Social Work Student Placements
Social Work Students — Ready for a Placement That Actually Inspires You?
At DIVRS, we don’t just list our values, we live them every day.
Our team is welcoming, inclusive, supportive and deeply committed to community wellbeing.
DIVRS hosts 20+ social work placements every year, giving students real world experience across community information, referrals and advocacy, emergency relief, reception, complex support, bill help, No Interest Loans and community outreach.
Students consistently tell us how special the experience is:
💬 “Loved the placement! I recommend to everyone.”
💬 “Fantastic — better than I could have thought! It set me up with the perfect skills for my final year.”
💬 “The team culture was some of the best I’ve ever experienced. I felt truly supported.”
At DIVRS you’ll:
Build genuine, job ready skills
Work with a team that lives its values
Gain confidence through meaningful, hands on learning
Our Student Placement Program
Our social work student placement program offers a valuable opportunity for students to enhance their professional skills while fostering personal growth. This comprehensive program includes thorough orientation, extensive training, ongoing supervision, and site visits to locations across Darebin, ensuring students gain practical experience in real-world settings.
If you are interested in social work placement at DIVRS please complete this form.
Bridging the Gap to the Workforce
Our placements are designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to transition seamlessly into their careers. The program provides:
Valuable Learning Experiences: Opportunities to work with community members needing information, support and referral in aged care, disability services, trauma-informed care, women’s services and homelessness.
Practical Application: A chance to apply theoretical knowledge in a supportive, real-world environment.
Ongoing Support: Supervision and support from our Health and Wellbeing Progam Leader and inclusion in our community information and support team
Mentorship from Experienced Professionals: Access to experienced staff who guide students through their learning journey.
On going learning: Morning meeting program with regular guest speakers from organisations including Uniting AOD, Energy and Water Ombusman, Telecommunication Ombusman, DFFH (housing and Orange Door), Thorne Harbour and Centrelink
We ensure a supportive, safe, and engaging workplace by offering a thorough orientation, continuous supervision, and a focus on professional development.
Our Placements
Social Work Placements (Bachelor or Masters) are in our Community Information & Support Program.
Our Community Information & Support program helps people experiencing crisis situations, financial strain and challenges such as housing instability, family violence, legal issues, social isolation and mental health concerns. Social work placement students and trained volunteers in this program:
Provide information, advocacy, referrals, support services, and access to resources such as food, bill assistance, and no-interest loans, both over the phone and in person.
Contribute to the daily operations of the program, including reception, intake, administration, case studies, and participating in team meetings and debrief sessions.
Preparing for the Workforce
Our practical placements are instrumental in preparing students for their future careers. We offer:
Real-world experience across sector areas such as aged care, disability, trauma-informed care, women’s services, and homelessness.
A supportive learning environment to apply classroom learning in a professional setting.
Continuous guidance from our Health and Wellbeing Program Leader and Complex Support Social Worker - experienced professionals in the field.
We are committed to providing comprehensive orientation, task supervision and a safe and enriching workplace to ensure students’ success as they prepare for their professional futures.
Requirements for placement
Use your university email address - please do not use your personal email.
A valid Working with Children Clearance
A satisfactory Police Check
Attend an interview with us to ensure it’s a good placement match for everyone
Two professional referees