Practice Education Coordinator - Master Of Social Work

The Orchard Talent Group; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Universal Higher Education in Melbourne is creating the practice education function for its new Master of Social Work. The role will develop placement partnerships, systems and processes to support high-quality professional placements starting November 2027.

You will coordinate student preparation, matching, monitoring and assessment, ensuring compliance with AASW and regulatory requirements while building scalable models for future growth and strong stakeholder engagement across health and

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with eligibility for AASW membership.
• Knowledge of social work education accreditation requirements.
• Experience coordinating or supervising professional placements.
• Strong industry engagement and partnership development skills.
• Sound judgement in addressing complex student or placement matters.
• Strong planning and administration with clear stakeholder communication.
• Collaborative, culturally responsive and student-centred approach.

Responsibilities

• Develop and establish the practice education function for the Master of Social Work.
• Build placement partnerships and systems for high-quality professional placements.
• Coordinate student preparation, matching, monitoring and assessment.
• Ensure alignment with AASW and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain placement agreements, records and compliance documentation.
• Develop a scalable model to support growth of student placements.
• Support students, field educators and academic staff throughout placements.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Partnership development

Placements coordination

Communication skills

Planning & administration

Student-centered approach

Education

Qualified social worker

Eligibility for AASW

Job description

The organisation

Universal Higher Education (UHE) is a TEQSA registered higher education provider based in Melbourne's CBD (PRV14288 / CRICOS 03848E). Part of Universal Learning Group and Oxford International Education Group, UHE combines the backing of a global education organisation with the agility and accessibility of a growing Australian provider.
UHE currently delivers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Information Technology and Engineering Management and is expanding into Community Services and Social Work. Subject to professional accreditation by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), its inaugural Master of Social Work intake is planned for March 2027.

The opportunity

The Practice Education Coordinator will establish the practice education function for UHE's new Master of Social Work.
Reporting to the Academic Course Manager and Head of Social Work, the role will develop the placement partnerships, systems and processes required to support high quality professional placements. With the first placements targeted for November 2027, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to build a sustainable placement model from the outset.

• Developing relationships with placement providers and field educators
• Identifying suitable placements across health, community services, government and related sectors
• Establishing placement policies, procedures, systems and resources
• Coordinating student preparation, matching, monitoring and assessment
• Supporting students, field educators and academic staff throughout placements
• Ensuring arrangements meet AASW and regulatory requirements
• Maintaining placement agreements, records and compliance documentation
• Developing a scalable model to support future student growth

About you

You will be a qualified social worker with experience in practice education, field education, student supervision or professional placements. You will understand the requirements of social work education and bring strong relationships across relevant service sectors.
Importantly, you will enjoy building new programs and partnerships. You will combine external engagement capability with the organisation and attention to detail required to establish effective placement arrangements.
you'll bring:

• A recognised social work qualification and eligibility for AASW membership
• Knowledge of social work education and accreditation requirements
• Experience coordinating or supervising professional placements
• Strong industry engagement and partnership development skills
• Sound judgement in responding to complex student or placement matters
• Strong planning, administration and stakeholder communication skills
• A collaborative, culturally responsive and student centred approach

What's on Offer

This is a rare opportunity to establish the practice education function for a new social work discipline and influence its development from the first cohort onwards.
You will work closely with academic and executive leaders in a collaborative, well governed and growing higher education provider. The role offers genuine scope to shape UHE's placement network, operating model and student experience.

Applications close Sunday 20th September.

Please note applicants must have a legal right to work in Australia.

Universal Higher Education (PRV14288 / CRICOS 03848E)

The Orchard Talent Group acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.