173 results
Search Results
2. Reviewing Manuscripts for Australian Social Work.
- Author
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Tilbury, Clare
- Subjects
AUTHORS ,EDITORS ,MANUSCRIPTS ,PROFESSIONAL peer review ,RESPECT ,RESPONSIBILITY ,SERIAL publications ,SOCIAL case work ,SOCIAL work research ,PROFESSIONALISM - Abstract
Copyright of Australian Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2015
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3. Social Work Research in the Child Protection Field in Australia.
- Author
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Tilbury, Clare, Hughes, Mark, Bigby, Christine, and Osmond, Jennifer
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CHILD care ,CHILD abuse ,CINAHL database ,MEDLINE ,ONLINE information services ,PROFESSIONAL peer review ,SOCIAL case work ,SYSTEMATIC reviews ,DATA analysis software ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Social work makes an important contribution to child protection practice and policy in Australia, but data are limited about the discipline's contribution to research. The aim of this scoping review was to examine the quantity and nature of Australian social work child protection research for the period 2007-14. A comprehensive search of nine bibliographic data bases identified 255 peer-reviewed articles. The papers were authored by 287 researchers, most of whom published only one paper during the period. The research was published in seventeen Australian and thirty-five international journals. Non-empirical papers and those using qualitative methodologies were most prevalent, and there was a lack of research depth and quantum on particular child protection topics. The findings indicate that developing more sustained programmes of research, underpinned by a balanced portfolio of methods and approaches, would maximise the potential for research impact on child protection policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
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4. Implementation and maintenance of patient navigation programs linking primary care with community-based health and social services: a scoping literature review.
- Author
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Valaitis, Ruta K., Carter, Nancy, Lam, Annie, Nicholl, Jennifer, Feather, Janice, and Cleghorn, Laura
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PRIMARY care ,PATIENT-centered care ,COMMUNITY-based social services ,CANCER patient care ,HEALTH outcome assessment ,MEDICAL care ,COMMUNITY health services ,CONTINUUM of care ,DIFFUSION of innovations ,PRIMARY health care ,QUALITY of life ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
Background: Since the early 90s, patient navigation programs were introduced in the United States to address inequitable access to cancer care. Programs have since expanded internationally and in scope. The goals of patient navigation programs are to: a) link patients and families to primary care services, specialist care, and community-based health and social services (CBHSS); b) provide more holistic patient-centred care; and, c) identify and resolve patient barriers to care. This paper fills a gap in knowledge to reveal what is known about motivators and factors influencing implementation and maintenance of patient navigation programs in primary care that link patients to CBHSS. It also reports on outcomes from these studies to help identify gaps in research that can inform future studies.Methods: This scoping literature review involved: i) electronic database searches; ii) a web site search; iii) a search of reference lists from literature reviews; and, iv) author follow up. It included papers from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and/or Western Europe published between January 1990 and June 2013 if they discussed navigators or navigation programs in primary care settings that linked patients to CBHSS.Results: Of 34 papers, most originated in the United States (n = 29) while the remainder were from the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Motivators for initiating navigation programs were to: a) improve delivery of health and social care services; b) support and manage specific health needs or specific population needs, and; c) improve quality of life and wellbeing of patients. Eleven factors were found to influence implementation and maintenance of these patient navigation programs. These factors closely aligned with the Diffusion of Innovation in Service Organizations model, thus providing a theoretical foundation to support them. Various positive outcomes were reported for patients, providers and navigators, as well as the health and social care system, although they need to be considered with caution since the majority of studies were descriptive.Conclusions: This study contributes new knowledge that can inform the initiation and maintenance of primary care patient navigation programs that link patients with CBHSS. It also provides directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2017
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5. Australia – A Land for Young Women? Exploring Young Women's Positioning in Contemporary Australian Family Violence Discourses.
- Author
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Johnston, Bianca, Flynn, Catherine, and Gordon, Faith
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ADOLESCENT development ,FEMINISM ,AGE distribution ,PRACTICAL politics ,DOMESTIC violence ,WOMEN ,INTIMATE partner violence ,EXPERIENCE ,SEX distribution ,INTERSECTIONALITY ,SOCIAL classes ,GOVERNMENT policy ,CONSUMER activism ,PUBLIC welfare ,PHILOSOPHY ,CULTURAL values ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
Young women in Australia experience serious risks from intimate partner violence (IPV) as a form of family violence. However, there has been a lack of attention to the impact of this on young women and, as a result, these risks are not well understood. This article critically examines existing literature, policy and research and in doing so, specifically explores the ways in which young women aged between 10 and 20 years old are represented and positioned in contemporary family violence discourses. Framed by a review of socio-political and cultural history, the paper highlights the early colonial, patriarchal foundations of Australia, which have specific implications for the challenges that contemporary young women experience in situations of IPV. With a particular emphasis on the Australian context, this article employs both an intersectional and critical feminist lens, with a key focus on the dimensions of adolescent development and youth social geographies. Focusing specifically on these dimensions, including development, gender and age, highlights the important role that feminist social work perspectives and practices can contribute to uncovering, understanding and responding to young women's experiences of intimate partner violence through policy and advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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6. Domestic and Family Violence for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities in Australia during COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Author
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Afrouz, Rojan and Robinson, Kim
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HEALTH services accessibility ,LINGUISTICS ,SYSTEMATIC reviews ,DOMESTIC violence ,CULTURAL pluralism ,COMMUNITIES ,MEDICAL care ,EXPERIENCE ,POLICY sciences ,COVID-19 pandemic ,WOMEN'S health ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
Women are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. Based on the Australian context, we highlight how women from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities are vulnerable to Domestic and Family Violence (DFV). During the pandemic, CALD women experienced inequality in relation to DFV support and services. In this paper, our methodology is based on a case study from a rapid review of academic and grey literature that privileged the lived experience of CALD women affected by the pandemic. From a critical social work perspective, we explored the newly emerging literature highlighting DFV for CALD communities during the pandemic. Our research highlights an increase in DFV incidents, frequency and severity of incidents against CALD women, limited access to DFV services, and that women on Temporary and Humanitarian Visas (THV) were more likely to be subjected to DFV. We support the urgent need to include women's services in developing appropriate policy responses to address the specific issues facing women, particularly those on THV. Critical social work perspectives can be utilised to build on and support the response of services during the COVID pandemic to promote social and policy change, and increased access to services. This support can be implemented by workforce initiatives, dedicated resources and community engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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7. Challenges and Opportunities of Evidence Use in Practice in Australian Children's Development Programs.
