Supporting high-quality student placements in the community services sector

VCOSS has been funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to undertake a research project that focuses on addressing challenges in the supply and quality of student placements in the community services sector.

Practical placements are a mandatory component of accredited social work and community services qualifications, and help students build applied and workplace skills, connect theoretical knowledge to real-life problems, and facilitate transition to employment.

However, employers can find it difficult to accommodate the number of student placements. An insufficient supply of placements is a barrier to coursework completion and constrains the pipeline of new workers to the community services sector.

VCOSS is interested in hearing about the challenges your organisation faces in supporting the supply of high-quality student placements and discussing solutions that will make things better for community sector organisations.

Our focus is on the following qualifications:

• Master of Social Work
• Bachelor of Social Work
• Diploma of Community Services
• Certificate III in Individual Support

Questions about this consultation process? Please contact Charlotte Newbold, Policy Advisor at charlotte.newbold@vcoss.org.au.

Update on Auslan

Due to high demand, Victoria is experience a shortage of Auslan interpreters.

VCOSS strives to ensure our events are inclusive to everyone and will do our best to secure Auslan interpreters on the day.

To help us do this, if you require Auslan for this event, please RSVP as soon as possible.



About the Victorian Council of Social Service
VCOSS is the peak representative body for Victoria’s social and community sector, and the state’s leading social advocacy organisation. We work towards creating a Victoria that is fair, just and inclusive. A society where nobody is trapped by poverty, and everybody is supported to live a life of wellbeing.

Visit vcoss.org.au
Subscribe to emails 
Join VCOSS