Disability Services Australia: Social Work Training Project Report

This report reflects on a social work placement at Disability Services Australia (DSA), where the author participated in training programs and supported individuals with disabilities. The project focused on creating a safe and healthy work environment through training sessions on work health and safety, workers compensation, hygiene, quality control, and fire evacuation. The author applied person-centered approaches, emphasizing respect, equality, and confidentiality while working with clients. The training sessions aimed to educate and inform customers about DSA policies and procedures, promoting a positive and inclusive environment. The experience provided valuable insights into social work practices within the disability sector, highlighting the importance of compassion, support, and enabling individuals to live fulfilling lives. The report concludes that DSA contributes to an inclusive society by enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities through education, employment, and fulfilling basic needs.

Running Head: SOCIAL WORK
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Social Work
11/8/2018

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Introduction
Disabilities Services Australia provides services to disabled people, and treats them
with dignity and respect. The organisation aims to cater to different demands and
expectations of the customers by adopting flexible practices, & using innovation tools
to attain positive outcomes. The organisation ensures people working in the
organisation with safe & supportive environment. In addition, it employs person
centred approach in their practices, considering the disabled ones in their decision-
making activities, for the achievement of their personal goals. As a work experience
student, I would participate in various projects, meetings in the organisation inclusive
of training sessions, and wage assessments, one-to-one support and the other
related activities and meetings.
Project Description
In the role of work placement student, I was very delighted to work with DSA
packaging solutions, an organisation that provides support and encourages people
by providing employment. The company provides offering for the job, especially to
those with varied (physical & mental) illness or any intellectual disabilities. Under my
placement cell, around 300 employees work, offering packed cutlery and snacks to
27 different airplanes. As a placement student, I was working on a project to provide
training programmes, such as Work health and safety, workers compensation, and
hygiene and quality control, fire evacuation and the safety of Pallet. Thus, it has
been recommended that the employees must attend all these programmes, and
update their details in the system, as it has been mentioned by the field educator.
Role Description
The role of the students was to conduct the training sessions, and categorising
customers with their disabilities, and updating their information in the system. To
undertake these group sessions, students were given training by the employment
consultants to make them familiar with the necessary topics for the sessions. Being a
facilitator, conducting training programmes, and the related sessions is a bit complex
task, students who aims to undertake the group sessions must develop effective

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relationship and reputation among customers, in the factory as they first need to
know about their trainer.
Reflection of Social Work Theory
To reflect upon the social work practice in this project, it has been demonstrated that
I employed my academic learning skills, to the practical settings, using person
centred approach to work with disabled people. In context to the person-centred
approach, it has been found that all the actions and activities are based & directed
towards understanding the perspective of each individual. DSA mainly emphasizes
on understanding and fulfilling the needs and expectations of the people, and helping
them to attain improved standard of life. The project primarily stressed upon creating
a safe and healthy work environment, for the workers and customers at workplace.
Understanding person-centred approach, it has been discovered that this approach
analyses the needs of customers, and supports them in achieving the same, leading
to the accomplishment of sustainable life. It helps the disabled to analyse where they
are and where they want to go in the future, and shifts the power to the professionals
to the people who use services. It has been suggested that it is effective and
beneficial to follow policies, and procedures, while conducting the training sessions,
and comply with the values of social work practice, such as respect for the people,
treating them equality and justice. In addition, it is also essential to maintain the
customer’s confidentiality, and privacy, while conducting sessions. Being a learner, it
has been understood that I acquired presentation skills to manage the issues which
may become disruptive in the process, to deal with the people with disabilities.
Results of the project
The aim of the project was to primarily create a healthy and safe work environment
for the people working in the factory. Training sessions which were conducted in the
organisation, informed & educated customers and made them understand the
importance of updating DSA policies, and procedures to work accordingly. The
information which was given educated consumers about behaving in an appropriate
manner in consideration to the Work health and safety, Respect, treating people with
equality and making them learn about various other processes such as fire

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evacuation in the organisation. It was a great opportunity to work with differently
abled people, and solving their different types of issues, which further helped me to
learn the social work practices for disabled people. Discussing and reflecting upon
the theories of work practice, it has been understood that the social workers who
work in the disability sectors implement person-centred approach, and attain
different goals. Moreover, the social workers are active as they show compassion,
and love to support & help people sustain fulfilling lives.
Implications of project outcome of social work
DSA treats all the customers with dignity and respect, and enables them to
participate in the activities of social community. The organisation (DSA) focuses on
disabled people, enhances their standard of living, and increases the opportunities of
choice, inclusion, and achievement of their goals. All training sessions conducted by
the organisation, provide a positive environment, and reinforce the development of
community by enhancing the social values of inclusion and equal treatment of
people. It boosts the morale and confidence of the customers, and supports them by
providing them various opportunities of employment, enabling them to attain sense
of achievement, thereby improving the quality of their life.
Conclusion
Disability Service Australia works for an inclusive society which enhancing the lives
of individuals with disabilities, enabling them to live their life with full potential in the
society. Fulfilling responsibilities towards society and the general public, and offers
them valuable services such as education, employment facilities and fulfils their
basic necessities. During the sessions, working as a placement student I realised the
importance to treat such people with equality, creating a safer work environment,
and supporting them thus I helped disabled people in their work in the factory, as per
organisational rules and policies. I loved communicating with these people and after
an analysis of my strengths and weaknesses; it facilitated me to plan for the
betterment of the future of disabled people.