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Gleeson, Joanne, Walsh, Lucas, Rickinson, Mark, Kirkby, Jane, O'Donovan, Richard, and Grimmett, Helen
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CHILD welfare ,INTERVIEWING ,SCALE analysis (Psychology) ,SOCIAL case work ,EVIDENCE-based medicine ,PROFESSIONAL practice ,COMMUNITY-based social services ,HUMAN services programs - Abstract
This paper explores the role of evidence and its use in a cluster of Australian community-based child development programs. The paper draws on findings from a 2016–2017 study commissioned by a not-for-profit organization to review their programs' alignment with government evidence-based program expectations. Cunningham and Duffee's (2009) evidence-based practice style typology is utilized to examine how different purposes of use drive styles of and approaches to evidence sourcing, application, and reporting. Perspectives on what constitutes evidence and how such evidence is valued, used, and reported can vary considerably between individual programs, irrespective of enforced standards and expectations. It is argued that a single-dimensional approach to program evidence-based evaluation and reporting is not appropriate and potentially damaging in contexts where community-based programs have different purposes, structures, cultures, and intentions. Given a program's particular evidence-use style, evidence-based criteria, processes, and reporting requirements should be matched accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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8. Call for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reviewers: Australian Social Work.
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PUBLISHING ,PROFESSIONAL peer review ,TORRES Strait Islanders ,AUTHORS ,VOCATIONAL guidance ,SERIAL publications ,MEDICAL practice ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
The article presents a call for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander reviewers for Australian social work articles for a 2023 issue.
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- 2021
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9. Oscillations, boundaries and ethical care: Social work practitioner-researcher experiences with qualitative end-of-life care research.
- Author
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Moon, Felicity, Mooney, Christine, McDermott, Fiona, Poon, Peter, and Kissane, David W
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PROFESSIONAL ethics ,WORK ,RESEARCH methodology ,SOCIAL constructionism ,INTERVIEWING ,THEORY of knowledge ,ACQUISITION of data ,SOCIAL boundaries ,FAMILY-centered care ,QUALITATIVE research ,FAMILY attitudes ,HOSPITAL wards ,EXPERIENTIAL learning ,MEDICAL records ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,THEMATIC analysis ,SOCIAL case work ,BEREAVEMENT ,PALLIATIVE treatment - Abstract
Policy and research acknowledge that the quality of end-of-life care in hospitals can be poor, with families reporting significant concerns regarding physical and psychosocial care. In order to design appropriate evidenced-based care approaches, we conducted qualitative research examining the perspectives of bereaved families of patients who received end-of-life care in our health network. This paper reports on ethical dilemmas facing practitioner-researchers conducting interviews with bereaved families. We recruited 40 bereaved family members to participate in semi-structured interviews discussing the care a loved one received while a patient under the general medicine units. Bereaved participants expressed grief, humour and anger regarding their experience, and several reported perceptions of negligent and harmful care. Irrespective of the protocols in place to mitigate distress, this posed an ethical dilemma for the practitioner-researcher as a member of the health network, who needed to balance clinical and research roles when responding to distress. The practitioner-researcher's own bias and assumptions emerged when analysing families' distressing recollections. More broadly, the issues discussed have clinical implications for models of hospital bereavement support. Participants' use of photos and mementos jointly served to include the presence of the deceased in the research interview, but also highlighted the potential to utilise visual methods to examine sensitive research issues. It helps every practitioner-researcher to distinguish between research-oriented goals and clinical responsibilities to care provision as they consider their human research ethics application before beginning any research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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10. "Our Voices: Being Seen and Heard".
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INDIGENOUS Australians ,CULTURAL identity ,TRANSCULTURAL medical care ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
An editorial is presented to advance the decolonizing agenda for social work. The Guest Editors of this Special Issue seek to bring together a collection of papers that uphold Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander/First Nation voices, leadership, and healing. Papers will discuss existing and emerging Indigenous knowledges, challenge ineffective, paternalistic policies and approaches, forge new ground in decolonized practice, and advance key themes.
- Published
- 2022
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11. The Production and Dissemination of Australian Social Work Scholarship: A Citation Analysis.
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Tilbury, Clare, Bigby, Christine, and Hughes, Mark
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PROFESSIONAL peer review ,SCHOLARLY method ,LABOR productivity ,CITATION analysis ,SOCIAL work research ,RESEARCH funding ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,DATA analysis software ,SOCIAL case work ,DIFFUSION of innovations - Abstract
Understanding the scholarly impact of social work research can inform strategies to strengthen the profession's research foundations. This study examined research productivity and academic impact using h-indexes for a sample of 112 Australian social work researchers according to the stage of their career. Annual research output was calculated using Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) data. The average h-index for all social work researchers in the sample was 6.39 (Scopus) and 12.5 (Google Scholar). Web of Science was not used due to the number of inaccurate researcher profiles. One hundred and thirty-nine publications received 100 or more citations, but there were many never-cited publications. A social work benchmark for the number of publications is around 1.4 publications per year, depending upon a person's stage of career and workload profile. Citation analysis can supplement peer review in evaluating research quality, but there are disciplinary differences in publication and citation practices, so it is useful to know where social work is positioned. IMPLICATIONS Citation analysis is used to assess research productivity and quality alongside qualitative assessment, such as peer review. It is imperative for researchers to check, correct, and claim Google Scholar, Scopus and Web of Science records, and to link these to their ORCID profile. A citation benchmark for social work would be in the range of h-index 3.2 for early-career researchers to 15.8 for research-focused positions (Scopus) or h-index 6.1–25.0 (Google Scholar). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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12. A transformative approach to systems theory in caregiving research.
- Author
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Hodgkin, Suzanne, Warburton, Jeni, and Cash, Belinda
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AGING ,CAREGIVERS ,CONCEPTUAL structures ,EXPERIMENTAL design ,FAMILIES ,RESEARCH methodology ,RURAL conditions ,SOCIAL case work ,SOCIAL work research ,SYSTEMS theory ,GOVERNMENT policy - Abstract
This paper illustrates how systems theory can be used in social work research design to understand the systemic issues associated with spousal care in rural Australia. Spousal caregiving is embedded within multiple formal and informal systems, including family, community, health and aged care practice, social policy, and social and cultural norms. It is therefore a complex phenomenon to explore in social research, with each of these systems interacting with and influencing other aspects of the care system. The purpose of this paper is to provide an illustration of a research design that explores this systemic complexity. The design is conceptually underpinned by the transformative paradigm; a critical approach that reflects social work principles of social justice. The methodology is based on an ecosystems approach to assessment, using multiple methods to explore interactions between systems of care at policy, practice and individual levels. This application of systems theory to research presents an innovative opportunity for social work research to reflect long-established practices of understanding complex phenomenon within its sociocultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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13. Heidi's legacy: community palliative care at work in regional Australia.
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Daddow, Angela and Stanley, Moira
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EVALUATION of human services programs ,ATTITUDE (Psychology) ,RESEARCH methodology ,COMMUNITY health services ,MEDICAL personnel ,INTERVIEWING ,INDIVIDUALIZED medicine ,HUMAN services programs ,CATASTROPHIC illness ,QUALITATIVE research ,PATIENTS' attitudes ,BUSINESS networks ,HEALTH ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,INTERPROFESSIONAL relations ,PATIENT-professional relations ,THEMATIC analysis ,PALLIATIVE treatment ,SOCIAL case work ,VOLUNTEER service ,MEDICAL needs assessment ,TRUST - Abstract
Advances in the management of chronic diseases, combined with an aging population, have escalated the prevalence of people with life-limiting conditions and demand for palliative care. In Australia, this has prompted calls for change in policy frameworks, service systems and funding models that underpin care. The complex social, cultural and policy transformation required to enact these changes has been problematic. This paper reports on qualitative research into a unique, Australian Community Palliative Care program reflecting these aspirational changes. The research examined the program design and its implementation through the perspectives of program staff and volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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14. Family Group Conferencing as an Additional Service Response to the Abuse of Older People in Australia.
