Social work graduates’ professional socialisation and identity: Perceptions and experiences of social workers and supervisors

Abstract

Professional socialisation is a complex and interactive process through which professional roles and skills are learned and internalised. In social work, this complexity is due to a changing professional landscape, contested discourses and differing organisational contexts. This article reports on an Australian study exploring the perceptions and experiences of early career social workers and supervisors on professional socialisation. The study used qualitative methods to interview 18 participants. The findings highlighted the importance of recognition of subjective experiences, negotiating power and supervision. The findings can inform practice guides and policies for graduate programmes and practice settings.