Supporting students who are sexually harassed on placement
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts.v9i3.406Keywords:
sexual harassment, field education, youth workAbstract
This paper argues that if higher education institutions are going to place students at risk of sexual harassment by requiring they complete a component of their formal study on work-place based placements, then university educators have a responsibility to adequately equip and appropriately support students so they can effectively identify and respond to sexual harassment. A model from youth work field education is presented that aims to prepare graduates, agency supervisors and university-based field education staff who are capable and motivated to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in the practicum. The systemic and integrated framework recognises student’s fundamental right to safety in the workplace and attends to the constraints on students disclosing, the deleterious effects of experiencing unwanted sexual conduct, and the importance of good practices in care and support. The various components of the approach also take account of the influence of environmental factors as well as issues of educational merit. The model has general applicability to other professional practice domains and can be adapted for use by educators who appreciate the value of equipping students to effectively deal with unwelcome sexual conduct while on placement.
References
Australian Human Rights Commission (2008a) <i>Sexual Harassment Serious Business: Results of the 2008 sexual harassment national telephone survey</i>, Sydney: Australian Human Rights Commission\nAustralian Human Rights Commission (2008b) <i>Effectively Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment: A code of practice for employers</i>, Sydney: Australian Human Rights Commission\nBarlow, C. and Hall, B. (2007) What about feelings?: A study of emotion and tension in social work field education. <i>Social Work Education</i>, 26, 4, 399-413\nBarlow, C. and Hall, B. (2003a) Issues of power and resistance in social work field education. <i>International Journal of Learning</i>, 10, 2661-2668\nBarlow, C. and Hall, B. (2003b) Vulnerability in field placement: Student and field instructor voices. <i>The New Social Worker</i>, 10, 3, 6-8\nBiggs, J. (2007) <i>Teaching for Quality Learning at University</i>. (3rd ed.) Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill International\nBishop, A. (2002) <i>Becoming an Ally: Breaking the cycle of oppression in people</i>. (2nd ed.) Halifax, NS: Fernwood\nBogo, M. and Vayda, E. (1998) <i>The Practice of Field Instruction in Social Work: Theory and practice</i>. (2nd ed.) New York: Columbia University Press\nBurke, S. and Harris, R. (1996) Violence: A study of ways to support social work students in urban field placements. <i>The Clinical Supervisor</i>, 14, 2, 147-155\nCherrey Reeser, L. and Wertkin, R. (2001) Safety training in social work education: A national survey. <i>Journal of Teaching in Social Work</i>, 21, 1/2, 95-113\nChickering, A. and Gamson, Z. (1999) Development and adaptations of the seven good principles for good practice in undergraduate education. <i>New Directions for Teaching and Learning</i>, 80, 75-81\nCleak, H. and Wilson, J. (2007) <i>Making the Most of Field Placement</i>. (2nd ed.)South Melbourne, QSLD: Thompson\nCleak, H., Hawkins, L. and Hess, L. (2000) Innovative field options. in Cooper, L. and Briggs, L. <i>Fieldwork in the Human Services: Theory and practice for field educators, practice teachers and supervisors</i>. St Leonards: Allen and Unwin, 160-174\nClegg, S., Bradley, S. and Smith, K. (2006) I’ve had to swallow my pride: Help seeking and self esteem. <i>Higher Education Research and Development</i>, 25, 2, 101-113\nCooper, L. and Briggs, L. ed. (2000) <i>Fieldwork in the Human Services: Theory and practice for field educators, practice teachers and supervisors</i>. St Leonards: Allen and Unwin\nCooper, L., and Orrell, J. (1999) The practicum: The domestic work of university teaching. <i>HERDSA News</i>, 21, 2, 6–9\nDepartment of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (2008) <i>Administration Guidelines</i>. Retrieved 10 February 2010, <a target="_blank" href='http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/higher_education/programmes_funding/forms_guidelines/hesa_guidelines/administration_guidelines.htm#Download_Guideline_documents'><http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/higher_education/programmes_funding/forms_guidelines/hesa_guidelines/administration_guidelines.htm#Download_Guideline_documents></a>\nDepartment of Education (1998) <i>Framework for Students Support Services in Victorian Government Schools</i>. Melbourne: Department of Education\nDunkel, J., Ageson, A. and Ralph, C. (2000) Encountering violence in field work: A risk reduction model. <i>Journal of Teaching in Social Work</i>, 20, 3, 5-18\nEqual Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (2010) <i>Developing a Workplace Program and Reporting</i>. Retrieved 10 February 2010, <a target="_blank" href='http://www.eowa.gov.au/Reporting_And_Compliance_LandingPage.asp'><http://www.eowa.gov.au/Reporting_And_Compliance_LandingPage.asp></a>\nEllison, M. (1996) Field can be hazardous to your well-being: Fact or fiction?. <i>The Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work</i>, 2, 1, 79-89\nFernandez, E. (1998) Student perception of satisfaction with practicum learning. <i>Social Work Education</i>, 17, 2, 173-201\nFook, J, Ryan, M and Hawkins, L. (2000) <i>Professional Expertise: Practice, theory and education for working in uncertainty</i>. London: Whiting and Birch\nFortune, A., McCarthy, M. and Abramson, J. (2001) Student learning processes in field education: Relationship of learning activities to quality of field instruction, satisfaction, and performance among MSW students. <i>Journal of Social Work Education</i>, 37, 1, 111-124\nFry, H., Ketteridge, S. and Marshall, S. (2003) <i>A Handbook for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education</i>. 