- Author
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Blundell, Barbara, Clare, Joe, and Clare, Mike
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FAMILIES & psychology ,PREVENTION of abuse of older people ,ABUSE of older people -- Law & legislation ,FAMILY psychotherapy ,COMMUNITY services ,HEALTH policy ,MEDICAL screening ,CONSUMER activism ,PATIENT care conferences ,PUBLIC welfare ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
The abuse of older people, often perpetrated by family and friends, is a complex multidimensional social problem. In most Australian jurisdictions, responses are currently limited to either primary-level (information, education and referral) or tertiary-level statutory responses. Outside of Australia, Family Group Conferencing has partially addressed this secondary-level service gap by inviting the older person and their wider family system to identify and establish a family-led plan to address potential or actual risk of abuse. This paper presents the core processes of Family Group Conferencing, including the quality of the established evidence base for its use with older people. The limitations and caveats associated with this approach are explored, and a way forward is proposed to explore the utility and suitability of Family Group Conferencing for adults in Australia in response to some types and severities of abuse and mistreatment. The abuse of older people is complex and under-reported, and many older people choose to take no action as a large proportion of perpetrators are family members. Limited Australian responses focus on either primary prevention or tertiary-level statutory responses. Family Group Conferencing may enhance secondary-level service responses to abuse, mobilising the older person's protective networks, and reducing the risk of abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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15. Social Work and Cancer: The Unique Contribution of Social Workers.
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Pockett, Rosalie and Hobbs, Kim
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PROFESSIONAL practice ,SOCIAL workers ,SOCIAL justice ,MEDICAL care ,LABOR supply ,HEALTH care teams ,TUMORS ,SOCIAL services ,CANCER patient medical care ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including social work practice; practice-based research, and oncology practice.
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- 2022
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16. Space, time and demographic change.
- Author
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Robertson, Hamish
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HEALTH services accessibility ,INTEGRATED health care delivery ,MEDICAL needs assessment ,POPULATION geography ,SOCIAL case work ,SPATIAL behavior ,TIME ,SOCIOECONOMIC factors ,OLD age - Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential value of applying spatial science and technology to the issue of care integration across what are the often fragmented domains of health and social care provision. The issue of focus for this purpose is population ageing because it challenges existing information and practice silos. Better integration, the author proposes, needs to adopt a geographic approach to deal with the challenges that population ageing present to health and social care as they currently function in many countries.Design/methodology/approach The approach utilised here explores the role that could be played by enhancing spatial perspectives in care integration. Spatial and temporal strategies need to be coordinated to produce systems of integrated care that are needed to meet the needs of growing numbers of older people.Findings The author’s premise is that, with some rare exceptions, geographies of care are needed to address important shifts in demography such as population ageing and their epidemiological consequences. The rising intersection between the ageing and disability concepts illustrates how the fluid nature of health and social care client groups will challenge existing systems and their presuppositions. Health and medical geography offer a theoretical and practical response to some of these emerging problems.Research limitations/implications This is a brief conceptual piece in favour of integrating geographic concepts and methods in the context of changing demography and the social, economic and service implications of such changes. It is limited in scope and a more detailed explanation would be required for a proof of concept.Practical implications Practically we know that all human services vary across space as do both healthcare and related social services and supports. Issues of quality and safety are numerous in these policy domains generally, with aged care evidencing a growing number of problems and challenges. Being able to inquire on significant challenges in health and social care through a spatial lens has the potential to provide another, highly practical, kind of evidence in this field of work. This lens is, the author contends, very poorly integrated into either health or social care at present. However, doing so would have a variety of useful outcomes for monitoring and intervening on real problems in care integration. An example could be “frequent flyers” in emergency departments as has been done in Camden, New Jersey through patient mapping.Social implications The author’s position in this paper is that the challenges we face in providing integrated care to ageing and increasingly disabled (including both physical and cognitive impairments) populations will only grow in the face of variable governmental responses and increasingly complex funding and service provider arrangements. Without a geographical perspective and the concepts and tools of spatial science the author does not see an adequate response emerging. The shift to community-based care for many groups, including the aged, means that location will become more important rather than less so. This is a societal concern of major proportions and the very concept of integrated care requires of us a geographical perspective.Originality/value This is a short but, the author believes, conceptually rich piece with a variety of potential practical implications for health and social care service provision. Issues of equity, quality, safety and even basic access can only grow as population ageing progresses and various forms of chronic disease and disability continue to grow. Knowing where the most affected people and their social and service connections are located will support better integration. And better integration may resolve some of the financial and related resource problems that are already evident but which can only continue to increase. In this context, the author suggests that the integrated care of the future needs to be geographically informed to be effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
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17. Exploring the ethos of district nursing, 1885-1985.
- Author
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Madsen, Wendy
- Subjects
NURSING practice ,COMMUNITY health nursing ,PSYCHOLOGICAL burnout ,COMMUNITY health services ,HEALTH care reform ,HISTORICAL research ,JOB satisfaction ,MEDICAL personnel ,NURSE-patient relationships ,NURSES ,HISTORY of nursing ,NURSING education ,NURSING ethics ,PATIENT advocacy ,PUBLIC welfare ,RESEARCH funding ,SOCIAL case work ,EMPLOYEES' workload ,HOME environment ,OCCUPATIONAL roles ,NURSES' associations ,PATIENTS' families ,HISTORY - Abstract
The history of district nursing in Australia explored in this paper reveals a continuity in the essential values held by district nurses for over a century. These nurses practised holistic, family-centred nursing from the very origins of district nursing service. The events surrounding the establishment of Community Health Centres in the 1970s challenged district nurses to reconsider their role, while at the same time reconfirming their essential ethos. These values that underpinned district nursing practice and challenges to these values are examined in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
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18. Sharing and valuing older Aboriginal people's voices about social and emotional wellbeing services: a strength-based approach for service providers.
- Author
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Gibson, Chontel, Crockett, Judith, Dudgeon, Pat, Bernoth, Maree, and Lincoln, Michelle
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ETHNOPSYCHOLOGY ,HEALTH services accessibility ,SOCIAL case work ,MEDICAL care of indigenous peoples ,WELL-being ,THEMATIC analysis ,OLD age - Abstract
Objective: Over the last decade, the literature relating to older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's preferences for social and emotional wellbeing services has grown. However, little evidence exists in relation to older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's experiences of services relating to social and emotional wellbeing. This paper highlights older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's experiences of social and emotional wellbeing services in Australia and then uses these key findings of the research, along with the literature, to develop a strength-based approach for service providers. Methods: Yarning was the preferred research method for the older Aboriginal community. In total, 16 older Aboriginal people, including eight women and eight men participated in the research yarning sessions. A modified version of an existing thematic analysis process supported yarning members to participate in each stage of the research, including data analysis. Results: The themes emerging from the voices of the yarning members are they couldn't give a damn about them, You've got to get the right one and ticking the box. The themes focus on negative, positive and preferred experiences of social and emotional wellbeing service provision. Conclusion: The key findings and related literature contribute to the development of a strength-based approach, which supports the implementation of responsive and effective services that address Elders, older peoples and their communities' social and emotional wellbeing issues and aspirations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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19. Witnessing, saving, serving? A relational approach to community development in the suburbs of a global city.
