Making the Most of Field Placement.

Noble, Carolyn

MAKING THE MOST OF FIELD PLACEMENT

Helen Cleak and Jill Wilson (2004) Thomson, Australia ISBN 0 17 011 158X

At last a comprehensive resource book on field placements/practica from Australian academics. Helen Cleak and Jill Wilson have produced a detailed resource for academics, students and supervisors/field teachers engaged in field placements. This resource/text book includes a comprehensive list of materials, topics, practical examples and checklists from pre-placement to placement completion. Interspersed with detailed explanations and guides for the placement process are discussions of theory and educational and practice contexts.

The integration of theory and practice that forms the basis of the practica for all professions in the human services is significantly addressed with details for critical reflection for both the student and the supervisor. Information for teaching and learning on placement and the role and function of good, effective supervision is clearly and practically dealt with. Particularly useful is a detailed listing of teaching and learning tools from discussion to observation, supported by practical examples and guides.

The section on methods of practice (part four) gives an effective overview of types of placements from community work to rural placements, drawing out the issues and resources and information needed for addressing the particular challenges and opportunities that arise in different settings. I guess because the authors state that individual work has dominated much of the literature to date they decided to exclude this from this section. A small pity as it leaves a gap in the book as the reader has to seek this information elsewhere.

Discussing 'difference' in terms of disability; only mentioning cultural difference briefly; and not addressing indigenous knowledges at all, with an underdeveloped understanding of power and privilege is probably the book's greatest weakness. As a practical guide it is excellent, with valuable tools, charts, exercises and guides. However the more complex issues of dealing with difference and the dominant 'white' politics of much of the field curriculum is missing. As we move towards understanding difference and increasingly engage with a cross-cultural discourse it behoves those in the human services professions to take this challenge seriously and begin the hard work of rethinking field curricula that reflects the absence of indigenous and cross cultural knowledge from current normative knowledges.

Having said this I know this book will be a much welcomed and needed resource for all those involved in field placements/practica and wanting a resource guide that takes them competently and thoroughly through the process from beginning to end. A much welcomed and needed book. Congratulations to the authors.

Reviewed by Carolyn Noble, Social Work, University of Western Sydney.