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Dr Grace Brown Lesley-Caron Veater

Challenging Traditional Alliances in Field Education: A new inter-disciplinary model. Dr Grace Brown Lesley-Caron Veater. Introduction. Staff and Roles The Monash Partnership - history Monash Oakleigh Legal Service Serves the community & University Free community legal service

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Dr Grace Brown Lesley-Caron Veater

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  1. Challenging Traditional Alliances in Field Education: A new inter-disciplinary model Dr Grace Brown Lesley-Caron Veater

  2. Introduction • Staff and Roles • The Monash Partnership - history • Monash Oakleigh Legal Service • Serves the community & University • Free community legal service • Family Law Assistance Program • Divorce • Child residency • Property • Child support NAFEA 2014

  3. A new vision for field education • 2009 was a year of review in the Department of Social Work with the development of a new vision and priorities for Field Education • Develop field education into a core scholarly priority within the Department • Strengthen and develop new and innovative partnerships • OUR Social Work Field Education VISION • “Integrated, cutting edge, creative, state of the art program producing critically reflective practitioners” NAFEA 2014

  4. Expanding opportunities Partnerships • Local, rural and international NAFEA 2014

  5. Co location Monash Oakleigh Legal Service Generalist Legal Clinic • Advice • Letters • Negotiations with other parties • Preparation of legal/financial documents • Legal proceedings • Arranging representation in court/tribunals • Family Law Assistance Program • Divorce • Child residency • Property • Child support NAFEA 2014

  6. MOLS The Monash-Oakleigh Legal Service (MOLS) is a partnership between Monash Law School and Victoria Legal Aid. Through the service, members of the community can obtain free legal advice on a variety of legal matters including: • motor vehicle accidents • matrimonial and family matters • police prosecutions • debt • tenancy and neighbour disputes • contracts • social welfare The Legal Service is substantially run by students under the supervision of solicitors employed by Monash Law School and volunteers from the legal industry who also offer free legal advice. NAFEA 2014

  7. The Family Law Assistance Program (FLAP) • is a self-help clinical legal service designed to assist people involved in Family Law litigation who do not have legal representation.  • It is administered by Monash University and funded by the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department. • information on family law procedure, mediation and other forms of dispute resolution and the impact family breakdown can have on those involved. • Documentation is drafted on behalf of clients for litigation. • Clients are assisted by students who will help them to form a broad understanding and find, where possible, resolution to their family law problem.  • All students are supervised by qualified lawyers. NAFEA 2014

  8. NAFEA 2014

  9. Underlying principles • Legal advice should be accessible to the public • Delivery of legal services to the disadvantaged • Self-help is encouraged • Strong commitment to the community • Values of freedom of choice, respect, equality, dignity and social justice underpin service provision • These values fit well with social work values. NAFEA 2014

  10. History Law Faculty approached department social second semester 2009 to discuss the possibility of establishing a multidisciplinary clinic (MDC) at MOLS The clinic was to include law, social work, business/economics (Consumer advocacy), and interpreting students to work together in the clinic. We began with 2 groups of 4 social work students in this first year. The first group of 4 spent 6 weeks with their supervisor exploring what would be the role of social work in the MDC The outcome was that social work would offer a short term, crisis intervention and referral service. NAFEA 2014

  11. MOLs MDC teams • 6 weeks into the practicum the first group of social work students were assigned to a team. At the same time consumer advocate students also began work in the clinics and were assigned to a team. This model continues today. • Teams consist of law, consumer advocate, and social work student, and interpreting students (as required). Work experience students from secondary schools join the teams from time to time. • Each team of students interviews the client. As the interview progresses the team consults away from the interview room with a team of supervisors from the 3 disciplines of Law, Social Work and Consumer Advocacy. • The program has grown and we currently have 10 social work students allocated and 10 student teams operating in the MDC. NAFEA 2014

  12. Growth into the FLAP program • As time went by social work and consumer advocacy have established their role in the MDC. As the role and reputation of social work grew law students working in the FLAP unit began to seek out the social work students and their supervisor for assistance with their client work. • Social work students now work in both the MDC clinics and the FLAP clinics when allocated to this field education program • Consumer advocate students are also consulted by the law students as required NAFEA 2014

  13. Social work involvement in Clinics each day of the week MDC Clinic = Multidisciplinary Clinic located in the Monash Oakleigh Legal Service FLAP Clinic = Located in the Family Law Assistance Program NAFEA 2014