- Author
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Howitt, Richard, McLachlan, Kath, Tofa, Matalena, Barkat, Iqbal, Misra, Garima, Moulds, Nathan, Susanto, Johana, Osborne, Philip, Grenot, Dominic, Rajan, Nitin, and Yates, Joanne
- Subjects
CHRISTIANITY ,CHURCH buildings ,HUMANITARIANISM ,INTERPERSONAL relations ,NONPROFIT organizations ,PUBLIC housing ,PUBLIC welfare ,RELIGION ,RELIGIOUS institutions ,SOCIAL case work ,SPIRITUALITY ,COMMUNITY services ,CONSUMER activism - Abstract
This paper considers the community development practice of The Salvation Army in a public housing estate in Sydney, Australia. Drawing on interviews with community members, officers, staff, and volunteers from The Salvation Army, we explore the transformative potential of relational, rather than transactional, community development practices. In accepting the theological principle of imago Dei as the foundation for its practice, The Salvation Army prioritized listening, witnessing and simply loving people and place, and generated a profound sense of belonging and connectedness. This relational approach to community development offers valuable lessons for faith-based communities of social work practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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20. Very useful, but do carefully: Mental health researcher views on establishing a Mental Health Expert Consumer Researcher Group.
- Author
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Scholz, Brett, Platania‐Phung, Chris, Gordon, Sarah, Ellis, Pete, Roper, Cath, Bocking, Julia, and Happell, Brenda
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CONSUMER attitudes ,NURSING practice ,OCCUPATIONAL therapy ,PSYCHIATRY ,PSYCHOLOGY ,QUESTIONNAIRES ,RESEARCH funding ,SOCIAL case work ,PATIENT participation ,QUALITATIVE research ,HUMAN research subjects ,CROSS-sectional method ,CONSUMER activism ,PSYCHOLOGY of Research personnel ,DATA analysis software ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Contemporary mental health policy stipulates consumer participation in all aspects of mental health services including service evaluation and other forms of mental health research.Research is identified as underpinning quality mental health services, and therefore, consumers researchers could enhance the mental health sector by contributing to the quality, credibility and relevance of mental health research. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: Non‐consumer researchers generally supported the concept of a consumer expert reference group for researchers at the individual and institutional level.A consumer expert reference group should reflect diversity and offer expertise relevant to the topic of research and may represent one way to normalize partnerships with consumer researchers and realize the benefits they can bring to research. What are the implications for practice?: Quality mental health services are underpinned by robust research evidence. It is crucial that consumers are active participants in research activity.The availability of a consumer expert reference group could facilitate collaborations between consumer and non‐consumer researchers and contribute to a stronger consumer focus embedded in mental health research. Introduction: Contemporary mental health policy identifies consumers as active participants in all aspects of mental health services from design to evaluation. Consumer researchers should be actively involved in mental health research and contribute to quality service delivery. Aim: To gain a snapshot of mental health researcher views on strategies for increasing research by or with consumers in mental health through the establishment of an Expert Consumer Researcher Group (ECRG). Methods: Cross‐sectional survey of 41 non‐consumer mental health researchers from Australia or New Zealand. Results: The introduction of an ECRG was considered an effective strategy for linking consumer and non‐consumer researchers and providing specialist advice on research design and methodology. The most suitable location for this group was identified as within consumer advocacy agencies (71%), universities (66%) or research funding bodies (66%). Participants rated their likelihood of seeking advice from the ECRG as high. Discussion: Research participants supported the value of an ECRG. They emphasized the importance of ensuring the group reflected a diversity of views and offered specialized expertise related to the specific topic. The ECRG could benefit both individual researchers and larger research organizations. Implications for practice: An ECRG could facilitate collaborations with consumer researchers and in turn enhance the quality of mental health research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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21. Australian Social Work: Proposed Guidelines for Articles by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Authors and About Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues.
- Author
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Bennett, Bindi
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INDIGENOUS Australians ,PUBLISHING ,MANUSCRIPTS ,AUTHORS ,SERIAL publications ,SOCIAL work research ,TERMS & phrases ,SOCIAL case work ,AUTHORSHIP - Abstract
Australian Social Work (ASW) is an international peer-reviewed journal reflecting current thinking and trends in social work. Authors intending to submit to the Journal should prepare their manuscripts with both a social work audience and an international audience in mind. It is strongly recommended that authors familiarise themselves with articles previously published in the Journal. In this article recommendations are made and Guidelines suggested for the future direction for ASW and other journals in the explicit, respectful acknowledgement of the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait knowledges to published work. Terminology: In these Guidelines, Indigenous refers to all First Nations peoples of the World. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander refers to the unceded sovereign First Peoples of Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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22. Social work students' professional and personal exposure to social work: an Australian experience.
- Author
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Byrne, Nicole
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CHI-squared test ,DECISION making ,QUESTIONNAIRES ,SOCIAL case work ,SOCIAL services ,SOCIAL work research ,SOCIAL workers ,STUDENTS ,STUDENT attitudes ,T-test (Statistics) ,VOCATIONAL guidance ,SCHOOL admission ,PSYCHOLOGY - Abstract
General career research suggests that many factors may influence how people select a career, including information about or exposure to the career. The focus of this paper is upon how exposure to a social worker personally (e.g. friend or family) or in a therapeutic capacity (e.g. received social work therapy) may influence the decision to become a social worker, when compared to other disciplines. The results showed that 63% of 64 social work students had personal and/or professional exposure to social work prior to making a career decision. When compared to other students (n = 447) the social work students were significantly more likely to have accessed social work services (themselves or a family member). The influence of a friend who was a social worker and working with a social worker was noteworthy for mature-aged students. These results highlight that every interaction social workers have with the community provides valuable information about the profession and gives insight into social work as a career. Additionally, the results suggest that the increase in numbers of social workers and the influence of that exposure to a social worker have resulted in an increase in the use of social work services by students, and may continue to rise in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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23. Signs of Safety: lessons learnt from evaluations.
- Author
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Baginsky, Mary, Moriarty, Jo, and Manthorpe, Jill
- Subjects
CHILD welfare ,CHILDREN'S accident prevention ,SOCIAL case work ,EVIDENCE-based medicine ,PROFESSIONAL practice ,PUBLIC sector ,EVALUATION of human services programs - Abstract
Purpose: Signs of Safety (SoS) is a strengths-based approach to child protection casework that has been widely adopted in countries across the world. The purpose of this paper is to report on a study that aimed to synthesise the many evaluations of SoS that have been conducted to assess their strengths and limitations. The intention is to identify the aspects which should be explored further and those that remain unexamined to inform future evaluations. Design/methodology/approach: The study collated and then examined many of the evaluations that are in the public domain as well as some of those that were conducted within agencies and have not been made publicly available. Findings: At the present time (early 2019), the evidence base for SoS is limited. Independent, robust research needs to be undertaken over time to build on the studies that have been conducted. New research must be designed to fill gaps and be capable of producing the evidence required and it must address its own limitations. Originality/value: This study is the most comprehensive contemporary review of the evaluations of SoS that have been conducted to the best of the authors' knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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24. The Experiences of Human Service Managers in Contexts of Change and Uncertainty.
