Reflective Writing: Personal Journal Entry Examples

Running head: REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY
Reflective Journal Entry
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY
Journal entry 1
Reflect on how you integrated your classroom learning into your Fieldwork
Placement.
In my fieldwork placement, I had to apply what I learnt during my course learning
sessions. My fieldwork placement was at Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre (SMRC) and
I had to work with people coming from outside and seeking employment in Australia
(Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre 2020). For example, my classroom learning taught me
that for community service, empathy, honesty and cooperation. Using that learning, I helped
the clients to the best of my ability. I listened to their requirements actively and tried to come
up with viable solutions. I communicated openly and under no circumstance gave them any
false claim or promises. We also learnt to analyze the abilities of the clients and find out jobs
that are suited for them. Using this knowledge I helped various clients find jobs that matched
their profile.
Give examples of when you applied specific skills and knowledge in completing
your placement tasks, especially in working with clients.
While working with clients I needed to apply my learning and my interpersonal skills
in my fieldwork. For example, listening to clients patiently and asking them open ended
questions about them and their aim brings out more relevant information than they normally
provide. This active listening help the clients to reflect on their own self and justify their
choices. I also had the responsibility of advocating those jobs that would be most relevant for
their career profile. Through my course work I had realized that I will be working with the
most disadvantaged group of people and they need to be listened to. I also suggested them
with additional courses that they can undertake to improve their employability skills.

2REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY
How did it challenge you? How did it motivate you to develop further as a
community worker?
The fieldwork experience challenged me in many ways. The first challenge that I
faced was understanding the various culture and language differences. Differences in culture
naturally comes with differences in beliefs and world view (Onnis and Pryce 2016). While
working in the fieldwork, I had to ensure that none of the people felt insulted or ignored. I
used specific gestures for everybody and tried to understand their prerogative. Understanding
their abilities and skills and matching them with available placements while convincing them
about the job were also challenging.
This experience motivated me as I learnt through this fieldwork that the people
seeking help were truly needed these jobs and their lives improved when they were able to
find placement. Many of them thanked me later or spoke highly of the organization for the
job that we dis there.
How did you respond to a critical or important event on placement using your
knowledge and skills in community services?
During my tenure in the community service, one incident took place that was quite
important for my learning. One of the clients who was enrolled in placement pathway
program in the organization approached me. She wanted the assurance that after the pathway
there will be a 100% guarantee that she would receive a job. While many might believe that I
should have assured her as the placement rate is quite high, I had learnt in my course that we
should be as honest as possible and should not make false promises (Wilson, Kenny and
Dickson-Swift 2018). Thus, I explained to her what outcomes that she can expect and how
that would help her in placement. I also told her that the placement rate is high and thus it is
likely that she will be placed.

3REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY
Journal entry 2
Reflect on the specific community/human services-related tasks you performed
during your Fieldwork Placement.
Throughout my tenure as a community service provider at SMRC, I mainly performed
research work. My job was to find out the available positions in aged care facilities in
different cities. Our organization provided placements at the cities like Dandenong, Casey
and Cardinia. After research I had to list all the available vacancies so that the clients seeking
placements there. Moreover, I had to talk to the clients and find out their skills and
aspirations. I had to talk to them with patience and understanding so that they will feel more
comfortable with me. I also had to talk to the placement locations so that there will be open
communication channels and there would be no complications in future.
How did the tasks that you undertook benefit the clients of the agency? Provide
examples.
The tasks that I performed helped the clients in many ways. The research that I
conducted was helpful for them as it presented them with more options from which they
could choose their placement. The listings of the jobs also helped them as they could find out
the opportunities that are there or the applicability of the pathway that the organization was
providing them. The counselling sessions that I had with the clients helped them determine
the aspirations or the kind of jobs that they want. For example, one woman came to the
organization seeking a placement. She was not sure where she wanted to be posted. While
talking to her, I explained to her the pros and cons of each of the places and placements and
at the end of the session, she was happy and wanted to join our pathway program.