  14. Co-Location = 2 different models Multidisciplinary Clinics Family Law Clinics Assistance with legal process providing information on required forms how to lodge an application how to appear before a registrar or judge court etiquette and the numerous other procedures required by the court. knowledge for Primary Dispute Resolution (PDR) and other counselling and parenting programs participants should be able to: represent themselves in the Family Court write and respond to opposing legal practitioners find assistance from counselling and PDR groups protect and preserve the interests of children involved in the situation • Domestic violence/assault/Breach of IVO • Criminal offences • Motor accidents • Infringements • Financial problems • Driving offences • Centrelink debt • Family/divorce/parenting disputes • Mental health • Drug and Alcohol Abuse NAFEA 2014

  15. Two learning models MOLs MDC Clinic FLAP Clinic Supervision via consultation with law and social work supervisors Allocated to cases according to a consultation process via the law student and supervisor Learning includes Responding to family law matters Court attendance Consultation expertise • Team supervision • Allocated to MDC team • Set times allocated to clinics each week • Learning includes • Responding to a range of legal issues • Cross cultural • Working in a team • Relationship building with referring agencies NAFEA 2014

  16. MOLS MDCs • All students see clients together as a team • Students then report to the supervisory team (one supervisor from each of the three disciplines) to take advice • No advice given until supervisors are consulted • Students communicate advice to clients and take further questions/instructions • Some matters treated as “advice only” (no ongoing file) where we are unable to act, the client is able to self-advocate, or where the client is not forthcoming with instructions • Not all clients require ongoing legal advice but may require social work or consumer advocate intervention NAFEA 2014

  17. Case examples Types of legal issues • Domestic violence/assault/Breach of IVO • Criminal offences • Motor accidents • Infringements • Financial problems • Driving offences • Centrelink debt • Family/divorce/parenting disputes NAFEA 2014

  18. Social Work Students • Students must successfully complete a minimum of 1,000 hours in at least two field education subjects. • Students at Monash complete two field education units • Students from the BSW and the MSW (Q) on and off campus programs can complete field education units at the legal service. • Like the other disciplines, students open and run their own files in general MDCs • In the FLAP clinic, students participate in an advisory capacity NAFEA 2014

  19. Social Work Students • Students assist with • Undertake bio psychosocial assessments • Warm referrals to other organisations • Court reports • Mental health issues • Drug and alcohol • Relationship issues • Neighbourhood disputes • Social work student projects • a comparison of legal and social work ethics • formulating a needs analysis of the Family Law Programme • an orientation manual for incoming students • community education activities. NAFEA 2014

  20. CONSUMER ADVOCACY • Finance, Accounting and some commerce student • Part of Industry Based Learning placements • Placements occur across three clinical areas: two general multi-disciplinary clinics (MDCs), one multi-disciplinary FLAP clinic, one policy clinic • Students strongly encouraged to develop advocacy skills, not merely financial expertise • Like the other disciplines, students open and run their own files in general MDCs • In the FLAP clinic, students participate in an advisory capacity NAFEA 2014

  21. CONSUMER ADVOCACY • Credit and debt matters; including renegotiation of debt, debt settlements, disputes and complaints • Students are taught to first establish a client’s liability, debts should not be negotiated where the client may not be liable (eg. Validity of guarantees, unconscionable lending, capacity to repay, etc should all be examined) • Utilities and telephone issues • Tenancy • Bankruptcy • Some small commercial matters • Infringements • Some tribunal matters NAFEA 2014

  22. PEDAGOGICAL OUTCOMES • Understanding the broader nature of their future work • Teamwork • Comprehending the work of other disciplines and the benefits they offer • Empowering to both student and client • Develop holistic solutions NAFEA 2014

  23. Learning environment • Supervisors • Team multi disciplinary supervision • Ethical discussions • Acknowledgement of different areas of expertise • Learning and designing the program as we go • Joint supervision a must during clinic hours Students • Direct practice • Team work • Organisational culture • Community development and networking with local resources • Court work • Report writing • Project work • Ethical discussions NAFEA 2014

  24. Outcomes • Definitions • Vulnerable clients and groups • Holistic problem solving approach • Prevention and referral • Research and publications • Other opportunities for Law/Social Work collaboration • Policy and law reform • New opportunities for the model • Discussion and Questions NAFEA 2014

  25. References • Brown G, Foster R & Hyams R awaiting publication The Benefits of Multidisciplinary Learning in Clinical Practice Journal of Teaching in Social Work • Hyams R & Gertner F 2012. Multidisciplinary Clinics – Broadening the Outlook of Clinical Learning.17 International Journal of Clinical Legal Education 23. • Hyams 2012 Multidisciplinary Clinical Legal Education The future of the profession Alternative Law Journal Vol 37:2 2012 NAFEA 2014

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