- Author
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Watts, Lynelle, Schoder, Michele, and Hodgson, David
- Subjects
FOCUS groups ,INTERVIEWING ,MEDICAL care ,PUBLIC welfare ,RESEARCH ,SOCIAL case work ,CHANGE management - Abstract
Against a background of rapid and widespread changes to the delivery of human services and social welfare, this paper reports on a study into the experiences of managers of human services organisations. Within an interpretive methodology, the research utilised focus group and interview methods to examine the relevance and need for business, finance, and management skills from the perspective of managers in the human services. Results indicate that managers of human service organisations need advanced business, management, and finance skills to deal with change and uncertainty in contemporary and competitive service environments. IMPLICATIONS Human service organisations in Australia are subject to change and uncertainty with new models of funding and increased accountability. Social workers employed as managers are under pressure to lead sustainable and accountable services, while still holding to social work principles. Social workers who manage organisations face a challenge of how to integrate business, management, and finance skills with the values and mission of social work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Celebrating 70 Years and Reflecting on the Challenges Ahead.
- Author
-
McDermott, Fiona
- Subjects
EDITORS ,PROFESSIONAL peer review ,SERIAL publications ,SOCIAL case work ,SPECIAL days - Abstract
The article focuses on the working of the periodical "Australian Social Work" which is developed by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) in 1946. It mentions that history of social work's development as a profession in Australia is characterised by an international orientation. It also mentions that the periodical has in readership with comprising social work practitioners, academics, and students.
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Reconceptualising health and health care for women affected by domestic violence.
- Author
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Tower, Marion, Rowe, Jennifer, and Wallis, Marianne
- Subjects
ABUSED women ,COMMUNITY health nursing ,COMMUNITY health services ,EMERGENCY nursing ,EMPLOYEES ,EXPERIENCE ,HOSPITAL emergency services ,INTERVIEWING ,MEDICAL referrals ,NURSES ,NURSES' attitudes ,NURSING practice ,SOCIAL case work ,WOMEN'S health ,WORK environment ,QUALITATIVE research ,JUDGMENT sampling ,OCCUPATIONAL roles ,NARRATIVES ,THEMATIC analysis ,INTIMATE partner violence - Abstract
Domestic violence is a major public health issue that influences all aspects of affected women's lives (World Health Organisation, 2010). Women who are subjected to domestic violence seek help from a wide range of professionals within health and social care sectors, and evidence suggests that their experiences tend to be negative. We argue that current approaches are based on responses that are medically informed and provide an alternate lens from which to view women's health care needs. This paper reports on the findings of the second phase of a two-phase study. The first phase of the study reported on women's emerging health needs, efforts to seek help and experiences of seeking healthcare. The second phase examined how nurses constructed the health and health issues of women affected by domestic violence when women presented for health care. This paper brings together the findings of both phases to argue there is a disconnection in women's experiences and needs and how nurses construct needs and deliver care. Biographical disruption is a new lens from which to view women's experiences and is a framework which highlights how women experience significant dislocation of their sense of self as a result of domestic violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. Response to Katz's Comment on “Comparison of Out-of-home Care for Children and Young People in Australia and Sweden: Worlds Apart?”.
- Author
-
Healy, Karen, Lundström, Tommy, and Sallnäs, Marie
- Subjects
AGE distribution ,CHILD welfare ,COMPARATIVE studies ,FOSTER home care ,HOMELESSNESS ,INDIGENOUS peoples ,JUVENILE offenders ,SOCIAL case work ,CROSS-sectional method ,PSYCHOLOGICAL vulnerability - Abstract
A response by Karen Healy and colleague to a letter to the editor about their article on comparison of out-of-home care for children in Australia and Sweden published in previous issue of the journal is presented.
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Social Justice as Concept and Practice in Australian Social Work: An Analysis of Norma Parker Addresses, 1969–2008.
- Author
-
Taylor, Sandra, Vreugdenhil, Anthea, and Schneiders, Mara
- Subjects
CONFERENCES & conventions ,SOCIAL case work ,SOCIAL justice ,SOCIAL services ,TIME ,PROFESSIONAL practice ,HISTORY - Abstract
Social justice is central to Australian social work. Principles of social justice underpin the definition of social work as a profession, its code of ethics, and its standards of practice and education. However, there is a dearth of empirical research regarding what social justice has meant to social work over time and how it has been enacted in practice, topical as social inequalities continue to escalate. As a first-stage study, this paper examines how social justice was represented within 19 Norma Parker Addresses delivered by Presidents of the Australian Association of Social Workers at national conferences between 1969 and 2008. Two key themes were evident: social justice as a concept and social justice as social work practice. Social justice was represented conceptually throughout the Addresses as an enduring guiding principle and moral responsibility for social work. How social justice was enacted in practice included themes of: standpoint; practices and strategies; educating social workers; and contested and constrained practice. The meanings and practices of social justice were embedded within the changing contexts within which the Addresses were delivered. Further historical studies can inform social work knowledge, practice, and critical reflection as the profession continues to evolve and confront persistent social justice challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. The Social Policy Context of the Norma Parker Addresses.
- Author
-
Mendes, Philip
- Subjects
GOVERNMENT policy ,CONFERENCES & conventions ,ILLEGITIMACY ,INCOME ,INDIGENOUS peoples ,INTELLECT ,LEGISLATION ,MOTIVATION (Psychology) ,PHYSICAL diagnosis ,RESEARCH ,SOCIAL case work ,SOCIAL change ,SOCIAL justice ,SOCIAL workers ,TIME ,SOCIAL context - Abstract
Little is currently known about the social policy history and activism of the Australian Association of Social Workers. This paper addresses that gap in knowledge by examining the social policy context and Australian Association of Social Workers policy activism identified in 20 Norma Parker Addresses from 1969 to 2012. A number of key themes are identified including a concern that social workers take a structural or social justice approach to policy debates, a belief that social workers should be more prominent in policy activism, challenges or barriers to social work activism, and a growing engagement with Indigenous issues. Further research on the detail and history of Australian Association of Social Workers policy activism beyond this exploratory study is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. Reflections on the State of the Profession: A Review of the Norma Parker Addresses 1969–2008.
