In response to significant changes in the tertiary education environment identified as government deregulation, changing labour market demands, increasing student diversity, rapid technological development and the globalisation of education, Monash University, in company with many other Australian universities, is committed to a student centred, flexible and innovative approach to learning and teaching.

The implementation of this commitment in the ‘classroom’ requires teaching teams to develop an operational understanding of these concepts and determine their appropriate application in their own course and subject areas and for their own student groups.

This paper offers some personal reflections on the challenges faced by the teaching team providing social welfare courses to both on-campus and distance education students at Monash University in implementing the aims of Monash University's Learning and Teaching Operational Plan.