1. A Longitudinal Study of Social Work Students’ Experiences, Views and Plans: A Report From the First Year Dr Patricia Fronek, Professor Lesley Chenoweth, Dr Julie Clark, Dr Jennifer Boddy, Dr Tiani Hetherington School of Human Services and Social Work

2. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice LITERATURE No longitudinal, prospective studies on SW student experiences We do know the type of student attending university is changing – non-traditional, work, international students, first in family, mental health etc We don’t know the issues that influence students’ experience, retention and transition to work over time 2 School of Human Services and Social Work

3. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice AIMS o To examine the contemporary student and graduate experience over time o To explore the factors that impact on the quality of student experiences 3 School of Human Services and Social Work

4. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice METHOD 4 Longitudinal survey design o Quantitative and qualitative data o Cohort of SW students over 5 years (2 campuses) o Data collected at three points of delivery: (i)on commencement of the degree; (ii)in the final Year; (iii)at one year post-graduation. DESIGN School of Human Services and Social Work

5. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice o Trialled in a pilot o Instrument domains: –Self and Family; –Balance, Health and Well-being; –Future Plans; –Experiences of University; –Followed by one qualitative question. 5 METHOD THE INSTRUMENT School of Human Services and Social Work

6. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice o Variables analysed for today’s presentation –Student Priorities –Living Arrangements –Paid Employment –Students’ health, stress levels and support –Students providing support –Students with disabilities 6 METHOD School of Human Services and Social Work

7. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice RESULTS o 38 participants (31 females; 7 males) o 27.92 (M) years old o 17 – 59 yrs o 35 students full time/3 students part-time 7 Demographics School of Human Services and Social Work

8. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice 8 Demographics School of Human Services and Social Work RESULTS o Backgrounds –28 students born in Australia –1 student identified as being Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander –6 - New Zealand –Remainder - China, England, Ethiopia, Iraq, Vietnam

9. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice Student Priorities 9 School of Human Services and Social Work RESULTS

10. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice 10 Living arrangements Majority of students live with parents School of Human Services and Social Work RESULTS

11. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice 11 Living arrangements School of Human Services and Social Work RESULTS o Mental health potentially associated with students’ living arrangements

12. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice 12 School of Human Services and Social Work RESULTS

13. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice 13 Hours Paid Employment 8-20 hrs School of Human Services and Social Work RESULTS

14. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice 14 How many students work because they have to School of Human Services and Social Work 44.7% Strongly Agree RESULTS

15. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice Paid Employment o work hours = better physical health o Positive moderate correlation between physical health and number of hours worked 15 School of Human Services and Social Work RESULTS

16. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice Pilot Study o PILOT STUDY: hours work = mental health o Physical (present study) + mental (pilot study) health relates to number of hours undertaken in paid employment 16 School of Human Services and Social Work

17. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice 17 School of Human Services and Social Work Students health, stress levels and support GOOD RESULTS

18. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice o Emotional support is associated with stress and mental health o Moderate negative relationship between emotional support from others and the amount of stress they generally feel in their life o As emotional support their stress level 18 School of Human Services and Social Work RESULTS

19. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice o Students supporting a child with a disability, chronic illness or mental health condition rated physical health as lower 19 School of Human Services and Social Work RESULTS

20. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice o Self report ratings of physical health, mental health, stress and emotional support ≠ with the presence of a disability, chronic illness or mental health issue 20 Disability, chronic illness or mental health issue School of Human Services and Social Work RESULTS

21. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice SUMMARY o Students prioritise study o Majority of students live at home o Mental health is associated with living arrangements – best in shared accommodation o Majority of students work 8-20 hrs per week 21 School of Human Services and Social Work

22. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice SUMMARY o hours work = physical health o This related to pilot where o hours work = mental health o Physical (present study) + mental (previous study) health is showing strong signs that it relates to number of hours undertaken in paid employment 22 School of Human Services and Social Work

23. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice SUMMARY o As students emotional support their stress levels o Emotional support is associated with stress and mental health 23 School of Human Services and Social Work

24. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice SUMMARY o Students supporting a child with a disability, chronic illness or mental health = physical health lower o Self report ratings of physical health, mental health, stress and emotional support ≠ not associated with a disability, chronic illness or mental health issue 24 School of Human Services and Social Work

25. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice What does this mean for SW educators? o Strategies that focus on assisting students gaining employment may enhance student mental and physical health o Strategies that focus on maintaining/ increasing/ strengthening social support may enhance student mental health (particularly in non western cultures) o Strategies that support students caring for children with complex needs 25 School of Human Services and Social Work CONCLUSION

26. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice Future Research o Statistical power will increase as commencing students are included in the study o Yet to see how student experiences change over time o Future research may need to focus on living arrangements and well-being and carer status and well- being 26 School of Human Services and Social Work CONCLUSION

27. School of Criminology & Criminal Justice School of Human Services and Social Work www.podsocs.com