Showing papers in "Australian Social Work in 2003"
TL;DR: Social enterprise refers to a broad set of approaches that use business acumen to address social goals as mentioned in this paper and has been thrust into the spotlight in debates about the future of social policy and community services.
Abstract: The paper explores the relevance of social enterprise to social work practice and policy development. Social enterprise refers to a broad set of approaches that use business acumen to address social goals. A marginal activity in social work for a long time, recently social enterprise has been thrust into the spotlight in debates about the future of social policy and community services. It is important that social workers understand the meaning and implications of social enterprise if they are to apply it critically and reflectively in practice and participate in contemporary debates about its relevance in promoting individual and community empowerment. The paper provides an overview of the meaning of social enterprise, outlines the reasons for the renewed focus on social enterprise and related concepts in social policy debates, particularly community economic development, and examines its underlying values. It concludes with a discussion of questions and concerns surrounding the implementation of social enterprise in Australia.
107 citations
105 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a survey of 39 Victorian social work students on their experiences of placement learning is reported, and the survey focused on problems encountered by students on placement and highlighted the need for additional opportunities both before and during the placements to engage with material on safety in the field, and ways to deal with workplace stress and conflict.
Abstract: Recent recognition of workplace learning from within the University sector has resulted in more emphasis being placed on including field experiences in course curriculum across a range of disciplines. This article begins with a short review of the literature relating to the current context in which work-based learning occurs. Next, selected findings from a survey of 39 Victorian social work students on their experiences of placement learning are reported. The survey focused on problems encountered by students on placement. A number of the problems students faced suggested the need for additional opportunities both before and during the placements to engage with material on safety in the field, and ways to deal with workplace stress and conflict. In response to these issues the article summarises some pedagogical strategies that may be used to enhance student learning in these areas both leading up to and during their field placements. In addition to matters relating to safety and stress, financial pressures were evident for students endeavouring to complete field placements. The recent moves from universities to embrace industry based learning, clearly has implications for funding support made available to students undertaking this type of education.
95 citations
69 citations
63 citations
TL;DR: A qualitative study of foster carers who had ended a placement because of the young person's disruptive behaviour was conducted to examine ways in which system shortcomings might be affecting placement outcomes.
Abstract: A crisis in foster care is suggested by many of the national and international published reports. One seemingly intractable problem is placement instability, particularly for adolescents with behavioural problems. A qualitative study of foster carers who had ended a placement because of the young person's disruptive behaviour (n = 19) was conducted to examine ways in which system shortcomings might be affecting placement outcomes. Data were collected on the process of placement deterioration, the incident(s) that precipitated the decision to end placement, formal carer support, and the carer's response to the breakdown. All placements fell into one of two categories: those that, with certain interventions, might have been sustained (n = 9); and those that, regardless of intervention, appear to have been unsustainable (n = 10). This study contributes to the alternative care literature by highlighting the potential of some faltering placements to be maintained and of some failed placements to be renegotiated.
61 citations
TL;DR: The authors examines some of the issues for rural social workers practicing where networks are small and multilayered, anonymity, privacy and safety for the social worker cannot be guaranteed, and a broad range of knowledge and skills are demanded.
Abstract: Australians live in diverse areas, city and country, coast and hinterland, desert and rainforest, urban and remote areas. While much social work practice is located in large population centres, the problem of providing a social work service in rural and remote areas is a challenging one. This article examines some of the issues for rural social workers practicing where networks are small and multilayered, anonymity, privacy and safety for the social worker cannot be guaranteed, and a broad range of knowledge and skills are demanded. As a profession, it is important to acknowledge the complexity of delivering an ethical, responsive and appropriate service in rural areas. For rural social workers, this challenge impacts in both their professional and personal roles.
59 citations
TL;DR: The authors conducted a qualitative study of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social workers to understand the influence that cultural identity has on their practice and the difficulties encountered when working with kinship networks and the need to constantly negotiate personal and professional boundaries.
