Child Protection Student Placement program transcript
The Department of Human Services offers students who are studying a relevant
qualification the opportunity to complete their student placement in our various
service areas including:
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Youth Justice
Disability
Housing
Child Protection
The Child Protection Student Placement program has been running for well over
10 years. It provides students with first hand experience of how the Victorian
child protection service investigates and responds to reports where children or
young people may be at risk of significant harm caused by abuse or neglect
within their family.
Students will get to see how our dedicated child protection practitioners assess
risk and make real, albeit difficult decisions, that have significant impacts on the
trajectory of a child and family’s life.
The relationship between the practitioner and a child is CRITICAL to making a
positive difference. Listening to a child’s story and responding to their complex
needs is paramount
Students will not only see the challenges of the role but also what an incredible
privilege it is to enter the lives of vulnerable children and their families.
Under close, professional supervision students will also get to participate in the
investigation and assessment of children at risk of harm by going out with their
supervisor or another worker to attend home visits, where they will get to hear
the child’s story and take case notes and later record these onto our database.
They will also be involved in putting forward their views and theories regarding
the structure of a case plan and how they see it moving forward. So this provides
students with the opportunity to put their theory into practice and see how our
work is informed by the most contemporary empirical literature and international
research evidence.
Students will likely have the opportunity to attend court and observe the role of
the practitioner in this setting.
They will also engage in tasks and experiences that are relevant to their learning
and will further develop their skills, knowledge and competency that will prepare
them well for a career in child protection or a career in another social welfare
setting. This may include attending meetings with other child and family services
professionals, transporting clients; the supervision of access.
It’s important for students to recognise that will always be in a protected learning
environment. They will be with another worker or their supervisor when
conducting these visits or attending court and they will always be guided,
supervised and debriefed when required whether it’s informal (in the car on the
way to or from a visit) or formally back at the office.
They WILL BE PART OF A SUPPORTIVE TEAM ENVIRONMENT AND WILL RECEIVE
QUALITY SUPERVISION
Our supervisors are experienced practitioners who are passionate and have
volunteered to supervise students. They have no less than 2 years of practice
experience.
Our supervisors support students to meet the requirements of their course
learning agreement
Students will be orientated into the workplace and will be have the opportunity to
attend student placement seminars held at our central office in Melbourne where
they will get to meet key staff members and other students completing a student
placement.
To enter the CPSPP we want students who enjoy a dynamic learning environment
and who thrive on challenge. We want students who are passionate about
protecting children students who are resilient and highly reflective on what
they’re seeing and learning.
Students must be studying a recognized qualification and the student placement
must be a requirement of the qualification or unit they are studying.
We take on students who are in their second last or final year of a behavioural or
welfare related degree that includes units of study in child development, human
behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma. These are usually social
work, psychology or social science degrees.
Students in their final year of a recognised Diploma of Community Services Work
or equivalent diploma are also encouraged to apply. Students can find out more
about the education requirements on our student placements webpage.
Students must also have a current and valid driver’s licence, a National Police
Check current to the year of placement and a WWCC
For students interested in applying for the CPSPP they should
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Speak to their fieldwork coordinator at their education institute and
discuss the possibility of completing their student placement at the DHS
With DHS offices situated across the state students can select to complete
their placement in a metropolitan, regional or remote setting.
Students can apply directly by completing the online application on our
student placements webpage or education providers can apply on behalf of
their students by downloading and emailing the Bulk student placement
application form that’s also available on the student placements webpage
Students will also be required to submit their resume.
Students may be asked to attend a pre-placement Interview with either
our Student placement coordinator or their potential supervisor.