organisation, learn about Switch to Social Work’s program’s structure, available supports for CSOs, internships work and the benefits of participating.
As a potential participant, discover why you should Switch to Social Work! Learn about what it means to participate in the program as a student, the academic qualification, the support provided and eligibility.
History
Switch to Social Work is built on a partnership between the Centre, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and La Trobe University.
Recruitment of students began in October 2023, and the program welcomed its inaugural cohort of 67 participants in February 2024 across La Trobe University campuses located in Bundoora, Mildura, and Bendigo.
Impact
As Switch to Social Work is a trial of an innovative approach to developing a pipeline of qualified, job-ready practitioners for the child and family services sector, comprehensive data will be collected throughout the project’s duration; this information will be instrumental in evaluating the design, implementation, and ultimately, the outcomes achieved.
We are committed to building diversity among student applicants. The program sought consultation from community groups to inform cultural safety practices throughout the program and strongly encouraged applications from diverse backgrounds.
Drive change supporting Victorian communities
Participant details
Participants in the Switch to Social Work program will graduate debt-free and job-ready with placement opportunities across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
Switch to Social Work provides:
- A full tuition fee scholarship
- A living allowance during the first year
- An industry-standard wage in the second year
- Workplace training opportunities beyond those offered through similar qualifications
- Skills and experiences highly valued by employers
- Access to professional communities of practice
- Insights from industry leaders
- Tailored training to build your leadership and practical skills
Eligibility criteria
- Holding a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than social work
- Completion of at least one year, or equivalent, of full-time study in social science and behavioural sciences
- The right to live, work, and study in Australia
Employer details
Becoming a partner allows you to shape the future of child and family services delivery, playing a pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of social workers.
Program benefits
- Financial support, including a 25% wage subsidy for participants within your organisation
- Targeted supervisor training based on evidence-based best practice
- Engagement in communities of practice designed to shape contemporary approaches
- Access to a cohort of participants with diverse skills and experiences, driven to advance their careers in child and family services
Your organisation qualifies for participation if you:
- Provide child and family services
- Are registered under the Children Youth and Families Act, 2005, and have a service agreement with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
- Demonstrate confirmed capacity and commitment for a two-year duration
To participate, organisations must:
- Offer a 500-hour placement per year and additional employment hours in the second year
- Provide the remaining 75% salary equivalent to SCHADS 3.2 (or industry equivalent) in the second year
- Commit to providing effective supervision and participation in any mandatory supervisory training
- Engage in evaluation activities
- Provide a culturally safe and supportive environment
Switch to Social Work Gears up for Its Second Year!
17 Oct 2024
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Placement payments and HECS relief welcomed in Federal Budget announcements
10 May 2024
- Content
Switch to Social Work – The Journey Begins!
02 May 2024
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