2nd ed., London: Kogan Page\nGoldblatt, H. and Buchbinder, E. (2000) Challenging gender roles: The impact on female social work students of working with abused women. <i>Journal of Social Work Education</i>, 39, 2, 255-275\nKnight, C. (2001) The process of field instruction: BSW and MSW students views’ of effective field supervision. <i>Journal of Social Work Education</i>, 37, 357-379\nMaidment, J. (2003) Problems experienced by students on field placement; Using research findings to inform curriculum design and content. <i>Australian Social Work</i>, 56, 1, 50-60\nMama, R.S. (2001) Violence in the field: Experiences of students and supervisors. <i>The Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work</i>, 7, 1, 17-26\nMaypole, D. (1989) Sexual harassment of social workers at work: Injustice within?. <i>Social Work</i>, 31, 29-34\nMcCurdy, S. and Zegwaard, K. (2009) Faculty voices: What faculty think about work-integrated learning. <i>Journal of Cooperative Education and Internships</i>, 43, 1, 36-53\nMurray-Harvey, R. (1999) Under stress: The concerns and coping strategies of teacher education students. Paper presented at the Colloquium in Filed Based Education, Flinders University, Adelaide, 24-26 November\nOffice of Women’s Policy (2009) <i>A Right to Respect: Victoria’s plan to prevent violence against women 2010-2020</i>. Retrieved 10 February 2010, <a target="_blank" href='http://www.women.vic.gov.au/web12/owpMain.nsf/AllDocs/564BC2A0475C972FCA25767800143A57?OpenDocument'><http://www.women.vic.gov.au/web12/owpMain.nsf/AllDocs/564BC2A0475C972FCA25767800143A57?OpenDocument></a>\nPatrick, C., Peach, D., Pocknee, C., Webb, F., Fletcher, M. and Pretto, G. (2009) <i>The WIL Report: A national scoping study</i>, Brisbane: Queensland University of Technology\nPratt, L. and Barling, J. (1988) Differentiating between daily hassles, acute and chronic stressors: A framework and its implications. In Hurrell, J., Murphy, S. and Cooper, L. <i>Occupational Stress: Issues and developments in research</i>. London: Taylor and Francis, 41-53\nRalph, E., Walker, K. and Wimmer, R. (2007) Positive and negative aspects of the practicum: Post-interns views. <i>Journal of Cooperative Education and Internships</i>, 41, 3, 129-142\nRamrathan, S. (2005) <i>Workplace Discrimination Against Durban University of Technology (DUT) Trainees within the Hotel and Catering Industry (Masters thesis)</i>. Durban: Durban University of Technology\nRisley-Curtiss, C. and Hudson, W. (1998) Sexual harassment of social work students. <i>Affilia Journal of Women and Social Work</i>, 13, 2, 190-211\nRMIT University (2010) <i>Policy: Sexual harassment</i>, Melbourne: RMIT University\nRosenthal Gelman, C. (2004) Anxiety experienced by foundation year MSW students entering field placement: Implications for admissions, curriculum, and field education. <i>Journal of Social Work Education</i>, 40, 1, 39-54\nStanley, J. Goddard, C. (2002) <i>In the Firing Line: Violence and power in child protection work</i>. Wes Sussex, England: John Wiley and Sons\nThe Student Learning and Support Services Taskforce (2003) <i>National Safe Schools Framework</i>. Retrieved 10 February 2010 <a target="_blank" href='http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/school_education/publications_resources/profiles/national_safe_schools_framework.htm'><http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/school_education/publications_resources/profiles/national_safe_schools_framework.htm></a>\nTully, C., Kropf, N. and Price, J. (1993) Is field a hard hat area? A study of violence in field placements. <i>Journal of Social Work Education</i>, 29, 2, 191-199\nUniversities Australia (2008) <i>A National Internship Scheme: Position paper no. 3/08</i>. Canberra: Universities Australia\nVictorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (2008) <i>When is Harassment Against the Law</i>. Melbourne: Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission\nVictoria Legal Aid (2007) <i>Sexual Assault: The law, your rights</i>. Melbourne: Victoria Legal Aid\nWeisz, M. and Smith, S. (2005) <i>Critical changes for successful co-operative education</i>. Paper presented at the meeting of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia, Sydney, NSW\nYouthlaw (2007) <i>What Do I Do When...? A practical guide to the law for people who work with young people</i>. Melbourne: Youthlaw\n
Downloads
Published
2012-12-20
How to Cite
Emslie, M. (2012). Supporting students who are sexually harassed on placement. The Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 9(3), 6-25. https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts.v9i3.406
Issue
Section
Articles
License
Copyright lies with the journal. Enquiries regarding reproduction should be sent in the first place to enquiries@whitingbirch.net.