- Author
-
Swain, Shurlee
- Subjects
CONFERENCES & conventions ,SOCIAL workers ,SOCIAL case work ,SOCIAL services ,TIME ,WORK environment ,PROFESSIONAL practice ,THEMATIC analysis ,SOCIETIES - Abstract
This paper provides a thematic analysis of the Presidential Addresses delivered at conferences of the Australian Association of Social Workers from 1969 to 2008. It argues that although each of the Addresses needs to be understood within the context of its time, they are linked thematically by their focus on defining and defending the status of social work as a profession. In the early years, the Presidents, while recognising social work's commitment to social justice, sought to contain the Association's more radical members in order not to threaten the profession's respectability. However, as neo-conservative economics and managerial management practices eroded both the autonomy and the distinctiveness of the social worker, there was a call to embrace marginalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Strategies for Work with Involuntary Clients.
- Subjects
CONFERENCES & conventions ,AUTHORSHIP ,CONSUMER attitudes ,PUBLISHING ,SOCIAL case work ,SOCIAL workers ,INFORMATION resources - Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Strategies for Work with Involuntary Clients.
- Subjects
CONFERENCES & conventions ,AUTHORSHIP ,PUBLISHING ,SOCIAL case work ,INFORMATION resources - Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. The Swing to Early Intervention and Prevention and Its Implications for Social Work.
- Author
-
Gray, Mel
- Subjects
CHILD care ,CHILD development ,CHILDREN'S health ,ECONOMICS ,EDUCATION ,PARENTS ,POVERTY ,PUBLIC welfare ,SOCIAL case work ,GOVERNMENT policy ,EARLY intervention (Education) - Abstract
Social investment does not yet appear to have entered the social work lexicon yet reflects a shift toward early intervention and prevention and policies relating to early childhood education and care across the world. Recently, the prime minister of Australia announced new measures relating to childcare to ease the burden on working families and ensure high-standard care for pre-school children. Also announced was a mental health check to be administered by general practitioners for children as young as three years old. This change in social policy follows closely on the heels of the backlash against ameliorative welfare and move toward the preventive end of the social care spectrum. This paper examines developments leading to the social investment approach. It begins by defining social investment and providing an overview of key theorists contributing to our understanding of what ‘social investment is investing in’ and ends with a discussion of its implications for social work. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Constructing Identities and Issues of Race in Transnational Adoption: The Experiences of Adoptive Parents.
- Author
-
Willing, Indigo and Fronek, Patricia
- Subjects
BLACK children ,ADOPTIVE parents ,ASIANS ,ATTITUDE (Psychology) ,CULTURE ,FOCUS groups ,GROUNDED theory ,GROUP identity ,HETEROSEXUALS ,INFERTILITY ,INTERRACIAL adoption ,INTERVIEWING ,RESEARCH methodology ,MOTIVATION (Psychology) ,PARENTING ,PARTICIPANT observation ,REFLECTION (Philosophy) ,RESEARCH ,RESEARCH evaluation ,STATISTICAL sampling ,SOCIAL case work ,WHITE people ,QUALITATIVE research ,GOVERNMENT regulation - Abstract
Transnational adoption requires adoptive parents to negotiate complexities concerning difference and belonging within the family. Transnational adoption is mediated through societal and governmental prescriptions of suitability that include willingness and competency to raise children to maintain connections to their birth heritages. Tensions in the formation of parental identities are located in different racial, ethnic, cultural and class-based backgrounds to the children they adopt. This contrasts against dominant models of family where constructions of belonging are based on biological ties. A qualitative study of thirty-five Australian adoptive parents explored reflections on adoption processes and how the complex task of performing suitability was negotiated. Theoretical understandings were developed using a grounded theory approach. Contemporary social theory with a focus on race, cosmopolitanism and families further developed emergent theoretical understandings during analysis. Tensions in identity formation are discussed. The paper concludes that issues of race in identity formation are marginalised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. A National Disability Insurance Scheme: What Social Work Has to Offer.
- Author
-
Fawcett, Barbara and Plath, Debbie
- Subjects
DISABILITY insurance ,BUDGET ,DECISION making ,HUMAN rights ,PUBLIC welfare ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
This paper appraises key features of the recently proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia and explores underpinning conceptualisations of ‘disability’, ‘autonomy’, ‘choice’ and ‘assessment’. In particular, it examines the ways in which the Scheme reconfigures a continuation of individualised payments and care package policies. These proposals can be seen to have international significance in terms of how new policy is formulated and also implemented in this controversial field. It is argued that, by utilising embedded human rights perspectives, social work practice principles and social model understandings of disability, social workers can play a crucial role in reframing the opportunities presented by key policy changes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Child Death Review Processes: A Six-Country Comparison.
- Author
-
Vincent, Sharon
- Subjects
CHILD welfare ,CHILD mortality ,CULTURE ,LEADERSHIP ,CASE studies ,SOCIAL case work ,SOCIOECONOMIC factors - Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts child death review (CDR) structures and processes in six countries - Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, England and Wales. It presents findings from a comparative study based on analysis of data from 18 case studies. Data were collected through a combination of documentary analysis, interviews and observations. The study found that CDR processes vary according to: where the function is located and whether review is undertaken at state, local or national level; whether review is rooted in legislation; the focus of review; whether dedicated funding is provided; whether families are involved in the process; and whether structures are supported by useful data systems. It was not possible to evaluate the effectiveness of different review systems but the findings suggest that structure makes little difference in terms of determining the extent to which CDR findings inform prevention effort and activity. While factors such as lack of funding, lack of national data, or lack of legislation may hinder the work of CDR teams, CDR findings have informed prevention initiatives despite such barriers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages Standardisation and aggregation of data at national or state level are crucial for effective CDR., A model of individual review, cross-case review and themed review can result in real learning and practice change., A public health model of CDR offers the most potential in terms of prevention., Families can contribute key information but participation must be managed sensitively and take account of cultural issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. The primary health care service experiences and needs of homeless youth: A narrative synthesis of current evidence.
- Author
-
Dawson, Angela and Jackson, Debra
- Subjects
CINAHL database ,COMMUNITY health services ,DATABASES ,HEALTH services accessibility ,HOMELESS persons ,HOMELESSNESS ,HOUSING ,MEDICAL information storage & retrieval systems ,PSYCHOLOGY information storage & retrieval systems ,MEDICAL needs assessment ,MEDICAL care use ,PATIENT-professional relations ,MEDLINE ,NURSING practice ,ONLINE information services ,HEALTH outcome assessment ,PREVENTIVE health services ,PRIMARY health care ,PUBLIC welfare ,SOCIAL case work ,MEDICAL care for teenagers ,SUBSTANCE abuse treatment ,SYSTEMATIC reviews ,TREATMENT programs ,NARRATIVES ,THEMATIC analysis ,SOCIAL services case management ,TREATMENT effectiveness ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,META-synthesis - Abstract
Homeless youth are a growing, vulnerable population with specific primary health care (PHC) requirements. There are no systematic reviews of evidence to guide the delivery of PHC interventions to best address the needs of homeless youth in Australia. We present a narrative synthesis of peer reviewed research designed to determine: (1) the PHC services homeless youth access; (2) experiences of services, reported outcomes and barriers to use; and, (3) the PHC service needs of homeless youth. Findings show that homeless youth access a variety of services and delivery approaches. Increased PHC use is associated with youth who recognise they need help. Street-based clinic linked services and therapy and case management alongside improved housing can positively impact upon mental health and substance use outcomes. Barriers to service use include knowledge; provider attitudes, financial constraints and inappropriate environments. Findings support targetted, co-ordinated networks of PHC and housing services with nurses working alongside community workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development.
