AUTUMN 2020/21 - VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 - Volume 3 Issue
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Focus
Social Work AUTUMN 2020/21 – VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1
ISSN 2209-0053 (ONLINE) ISSN 2209-0045 (PRINT)
Inside this issue:
RAP UPDATE / PAGE 8
SOCIAL WORK FOCUS ON ETHICAL PRACTICE
/ PAGE 9
CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON SOCIAL WORK
PRACTICE: A Vietnamese Australian’s
account / PAGE 20
MENTAL HEALTH: New service supporting
Queensland workers / PAGE 24
Contents NEWS National President’s Report Celebrating a 75 year journey 4 CEO’s Report We’ve got this! 6 RAP update 8 Social work focus on ethical practice 9 Australia Day Honours 12 Norma Tracey 12 Professor Margaret Mary Alston 14 Professor Margarita Frederico 15 Mary Jo McVeigh 16 AASW Podcast: “Social Work People” 17 South Australian registration campaign update 18 World Social Work Day 18 SOCIAL WORK FOCUS Cultural influences on social work practice: A Vietnamese Australian’s account 20 Mental health: New service supporting Queensland workers 24
AASW Board
Focus
National President
Social Work
Vittorio Cintio
National Vice‑President
Linda Ford
Directors
Alex Bhathal
Suzanne Doorakkers-Sprague
ISSN 2209-0045 (PRINT) | ISSN 2209-0053 (ONLINE)
Dr Fotina Hardy
Brooke Kooymans
Jenny Rose
Julianne Whyte
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4 / NEWS NATIONAL PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Celebrating a
75 year journey
This year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Australian
Association of Social Workers (AASW). At our foundation in
1946, Australia was embarking on a massive program of post VITTORIO CINTIO
war reconstruction. Australians had just approved a ground AASW National President
breaking Constitutional amendment introducing a national income
safety net and better health care funding; a pivotal moment in
strengthening our social bonds.
We were still in many respects a British “Doubtless there will be new But there is still much to be done by
province, narrow in our cultural outlook developments in which social workers way of recognition and reconciliation
and ignorant of the true nature of the will have a place. We have no time with our First Nations peoples and
struggles of our First Nations peoples. to attempt to prophesy here. But we shockingly. inequality is on the increase.
We were yet to experience the benefits can be quite sure that in this world of The former British Prime Minister once
and challenges of massive post-war today and in this land of ours, we have famously said,
migration from Europe. an immediate place and an urgent
task. We are at a stage when we need “I am homeless, the Government
Our founders had the foresight to
tremendously in our international and must house me’ and so they are
understand the advantages of forming
national life the values social work casting their problems on society
a national association, thinking beyond and who is society? There is no such
should have to give…”
state borders and giving our profession thing. There are individual men and
a united voice, both at home and “The Commonwealth of Australia women and there are families and no
abroad. And so, in 1946, seven women, can only grow towards the future government can do anything except
Norma Parker (NSW) the inaugural we hope it will have if we are able to through people and people look to
President; Vice Presidents Lyra Taylor develop in better fashion than we have themselves first.”
(Vic.), Kate Ogilvie (NSW), Dorothy in the past—attitudes of tolerance,
Sumner (NSW/USA), Amy Wheaton of appreciation of difference, of
This is the exact opposite of the 2021
(SA), Margaret Grutzner (Qld) Honorary readiness to share, of generous World Social Work Day theme; I am
Secretary and Viva Murphy (NSW) indignation about the injustices of because we are.
Assistant Secretary were elected as the others as well as about our own.”
first AASW executive. Debt, unemployment and precarious
employment are on the rise.