Abstract: Hearing the stories of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social workers highlights the powerful influence that cultural identity has on their practice. Their identity is continuously negotiated alongside a professional social work identity that is dominated by Western discourse. The tensions that these social workers experience in their practice is revealed in the findings of a qualitative research project conducted by an Indigenous and a non-Indigenous practitioner and researcher. The researchers spoke to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social workers engaged in diverse areas of practice across Australia. Their stories reveal a complex range of cultural and professional challenges. These include the difficulties encountered when working with their own kinship networks and the need to constantly negotiate personal and professional boundaries. The paper concludes with some thoughts about how the practice of Indigenous social workers can provide valuable lessons for Australian social work.
44 citations
TL;DR: A range of useful strategies was identified to combat and cope with both the risk and experience of violence and harassment for the worker, and for their families.
Abstract: This paper reports the key research findings related to personal and family safety of rural welfare and social workers, from a study conducted in rural Victoria, Australia. Significant findings included concerns about personal and family safety, frequency of episodes of work related violence and harassment, and the resultant impact on personal and family activities. A range of useful strategies was identified to combat and cope with both the risk and experience of violence and harassment for the worker, and for their families. Workplaces, professional associations and educators need to recognise the impact of this occupational hazard and respond with sensitivity to these issues, which have particular relevance for rural practitioners where anonymity and privacy are frequently compromised.
43 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the challenge of case management in families where it occurs and explore this challenge within the New South Wales context within the context of sibling sexual abuse in families.
Abstract: Sibling sexual abuse often causes polarities of view in professional and client groups alike. These views range from seeing it as benign to damaging. For professionals new to the field this paper gives an overview of the discussion that sibling sexual abuse is as traumatic as parental sexual abuse, and has lasting impact on its victims. Recognising the particular dynamics of sibling sexual abuse and effect on victims raises the challenge of case management in families where it occurs. This paper will explore this challenge within the New South Wales context.
40 citations
TL;DR: This paper explored the social action history of the Victorian state branch of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and highlighted the highlights and lowlights of the branch's social policy interventions.
Abstract: Professional social work associations have long espoused at least a rhetorical commitment to promoting more equitable social policy outcomes. Yet too often the actions have failed to live up to the rhetoric. This article explores the social action history of the Victorian state branch of the Australian Association of Social Workers. Attention is drawn both to the highlights and lowlights of the branch's social policy interventions. The problematic nature of social action is attributed to a number of factors including deficits in skills, resources, and education. Practical suggestions are made as to how the AASW might establish a more effective social policy network in the future.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the implications of such changes for social work ethics and consider how the profession can think about living with the legacy of earlier approaches, which have been challenged by current developments in social theory.
Abstract: Until recently, professional ethics in social work has often been characterised in terms of a debate between Kantian and Utilitarian approaches. However, both these approaches are founded on a common basis in universalism and liberal individualism, which have been challenged by current developments in social theory. This paper examines the implications of such changes for social work ethics and considers how the profession can think about living with the legacy of earlier approaches.
TL;DR: This article conducted a qualitative study with nine young people who attempted suicide in North Queensland and found that help was sought from a range of individuals prior to the attempt, including family, friends and professional workers.
Abstract: In recent decades Australia has recorded one of the highest youth suicide rates worldwide. Attempted suicide is considered to be up to 50 times more common than completed suicides. This small, qualitative study, undertaken in North Queensland, aimed to offer a window into young people's lives concerning their suicide attempt(s) and their help-seeking behaviours. In-depth interviews were undertaken with nine young people. Findings reveal help was sought from a range of individuals prior to the attempt, including family, friends and professional workers. Regarding their attempts, there was evidence in some stories of a series of events leading up to the attempt, but also evidence in others of more impulsive acts. The intent of the attempt for this sample appeared to be unique to individual attempts. Getting information about depression, and workers listening to young people's unique story was important and workers, who could fill a ‘mate’ role, was viewed by some participants as helpful.
TL;DR: In this paper, a search of key social work journals from 1980 to 2001 identified a total of 102 research articles about care-giving and the perspectives informing these articles fall into four groups: positivist, interpretivist, systems, and feminist/radical.