- Subjects
CONFERENCES & conventions ,AUTHORSHIP ,PUBLISHING ,SOCIAL case work ,WORLD health - Abstract
The article announces the Formation of the Global Agenda Observatory; also mentions the call for papers for special edition on the global agenda.
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. The Productivity Commission Inquiry into Aged Care: A Critical Review.
- Author
-
Hughes, Mark
- Subjects
GOVERNMENT agencies ,ELDER care ,MEDICAL care for older people ,HEALTH care reform ,HEALTH services accessibility ,LABOR productivity ,ORGANIZATIONAL change ,PUBLIC welfare ,SOCIAL case work ,ORGANIZATIONAL structure ,GOVERNMENT policy - Abstract
The final report of the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Aged Care has recommended a substantial restructuring of Australia's aged care system to make it fairer, more responsive to the needs of individual consumers, and more sustainable in the context of population ageing. While acknowledging the necessity of a safety net and the needs of diverse groups, the recommended reforms continue to advance the neoliberal restructuring of Australia's health and welfare systems. This paper provides a critical examination of the context and key drivers for change, and considers the reception of the report within the aged care sector. While social workers are actively engaged in the aged care system, they are largely absent from the discussion in the final report. Nonetheless, the transfer of recommendations into actual policy provides an opportunity for social work to argue its unique contribution and potential in the delivery of aged care. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Homelessness, Social Policy, and Social Work: A Way Forward.
- Author
-
Zufferey, Carole
- Subjects
DOMESTIC violence ,HOMELESSNESS ,SERIAL publications ,SOCIAL case work ,SOCIAL justice ,GOVERNMENT policy ,CONSUMER activism - Abstract
An introduction is presented in which the author discusses several reports within the issue on topics such as the relationship between homeless people and social workers in Australia, family violence as causes of homelessness, and the work and pay conditions of youth workers in housing projects.
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. Towards a Community Development Support Model for Young People Transitioning from State out-of-Home Care: A Case Study of St Luke's Anglicare in Victoria, Australia.
- Author
-
Mendes, Philip
- Subjects
GOVERNMENT policy -- Law & legislation ,RESEARCH ,EVALUATION of human services programs ,SOCIAL support ,TRANSITIONAL care ,ATTITUDE (Psychology) ,CHANGE ,RESEARCH methodology ,SOCIAL networks ,RURAL conditions ,COMMUNITY health services ,HEALTH outcome assessment ,MENTORING ,INTERVIEWING ,HUMAN services programs ,QUALITATIVE research ,SOCIAL isolation ,INTERPROFESSIONAL relations ,CHILD welfare ,EMPLOYMENT ,DATA analysis software ,HOUSING ,SOCIAL case work ,MEDICAL needs assessment ,FOSTER home care - Abstract
Young people transitioning from state out-of-home care are arguably one of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in society. Many have been found to experience significant health, social and educational deficits. Most western countries have now introduced specific policy and practice initiatives to improve the life chances of care leavers, but there have been varied conclusions about the efficacy of those programs. This paper argues that a community development support model based on a partnership between professional social welfare workers and local community networks is most likely to enhance opportunities for the social inclusion of care leavers. Particular reference is made to the leaving care and after care support program introduced by St Luke's Anglicare in the Australian rural city of Bendigo which has included key program initiatives around housing, employment and mentoring. Some conclusions are drawn based on the experiences of service users about 'what works' in leaving care programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. The Continuous Improvement Cultural Responsiveness Tools (CICRT): Creating More Culturally Responsive Social Workers.
- Author
-
Bennett, Bindi and Morse, Claire
- Subjects
INDIGENOUS Australians ,EXPERIMENTAL design ,PROFESSIONS ,CONFIDENCE ,SOCIAL workers ,RESEARCH methodology ,RESEARCH methodology evaluation ,CLIENT relations ,LEADERSHIP ,INTERVIEWING ,RESPONSIBILITY ,CONCEPTUAL structures ,CULTURAL competence ,QUESTIONNAIRES ,CLINICAL competence ,INTERPROFESSIONAL relations ,COMMUNICATION ,RESEARCH funding ,SOCIAL case work ,TRUST - Abstract
Social workers play a pivotal role in addressing equity and diversity within Australia using both culturally responsiveness skills and knowledge. This article describes a research project that resulted in the development of the Continuous Improvement Cultural Responsive Tools that can be used by social workers in their practice. This was a large project conducted over three years, which involved engagement and consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community social workers. The community engagement and consultation process included the provision of cultural governance and participation in interviews. The tools developed are linked to seven key domains (Ngurras) that aim to increase the skills, knowledge, and overall confidence of social work practitioners in their culturally responsive practice. This article discusses the tools that provide a clear structure to guide social workers' critical engagement in becoming more culturally responsive social workers and individuals when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. IMPLICATIONS Social work practices need to address the social injustices faced by Aboriginal Peoples by becoming more culturall responsive. The tools were developed to support social workers in their practice to self-assess their transformation in becoming culturally responsive social workers. Continuous improvement in collaborative and culturally responsive social work will improve services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Learning together about disasters through action research partnerships.
- Author
-
Rawsthorne, Margot, O'Brien, Nina, Dignam, Madeleine, Joseph, Pam, Massola, Cate, and Howard, Amanda
- Subjects
HEALTH policy ,CHARITY ,COMMUNITIES ,EMERGENCY management ,LEARNING strategies ,COMPARATIVE studies ,GOVERNMENT agencies ,INTERPROFESSIONAL relations ,INTELLECT ,COMMUNITY-based social services ,ACTION research ,CASE studies ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,PSYCHOLOGICAL resilience ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
Walking along side those responding to climate-related threats as co-researchers is surfacing new understanding of the potential for community action in complex and chaotic situations. Action research enables academia, government, non-government organizations and community members to learn collaboratively, building knowledge that is nuanced and contextualized. Whilst this approach aims to disrupt traditional power in relation to knowledge production, it continues to struggle for legitimacy and, hence, policy and practice traction, sitting uncomfortably in a field dominated by positivist empirical strategies a "single truth." This article draws on two action research case studies – the first a multi-partner place-based engagement and the second a learning partnership with a philanthropic organization operating across two Australian States – to illustrate how we might navigate the contours of power that shape our efforts to build knowledge collaboratively. Drawing on these experiences we identify two key challenges to successful industry/academic action research partnerships: shifting power and translating knowledge to broader audiences. We conclude with ideas to improve future action research practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. Australian Social Work Awards.
- Author
-
Pockett, Rosalie
- Subjects
AWARDS ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
The article discusses various awards presented by the periodical to people in social work practice and their publications. Topics include its creation of new award "The Bruce Lord Award for Excellence in Research Methodology" in recognition of Bruce's contribution to social work profession; Norma Parker Prizes awarded to new writers; its Norm Smith Publication in Social Work Research Award for authors of the best research article; and recipients like Norma Parker Prize winner Margaret Mills.
