Australian social work students: Balancing tertiary studies, paid work and poverty

Abstract

It is commonly understood that enrolment in higher education means inevitable financial strain. In an online national survey in 2015, a sample of 2320 current students from 29 Australian social work programs reported on their experiences of juggling life, study and work. Findings: This article details preliminary findings regarding the impact of low levels of income on the lives and study success of an Australian student cohort, and offers a considered comparison to relevant available data. Students in this study reported regularly going without necessities, and identified that a lack of finances and long hours in employment were adversely affecting their study experience. These problems became acute during compulsory field placements. Applications: The purpose of this study was to illuminate social work students' complex study realities in order to inform future education, policy and practice. The findings identify that for these students adverse outcomes including poverty and disruption to studies may be increasingly difficult to avoid. This situation may not be confined to this cohort or the Australian experience. There appears to be an urgent need for national bodies, universities and students to join together in advocating for increased support for tertiary social work students.

Social justice in a tertiary education context: Do we practice what we preach?

“…Major findings are reported elsewhere (Baglow and Gair, 2018; Gair and Baglow, 2018a, 2018b). Of significance to this article is how some students demonstrated critical analysis and courage (albeit anonymously) in naming how their classroom learning about social work’s embodied values of social justice was inconsistent with their lived experiences as students.…”

‘We barely survived’: Social work students’ mental health vulnerabilities and implications for educators, universities and the workforce

“…quantitative (discussed elsewhere, Baglow & Gair, 2018) and qualitative data from this study provide evidence for reconsideration of the minimal level of government financial support currently provided to tertiary students (also see Gair & Baglow, 2017). A louder call for structural reform is needed, to correct the injustice of inadequate government financial support currently available for tertiary students and help remove financial barriers that currently impact heavily on students' studies, health and mental health.…”

“…In this article, specific findings from a large national survey on the financial and study circumstances of Australian social work students are reported. While broader findings have been published elsewhere (Baglow & Gair, 2018;Gair & Baglow, 2017), here the impact on students' mental health and wellbeing of studying with insufficient income is revealed, and strategies for change are recommended.…”

Learning Losses of Undergraduate Students in South Asia during COVID‐19 and its Determinants*

“…The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) 2021 report has shown that 97 per cent of the households in India were poorer in real terms than the pre-COVID times. 24 Changes in economic conditions adversely affect the time they can dedicate to their education as they may have to partake in income generating activities or experience deteriorating mental health (Baglow & Gair, 2019;Ridley et al, 2020). There are also additional expenses associated with remote learning, such as the cost of Internet or an electronic device (Rotas & Cahapay, 2020).…”