A Vietnamese and Australian Cross-cultural field placement using community arts to heal and prevent child trafficking

Abstract

This chapter reports on the overseas placement of an Australian social work student from James Cook University (JCU) with the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation in Vietnam. It discusses why it worked well; what learning opportunities and supports were available; the benefits of an external supervisor located in Vietnam; the role of technology and the student attributes that contributed to the placement's success. The context of the placement was a community arts partnership between the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, Red Cross and James Cook University where the student worked with children who had been trafficked or were at risk of being trafficked in two rural villages. The Theatre for Social Change project involved drama workshops and provided experience in cross-cultural work involving interpreters and producing plays, videos and a blog site, The Right to Shine. The experience is discussed from the viewpoint of the main stakeholders.