FROM BEGINNER TO GRADUATE SOCIAL-WORKER - PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF AN AUSTRALIAN LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

A central issue for social work educators is to delineate the process of how social work students become competent practitioners. Previous l iterature has tended to concentrate on value and attitudinal change as a result of education. The authors are currently engaged in a five-ye ar longitudinal study of a cohort of 39 Victorian social workers which explores this issue, as well as the changes in knowledge, skills and theory use. The study also explored whether the Dreyfus model of skill acquisition was applicable in social work. This paper describes the s tudy and its preliminary findings at mid-point in the study with respo ndents having completed two years of social work education and now pra ctising as social workers. Participants have been interviewed twice ye arly and data consists of participants' descriptions of critical incid ents from their course experience and responses to case vignettes. Aft er content analysis, preliminary findings indicate that some stages si milar to the Dreyfus model, can be identified. Particular themes emerg ed including a predominantly individualizing approach to problems, a r eluctance to deal with men and situations involving conflict and a dis illusionment about the nature of social work. Some implications of the se findings, including competency-based education, are discussed.