Simply the West – Social Work Study Tour

“Simply the West” – Social Work Study Tour

Between 1-5 June 2009, 21 Social Work students of CSU and senior lecturer Bill Anscombe travelled to Broken Hill, Wilcannia and White Cliffs as a social work study tour. The aims of the tour included exposing Social Work students to rural and remote practice; developing a social work identity; supporting the work of the student club and developing a succession plan; undertaking school visits to remote High schools as an equity strategy; and participating in a large-group reflective experience.

Social Work organizations have difficulty in attracting, recruiting, and developing employees in rural Western NSW. This difficulty partly arises from the perceptions of those that have not experienced rural and remote practice. The tour exposed students to rural and remote practice and the opportunities and variety of social work available in western NSW. The study tour was designed to give students an experience in community development; experience in group work and residential living; a field education opportunity; the opportunity to consider rural and remote practice; increase the awareness by students of the innovative practices in social work; to consider the integration of casework, group work and community development in varying situations; and to market social work and CSU to year 11-12 high school students in Broken Hill High Schools.

Students taking a break from the rigours of academic life – Buckle up folk!

The program involved visits to, and presentations from social workers (and others) in Community Corrections; the NSW Department of Community Services; a visit to, and tour of, a working prison including a mobile prison; a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service including their outreach clinics in remote locations with dental, mental health and other health care; a visit to the COAG-initiated and Indigenous controlled Maari Ma Health Service with a focus upon preventative and early intervention health services; and a visit to the Central Darling Shire Council with a focus upon “whole of community development”. Additionally, the program involved two High School visits. The social activity/recreation program included a visit to the Sculptures, the Pro Hart Art Gallery, a camel ride, a visit to Silverton (where the “Mad Max” movies were filmed), a sunset at the Mundi Mundi plains (one of seven places in the world where the earth is so flat that the curvature of the earth is visible); an astronomy tour; and a night in the White Cliffs underground motel.

Social Work discussion group

Student comments included:

“The trip was great. I cannot believe how much I actually enjoyed the whole trip. It has opened my eyes up in regards to what fields I would like to go into in my profession and what they actually involve. I loved the atmosphere in the different communities that we visited, I would definitely consider moving over to western New South Wales. It was the best experience”

“I enjoyed every moment of the trip. I really enjoyed the diversity of services and organisations that we went to. It really has opened my eyes to what social workers can do, where we can work, and the working environment”.

“My favourite part of the trip would probably be going to Probation and Parole and the gaol. I had no idea really about what goes on from those workplaces and it has really spiked my interest and I would definitely consider going out there, especially to the health centre.”

“The trip was amazing. I found the most interesting parts the gaol and the corrections services, and it made me seriously consider one day working in that area, which I have never really thought about before. I learned about what rural and remote areas really look like - that's the most 'outback' I've ever really been, and that was definitely an experience in itself. I think I would consider one day finding employment in an area like that. I think going to the schools was also a positive experience for me and for the school students - if I had that kind of opportunity to talk to uni students when I was in high school it would have been so helpful. The trip definitely provided me with another perspective of social work in rural and remote areas, one which I have never really been exposed to before. I don't even have anything to say that I think needs improving on the trip, it was fantastic”. 

“I would just like to say that the trip was absolutely fantastic and I had the best time imaginable. The trip has certainly helped me to think about social work and has reassured me that this is the profession in which I want to work.”

“Many thanks AGAIN for such an amazing, eye opening, exciting, informing, challenging, educational, inspiring and unforgettable experience out west. I found that I was excited by things that I thought I wouldn’t find exciting, I was challenged by ideas that were different to my own. I was introduced to some amazing people from some amazing places and my view of the west will never be the same! Being exposed to a range of services gave me an invaluable taste of life as a social worker and I feel that any social work student would benefit largely from such an experience (especially us first and second years who have not yet been on a prac). After hearing from real people in a 'face to face' situation about the daily happenings of their services, I am definitely considering work in rural and remote Australia. Text books, lectures and internet surfing could never match the gains that I have received from this awesome experience. I truly hope that trips like this will continue, and I am more than interested in participating again. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you”.