Service user involvement in social work education: Enhancing student learning about intimate partner violence

Men who use intimate partner violence (IPV) are often excluded from service user involvement approaches, including those provided in social work education. This article outlines Australian research in which men who use IPV developed a learning resource, the resource was shown to social work students and student feedback sought through pre- and post-test questionnaires and group discussion. Students reported increased knowledge regarding interpersonal violence, greater awareness of the skills required to engage service users who use IPV and willingness to work alongside service users who are involuntary and/or have multiple issues in future social work placements and practice. The findings suggest, when risks are well managed, it may be possible to incorporate the lived experiences of men who use IPV in social work education with positive benefit for student learning. The ramifications of these findings for social work education and practice internationally are discussed. Involving men who use IPV in social work education can increase student knowledge and skills for social work practice with families who have been subjected to interpersonal violence. Social work students may have stigmatised views of involuntary service users that can be challenged by service user involvement in social work education. Social work student engagement with service users with multiple complex issues and/or involuntary status may increase student willingness to work with these populations in their future practice.