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. Critical Reflective Learning in Social Work Graduate Research: Learnings from an Australian Study in Child Protection Service Delivery.
- Author
-
Modderman, Corina, McMahon, Mishel, McPherson, Lynne, and Threlkeld, Guinever
- Subjects
RESEARCH ,PRACTICAL politics ,MEDICAL care ,SOCIAL justice ,LEARNING strategies ,CRITICAL care medicine ,GRADUATE education ,CHILD welfare ,INTELLECT ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
Assumptions and worldviews shape social work research, particularly when influenced by settler colonialism in contemporary Australia. This article explores experiences from graduate research drawing on Ruch's model of reflective learning and Fook and Gardner's action-orientated approach to critical reflection. Written following PhD completion, it investigates significant learnings by reviewing reflective journal entries, feedback on draft manuscripts and supervision notes that were made during the time of the study. Deconstructing and reconstructing assumptions across all phases of graduate research show the trajectory from experienced social worker to novice researcher and the context within which this learning takes place. This process foregrounds graduate research influenced by Australia's demographic, historical and political context in which the impact of colonisation continues to reverberate. Critical interrogation is required for socially just change. Currently, there remains a risk that graduate research produces knowledge that is founded on and shared through white perspectives, maintaining the status quo. Critical reflective learning needs a stimulating and safe learning environment that encourages hidden assumptions to surface and be openly questioned. This study concludes that personal and professional biases unconsciously influence graduate research and need to be identified in a constructive and supportive learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. The use of Electronic Information Systems in social work. A scoping review of the empirical articles published between 2000 and 2019.
- Author
-
Ylönen, Katri
- Subjects
PATIENT participation ,SYSTEMATIC reviews ,SOCIAL workers ,INFORMATION storage & retrieval systems ,LITERATURE reviews ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
47. An Examination of Churn Within Australian Family Services: A Scoping Study.
- Author
-
Hatzikiriakidis, Kostas, Skouteris, Helen, Vicary, Dave, Fittock, Noel, Hogan, Candas, Diamond, Susan, Demeyer, Chris, Stopczynski, Jurek, and O'Donnell, Renée
- Subjects
INDIGENOUS Australians ,MEDICAL quality control ,FAMILY health ,FAMILIES ,DOMESTIC violence ,MEDICAL care ,LABOR turnover ,CONCEPTUAL structures ,ACTION research ,RESEARCH funding ,CONTENT analysis ,POVERTY ,FAMILY services ,SOCIAL case work ,DELPHI method ,ADULT education workshops - Abstract
Churn, the persistent cycling of families in and out of family service programs without sustainable change, places an extremely high burden on families and the broader family services system. Yet, only a handful of studies based in the United States have examined the process of churn. As churn is a novel field of enquiry, this study aimed to generate consensus among key stakeholders who work within the Australian family services sector regarding the definition, implications, and predictors of churn, which will subsequently inform future research and intervention development to mitigate the incidence of churn. Stakeholders were engaged through an initial participatory research workshop, followed by a two-round Delphi study. The findings provided compelling insights into the nature of churn within the context of Australian family services and highlight the importance of substantial systemic change in order to mitigate and address the incidence of churn. IMPLICATIONS The results of this study have provided compelling insights into the process of churn, the client and service-level factors that contribute to it, and the impact it has on families, staff, and the broader family services system. Stakeholders provided several recommendations to inform the development of future interventions that will be applied within the Australian family services system in order to identify and address the specific needs of families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. Co-Design with People with Lived Experience: Designing Resources to Communicate with Children and Young People in Care about their Family Time Contact Visits.
- Author
-
Black, Billy, Hendry, Bobby, Wright, Amy Conley, and Collings, Susan
- Subjects
EXPERIMENTAL design ,PARTICIPANT-researcher relationships ,EXPERIENCE ,CHILDREN'S accident prevention ,ACTION research ,CHILD welfare ,FAMILY relations ,PSYCHOLOGY of foster children ,FOSTER home care ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
Contact visits, or family time, enable children in out-of-home care to sustain relationships with their birth families. In Australia, direct contact including face-to-face visits is typical for children on long-term orders, including guardianship and open adoption. Caseworkers are charged with supporting relationships between children's birth family members and carers and ensuring contact is safe and child-centred. This article describes how people with lived experience of family time in out-of-home care have collaborated with researchers to co-design practical resources, in the context of an action research study aimed at changing caseworker practice. These resources include a book for young children and a book for older children and adolescents, which both use trauma-informed language and empower their audiences to know their rights and ask for what they need. Additional resources include co-designed tip sheets for family members and carers. People who have personally experienced the care system have unique insights into the experience of family time in out-of-home care and how it can be improved. In partnership, researchers and people with lived experience can identify the gaps in knowledge and practice resources, and co-design resources that integrate lived experience and research findings, underpinned by theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
49. Special Issue: Safety and Innovation in Out-of-home Care.
- Subjects
- *
CULTURAL identity , *EVALUATION of medical care , *MANUSCRIPTS , *TRANSCULTURAL medical care , *SOCIAL case work - Abstract
The article presents a call for paper for a special issue on safety and innovation in out-of-home care.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
50. Hospital discharge planning: A systematic literature review on the support measures that social workers undertake to facilitate older patients' transition from hospital admission back to the community.
- Author
-
Dimla, Bernadette, Parkinson, Lynne, Wood, Denise, and Powell, Zalia
- Subjects
PROFESSIONAL peer review ,PATIENT aftercare ,SOCIAL support ,PATIENT participation ,COUNSELING ,SOCIAL workers ,SYSTEMATIC reviews ,TIME ,FAMILY support ,PATIENTS ,GERIATRIC assessment ,HOSPITAL admission & discharge ,CONFLICT management ,HEALTH care reform ,INDEPENDENT living ,COMMUNICATION ,REHABILITATION ,RESEARCH bias ,PATIENT education ,PATIENT care ,DISCHARGE planning ,HEALTH care rationing ,PATIENT safety ,SOCIAL case work - Abstract
Objectives: To systematically review the literature on measures social workers undertake to facilitate discharge planning for older people in a resource‐scarce environment. Methods: Systematic search of electronic databases for peer‐reviewed articles published in English between January 1990 and August 2020. Articles on hospital discharge planning facilitated by social workers for older patients returning home from hospital admission were included. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess quality and risk of bias. The systematic literature review protocol has been registered with PROSPERO on 27 August 2021. Results: Six studies from Canada and the United States met the eligibility criteria. The most common support measures employed by hospital social workers when discharge planning for older patients were assessment, education, care co‐ordination, liaison and engagement with families and providers, conflict resolution, counselling and postdischarge follow‐up. Barriers to effective discharge planning were medical complexity, lack of communication, time constraints, limited family support, availability of resources and patient safety. These studies were published between 1993 and 2014 and were not within the Australian context. Conclusions: There are limited studies on Social Work discharge planning within the Australian context, particularly on how this important service has been impacted by recent aged care reforms. More research on the topic is necessary to fully understand how aged care reforms such as the National Prioritisation System for Home Care Packages have influenced hospital discharge planning and how social workers have adapted their practice to this challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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