Back then the AASW had approximately
To quote from Norma Parker herself Governments are keeping themselves at
400 members and an Association
from her Presidential Address to the 1st arm’s length from their social obligations
administered by volunteers. Today, we
Australian Conference of Social Work in by outsourcing and underfunding.
have branches in each state and territory
September 1947, Confidence in our institutions is eroding,
and 14,000 members supported by and the bonds of civil society are being
hundreds of volunteers and 41 (EFT) tested. Sadly, the ravages of COVID and
employees. the snapback from it seemed destined
Over the last 75 years much has to further increase the gap between rich
changed for the better. We enjoy the and poor, both here and globally.
benefits of rich cultural diversity. Seventy five years on, it is clear that
Thirty percent of our population our communities need a strong social
were born overseas. We have work profession more than ever; and
made big strides in human that professional associations such
rights for women and the as ours are an essential thread in the
LGBTQI plus community. fabric of civil society. As it was in 1946,
or contact the Membership Team on:
0 630 124 or membership@aasw.asn.au
NATIONAL PRESIDENT’S REPORT NEWS / 5
the tasks remain urgent. We roll up our I would like finish by highlighting
sleeves and relish the challenges and some of our work with First Nations
uncertainties ahead, armed with high peoples. We congratulate AASW
levels of skill and our code of ethics. National Vice President Linda Ford on
her appointment, as an Asia Pacific
To all our Members and to all
Region representative on the IFSW
professional social workers- you can
Indigenous Commission.
be assured that the AASW has your
back when it comes to supporting your Congratulations also, to AASW
ethics and practice standards. To add Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
muscle to this assurance, we are working Director, Susan Green who has received
hard to provide more opportunities for the ‘Contribution to Indigenous
Members to connect with each other Research Award’ at the 2020 National
Seventy five years
and support each other- no matter Indigenous Allied Health Awards, in
where you are or what kind of work recognition of her work with Aboriginal on, it is clear that our
you do. communities and the significant
contribution to the development of
communities need
Our real strength lies in our networks, so
I encourage you to join a practice group
social work ethics, practice, theory and a strong social work
education. This has changed the way
in your field of interest and if one doesn’t
social work practices with Aboriginal profession more
exist, create it. If you are starting off in
your career, or if you are experienced
people are taught at university. than ever; and that
and enjoy mentoring, I would encourage Professor Green’s work has played a professional associations
those who are interested to sign up for vital role in increasing the number of
our mentoring program. Aboriginal people undertaking social such as ours are an
work courses and working in the social
Seventy five years ago our founders essential thread in the
work profession, as well increased the
understood that mentoring was an
essential aspect of their professional
profession’s awareness of its need to fabric of civil society
decolonise its practices and include
lives; and it was easy in small
culturally responsive practice.
communities where everyone knew each
other. We understand the importance
of creating the space for a safe and
supportive conversation around skill
development, ethical challenges and Vittorio Cintio
career opportunities. We now have
•
better technology to support the
creation of those spaces.
6 / NEWS CEO’S REPORT
We’ve got this!
CINDY SMITH
After an unexpected, tough and seemingly endless year, that often Chief Executive Officer
resembled Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day, we are fortunately on
the other side of 2020 and we find ourselves a quarter of the way
into 2021.
Thankfully in many ways the lessons extreme unpredictability and change. specific legislation for the statutory
of last year have seemingly improved Like the Teddy Bear hunts and painted registration of social workers.
society’s adaptability and better wooden ‘Spoonville’ communities that
The ground breaking legislation that
prepared us for potential future were popping up along bike paths
was recently introduced into the South
disruptions. Many of us are better armed and local streets. Then there were the
Australian Parliament has been a major
with new skills and coping mechanisms inspirational messages – like ‘You’ve got
focus of the AASW advocacy and will
to improve how we work together as a this’, etc, etc. It has been these types of
significantly improve the quality of social
community, face unforeseen change and individual responses and random acts of
work services in the South Australian
make any rapid, necessary adjustments kindness that provided hope and a smile
community and will hopefully be
in a volatile environment. when we most needed it. replicated in every state and territory in
I was so humbled by the examples The new year, however, didn’t magically the near future.
of random acts of kindness seen end the dislocation, the financial and Social workers work with extremely
throughout the community that emotional pressures of the past 15 vulnerable clients in challenging and
continued to provide hope at times of months, and our communities and complex circumstances in relation to
especially the more vulnerable are a range of issues and for individuals,
still exposed to the volatility of life, families and communities that need
the uncertain labour market and assistance, it is vital that they receive
systemic uncertainty that leaves them supports from highly trained and
unprotected and susceptible. skilled professionals.
