For our first episode for 2024, Emma Dawson is joined by student advocates Ana, Mai, and Stevie to discuss Per Capita’s recent report, A Thousand Hours for Free? Ending Unpaid Placements in Social Work Education, a policy proposal Per Capita put together for the Australian Council of Heads of Social Work Education.

The requirement to undertake 1000 hours of unpaid field education – equivalent to six months’ full time work – is contributing to a low completion rate despite the demand for social workers increasing. Ana, Mai, and Stevie share their insights into the conditions social work students are enduring and how the system should change to benefit current and future students.

Read the full report, A Thousand Hours for Free? Ending Unpaid Placements in Social Work Education, here: https://percapita.org.au/blog/our_work/a-thousand-hours-for-free-ending-unpaid-placements-in-social-work-education/

Since recording this episode, the Albanese Government's announced that placements for social work, nursing, midwife, and teaching degrees will be paid! While it isn’t minimum wage, the payment will be in conjunction with any additional support payments students already receive, which is a big win for those studying in these important fields.