Abstract: Since 1980, national and international research knowledge on carers and care-giving has been accumulating However, the theoretical bases of this research are usually unstated and implicit Theory is vital in shaping social work research programs and types of social work intervention This paper examines and critiques the social work theories influencing published social work research on care-giving A search of key social work journals from 1980 to 2001 identified a total of 102 research articles about care-giving The perspectives informing these articles fall into four groupings: positivist; interpretivist; systems; and feminist/radical Building on the model developed by Howe (1987), which differentiates theories of radical change from those concerned with social regulation, each perspective is critically analysed for its underlying assumptions, level of analysis, research methodology and implications for policy and practice Our review indicated that research on care-giving is dominated by a positivi
TL;DR: In this paper, the development of social policy subjects within one particular Australian social work course is analyzed and some suggestions are made for new educational initiatives that could potentially lead to more effective social policy practice.
Abstract: Local and international evidence suggests that professional social work education often fails to effectively prepare graduates to implement social policy objectives within their everyday practice. This paper critically analyses the development of social policy subjects within one particular Australian social work course. Particular attention is drawn to subject objectives, content, reading material, teaching methods and assessment. Some suggestions are made for new educational initiatives that could potentially lead to more effective social policy practice.
TL;DR: Findings that older people are legally vulnerable when entering an aged care facility, that social workers lack knowledge of the legal aspects of this move and do not necessarily view this information as core to their practice are reported.
Abstract: This purpose of this paper is to report findings that older people are legally vulnerable when entering an aged care facility, that social workers lack knowledge of the legal aspects of this move and do not necessarily view this information as core to their practice. The structure of social work services mirror the disjuncture older people and their families experience at this time and this may, in part, explain social work's lack of attention to these issues. Although many social workers are in contact with older people, the profession in Australia has been slow to develop a knowledge base to support effective practice with this group.
TL;DR: A major study carried out in the Melbourne Children's Court, Victoria, Australia during 1993-1995, of the factors that influence magistrates' decision-making in child abuse cases, found that magistrates relied more on their legal training and individual discretion than on information from the child protection service when making these decisions as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: A major study carried out in the Melbourne Children's Court, Victoria, Australia, during 1993–1995, of the factors that influence magistrates' decision-making in child abuse cases, found that magistrates relied more on their legal training and individual discretion than on information from the child protection service when making these decisions. Magistrates' emphasis on adversarial procedures meant that the need to establish the facts in a case was the court's primary consideration and that children's interests, and welfare concerns about them, were marginalised in the hearing of child abuse matters. The article reports on this aspect of the larger study: how the adversarial process ill serves the rights, and best interests, of children in the hearing of child abuse matters and provides case examples to illustrate this. The information is drawn from the qualitative and quantitative data gathered for the major study; data collected from the observation of court hearings, interviews with magistrates and co...
TL;DR: The value of the UK Children in Need approach as a model for enhancing support to children and families outside the statutory child protection system is discussed.
Abstract: Child welfare concerns have drifted to an inappropriate focus on crisis intervention and a punitive approach to child protection intervention at the expense of community-based preventive child welfare programs. Recent attempts to divert cases from the child protection system through differentiated response mechanisms have been criticised for failing to provide access to relevant services or preventing vulnerable families from re-entering the child protection process. A tension inherent in providing both child protection and family support within the one agency is also identified as a barrier to effective service delivery. This paper discusses the value of the UK Children in Need approach as a model for enhancing support to children and families outside the statutory child protection system. Information from an evaluation of a trial implementation of the UK Children in Need approach in Victoria is used to discuss the implications for policy and practice of placing responsibility for coordinating a response based on the needs of children and their families within family support services.
TL;DR: A review of outcome studies from groups facilitated for persons living with serious mental illness can be found in this paper, concluding that group work is an effective and less expensive treatment option that would benefit from further research to establish an evidence base.
Abstract: This paper reviews outcome studies from groups facilitated for persons living with serious mental illness. Although the research base is limited (groups posing considerable methodological challenges), available studies show that, in general, group work is as effective as individual work, if not more so. This paper describes findings from studies of short-term, long-term and self-help groups dealing with mood disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and borderline personality disorders over the last 10 years. The concept of ‘time-effective’ group work is discussed as are the potentially harmful effects of group participation. The paper concludes by arguing that group work is an effective and less expensive treatment option that would benefit from further research to establish an evidence base, both for current practice and for the expansion of group work practice in the future.
TL;DR: The system of this book of course will be much easier. No worry to forget bringing the child abuse on the internet ending the silence book as discussed by the authors, You can open the device and get the book by on-line.
