SWiS for School Staff
University partnerships
The SWiS model, is a sustainable program, and is reliant on the availability of university social work students throughout the school year.
So far, evidence from project outcomes suggests the SWiS approach assists school students to participate better in their learning. School students and staff have reported positive influences from having of social work students at the schools. Evidence shows that a consistent social work presence in the school is better for school students through ongoing support and relationships.
We believe that by establishing long-term partnerships between UNE and other universities we will be able to continue to fill social work student placements, as part of the SWiS program, to partnering schools.
Other benefits from the program
Social Work students have the opportunity to broaden their experience in the ‘outback’ and immerse themselves in the school and local communities.
Local communities will experience the long-term benefits of the SWiS program.
One long-term potential outcome of the SWiS program is to re-establish the Social Work profession back into NSW public schools.
Additionally, the social work profession will be further recognised as being ideally suited to assisting school communities’ reach their full potential and capacity.
SWiS locations
Originally, participating schools have been in rural or remote areas of New South Wales. The SWiS program is well established in the Hunter New England Region of NSW.
The program has expanded to include schools in the Central West of NSW, Western and South Western Sydney, Wollongong, Northern Rivers, North Coast and Newcastle.
University student supervision
Student supervision in the schools meets university requirements. When the SWiS program is fully established, the aim is to have qualified social workers to supervise university students. If you do not have a qualified social worker on staff, one will be allocated to meet the university requirements of 1.5 per week.
