​The summer program with the University of Sydney

From August 11th, 2019 to August 25th, 2019, with the invitation of the University of Sydney, a total of 12 students from the Institute of Social Work organized a trip to the University of Sydney for the summer program. The journey covered a wide range of topics, including a variety of courses as well as various of field activities, showing the development and practice of social work in Australia.

This Sydney University Summer program not only enabled students to learn a wide range of content, theoretical knowledge, but also had the opportunity to visit various types of social work organizations, allowing students to combine theory and practice. In terms of curriculum, the University of Sydney was staffed by a number of senior professors who taught social justice, Australian welfare and welfare changes, Aboriginal social work, Australian social work identity and practice, research study, domestic violence, child adoption, and mental health. Courses in areas had Australian characteristics.During the class, the professors explained Australian politics, history, culture and welfare background in detail, and analyzed the role of Australian social work in history and the current development. At the same time, professors set up interactive sessions, and students were leading the presentation to show their values of social justice and social workers，enabling students think and understand the knowledge they have learned. In the meanwhile, students asked questions and discussed questions with professors；they had a warm interaction with each other.

Project practice participation and course theory knowledge were combined.Students visited the contemporary art museum of Sydney to think about the relationship between mental health, social issues and social work. Visiting the new south wales state parliament to reflect on Australia's political system; visiting institutions serving aboriginal people, youth and their families and elderly to reflect on social work practices of Australia and their similarities and differences with China.The visits to various institutions consolidated the students' theoretical knowledge as well as enhanced their understanding of Australian native culture, intuitively presenting the characteristics of Australian social work.

During the study journey, the classroom dialogue between the students and the professors from the University of Sydney enabled different ideas to collide and communicate. Not only did they open up their horizons, but also they learned advanced concepts and rich theoretical knowledge. Active dialogues and discussions with different groups of social workers and community residents in the local institutions had expanded the practical methods and concepts of the students. The students had a better understand of the same value orientation and development dilemma of social work professions at home and abroad, as well as practical methods in different social and cultural contexts. They put forward their own thinking on different practical methods and social reality .On the one hand, they felt the gap and powerlessness of Chinese social workers in many practical work. On the other hand, they also learned valuable experiences and saw the direction of future efforts.

The students strove to integrate the knowledge they have learned, and hope they can combine China's reality with Australian practice and innovation in the future,not only to enhance their professional capabilities, but also to contribute their own strength to the development of Chinese social work.Professor Margot said that she was very happy that students could return to China with the hope about social work . She believed that our generation can make China's social work better. We are also so convinced and willing to work hard in the future.