Abstract: Reading is a hobby to open the knowledge windows. Besides, it can provide the inspiration and spirit to face this life. By this way, concomitant with the technology development, many companies serve the e-book or book in soft file. The system of this book of course will be much easier. No worry to forget bringing the child abuse on the internet ending the silence book. You can open the device and get the book by on-line.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the facilitators, inhibitors and triggers to service coordination within these communities and highlight the efforts of key individuals in providing leadership of the coordination process and the keenness of human service workers to reduce duplication.
Abstract: This paper discusses those factors identified in both the review of literature and from the results of nine focus groups held in rural communities that influence service coordination. The paper shows that the practice wisdom of service coordination is congruent with the findings from research on this topic. It discusses the facilitators, inhibitors and triggers to service coordination within these communities. Informal networking and the support given by management are recognised as important facilitators and the competitive tendering funding process and ‘professional elitism’ are seen to be major inhibitors to service coordination. Important triggers of service coordination were perceived to be the efforts of key individuals in providing leadership of the coordination process and the keenness of human service workers to reduce duplication.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on work with older gay men and highlight the importance of talking about sexual identity in order to prevent it being rendered invisible, while there may be some risks associated with openly identifying as gay, such as homophobic violence.
Abstract: How do social workers begin to talk about sexual identity when conducting assessments with older men? This paper focuses on work with older gay men and highlights the importance of talking about sexual identity in order to prevent it being rendered invisible. While there may be some risks associated with openly identifying as gay, such as homophobic violence, being open about one's sexuality is important for maintaining self-esteem and mental health. Despite the obstacles facing social workers in talking to older men about their sexual identity, it is essential that they do not ignore this aspect of people's lives. Therefore it is important that social workers open themselves up to the possibility that an older man might be gay or bisexual and help construct environments that enable the disclosure of this aspect of his identity.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report on the lives of young drug dependent pregnant women and the importance of housing for those wanting to enter drug treatment programs, and ask how critical the provision of appropriate housing are for women who choose to ‘get clean’ or who attempt to limit their drug use.
Abstract: The research on which this paper is based is part of an Australian Housing Urban Research Institute (AHURI) project using ethnographic research with people using heroin in the cities of Yarra and Geelong (Victoria), Sydney and Cabramatta (New South Wales). More specifically the article reports on the lives of young drug dependent pregnant women and the importance of housing for those wanting to enter drug treatment programs. This involves asking how critical the provision of appropriate housing are for women who choose to ‘get clean’ or who attempt to limit their drug use. An answer is provided by drawing on interview material from the pregnant women themselves as well as a range of health and welfare service providers.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the efficacy of feminist group work for women with eating issues and found that the key to the effectiveness of group work is that it provides a curative culture.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the efficacy of feminist group work for women with eating issues. Data for the study is drawn from participants involved in five therapeutic groups at the community based organisation, ISIS Centre for Women's Action on Eating Issues 1. Participants in this study completed the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) before and after group work and also responded to a post-group questionnaire which elicited their experiences of group work. Background information about ISIS and the model of group work at ISIS is provided. Following this, the EDI completed by participants and the post-group questionnaire are examined. The data reveals that feminist group work is a valuable therapeutic intervention for women with eating issues. The key to the effectiveness of group work is that it provides a curative culture.
TL;DR: This paper identified and described social work models of intervention when interviewing young persons who applied for UTLAH payments and examined the way in which social workers developed a response to organisational and legislative changes.
Abstract: It is mandatory for social workers at Centrelink to interview and assess under 18-year-old youth who are applying for the ‘Unreasonable to Live at Home’ (UTLAH) rate of Youth Allowance. The aims of this research project were to identify and describe social work models of intervention when interviewing young persons who applied for UTLAH payments and to examine the way in which social workers developed a response to organisational and legislative changes. The qualitative research consisted of two components: field observations of social work interviews with claimants and an open-ended questionnaire completed by social workers after the observed interaction. The research confirmed the hypothesis that parts of a number of social work interventions could be combined and used to effectively assess and assist clients within the prescribed short-term approach. In addition, it supported the researchers' belief that social work models of intervention could be adapted to organisational and environmental changes. A ...