Dr Helen Cleak is Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Allied Health, Human Service and Sport, La Trobe University, and has been a Visiting Fellow at Trinity College, Republic of Ireland and Queens College, Northern Ireland. She has a strong practice and research background in field education and was the Director of Field Education and International placements for over 20 years. She is on the Editorial Board of Australian Social Work and is a member of the accreditation Panel of the AASW and a member of the Expert panel to review the ASWEAS guidelines on field education. She is an active researcher in field education with colleagues in Australia, Ireland and United Kingdom and collaborates with health practitioners to research aspects of domestic and family violence.