20 organisations to take part in GMIT workshop & symposium on social care
Former Governor of Mountjoy Prison John Lonergan to deliver keynote address
GMIT Mayo is hosting a day-long workshop and symposium on social care in Ireland on Wednesday 4 December, 10.30am – 5pm, in its campus in Castlebar. The keynote address will be delivered by former Governor of Mountjoy Prison John Lonergan.
The event will be attended by representatives from over 20 social care organisations in Mayo and Galway who take 80 social studies students on work placement practice each year. These include Ability West, Western Care Association, Foroige, Family Resource Centres, Galway Simon Community, Cope Galway, HSE Social Work Dept, HSE Training Centres and others.
The day commences with a workshop at 10.30am with an overview of the placement process and related issues. This will be attended by placement supervisors from these organisations and will also be attended by professionals and academics in the social care sector.
The Symposium commences at 2pm with John Lonergan who retired as Governor of Mountjoy Prison in 2010. He will speak about issues of social justice in Ireland.
A number of supervisors from a variety of practice areas will address the symposium, including John Dolan from Galway Simon Community, Carmel Burke of Mayo Women Support Services, Lorraine Costello from Cope Galway and Louise O’Malley from Neighbourhood Youth Project, Castlebar.
As part of their studies in GMIT Mayo, Social Studies students go on a six week placement in the second year and a ten week placement in third year of their degree programme.
Mary Nestor, Lecturer & Placement Coordinator in the GMIT Department of Nursing, Health Sciences & Social Care, says the Practice Placement component is a very important part of the Applied Social Studies programme in the Mayo campus.
“It offers valuable learning opportunities for students and allows them to observe the work of professionals first-hand, integrate theory with practice in a structured, supervised setting and to make a contribution to the work of that organisation.”
Ken Hogan, Head of Department of Nursing Health Sciences and Social Care, says “GMIT fully realises the significant investment in terms of time and expertise from local and regional social care organisations for which we are very grateful”.
For further information on this event, please contact mary.nestor@gmit.ie or 353 94 9043137. Read about the GMIT Applies Social Studies programme:
http://www.gmit.ie/nursing-and-social-care/bachelor-arts-applied-social…
