World Social Work Day

Maynooth & UCD Schools of Social Work Mark World Social Work Day 2023 with the launch of a spoken-word music video for students going on placement

Each year over 500 social work students in Ireland head out of the classroom and into the world of social work on a practice placement (work experience). Most would agree it is the most exciting, inspiring and educational experience of their lives.  Most would also agree that it is terrifying!

For World Social Work Day 2023, the Schools of Social Work at Maynooth University and University College Dublin have collaborated on a research-based, spoken-word music video for students going on placement.

Dr Niamh Flanagan from the Maynooth University and Dr Elaine Wilson from University College Dublin, who have previously co-researched with students about peer-to-peer advice about going on placement, wanted to expand this idea to garner the advice of practice teachers. With the support of the (opens in a new window)National Practice Teacher Social Work Initiative led by Lyn Dorney, the collaborators undertook research with over 60 placement teachers, practitioners and academics about the advice that they would give to students heading out on placement.

Using an unconventional mode of research dissemination, key pieces of advice have been integrated into a spoken-word music video adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s “Everybody’s free to wear sunscreen”

Have a listen … and breathe!