Without doubt there will be challenges Once the legislation is passed, it will
ahead but with the measures that have go a long way towards reinforcing
been put in place across Australia and and building public confidence in the
with the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine skills and accountability of Australian
I was so humbled by in both Australia and overseas we are social workers.
seeing light at the end of the tunnel and
the examples of random some semblance of normality in the One of the highlights of our ‘diamond’
foreseeable future. year will be the AASW IFSW Asia Pacific
acts of kindness seen Regional Social Work Conference to be
There is much work to do but with the held from November 11-13 in Brisbane,
throughout the community
strength, resilience and spirit of our Australia. The three day conference
that continued to Members, I am confident that together centres around the theme of social work
we are more than up to the task and we and the sustainable development goals,
provide hope at times of can start to turn the corner and make and a hybrid model (in person/online) has
extreme unpredictability some genuine change in what is the 75th been chosen for the 2021 Conference to
Anniversary year for the AASW. ensure attendance is accessible to those
and change. not only within Australia but also within
Registration SA the Asia Pacific region and beyond. Make
sure you keep the date free.
One of the highlights of 2021 and
a major step forward for the social Congratulations to Australian Association
work profession has been the South of Social Workers Members, Norma
Australian Parliament’s bipartisan Tracey, Professor Margaret Alston,
commitment and national leadership, Professor Margarita Frederico and
as the first Australian state to develop Mary Jo McVeigh, recognised in the
CEO’S REPORT NEWS / 7
2021 Australia Day Honours list for their outstanding
contributions to social work and the community. You
can learn more about these amazing social workers on
page 12 of this edition of Social Work Focus.
The AASW 2021 Mentoring Program has been
developed after nation-wide Member consultation
and feedback to assist both new and existing EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Members on their social work journey and will present NATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
opportunities that enhance skill development and
create career pathways and learnings.
The program will provide a forum for social workers The AASW has established four new
at all stages of their careers or professional journey National Excellence Awards that will be
to develop an on-going mentee/mentor relationship awarded for the first time in 2021.
foster knowledge sharing, insights and learnings.
The program has seen incredible demand and we are The aim of the Awards is to promote excellence and celebrate
delighted to have received so many applications from achievements within the social work profession and the
Members looking to enrich their career or professional Award categories include:
journey. We are currently assessing applications,
matching and pairing and to optimise the participant AASW Social Work Researcher of the Year
experience and looking forward to the program
AASW Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Social
commencing in May.
Worker of the Year
With the recent launch of the AASW‘s podcast “Social
AASW Social Worker of the Year
Work People” we now have another wonderful channel
to highlight the advocacy work of the organisation and AASW Social Work Student of the Year
bring a focus on the outstanding day to day work of
We are seeking Expressions of Interest from our Members to
AASW Members and those in the sector.
form Selection Committees, who will play a significant role in
“Social Work People” explores the diverse world of the selection of our Award winners.
social work and connects listeners to the people
Each Selection Committee will include relevant stakeholders
driving change, providing advocacy on the issues
from specific groups of Members, including: our Life
that impact upon the quality of life and improve the
Members; experienced researchers; National Research
wellbeing of all Australians. Researched and hosted
Committee; Members employed in the Education & Research
by Social Advocacy and Policy’s Angela Scarfe, ‘Social
sector; students; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Work People’ is available on all major streaming
Members; Officeholders (Branch Presidents and Branch
services including Apple, Google Play and Spotify,
Management Committees, including Aboriginal and Torres
so subscribe and check it out. It is definitely worth
Strait Islander BMC Members) and National Advisory Panels
the listen.
Members. Expressions of Interest will close at 5pm (AEDT) on
The AASW has established four National Excellence Thursday 1 April 2021.
Awards that will be awarded at the 2021 AASW IFSW
If you are interested in being part of a Selection Committee,
Asia Pacific Regional Social Work Conference, in
please submit an Expression of Interest. If you’d like to
November. The Awards will provide an opportunity to
participate but don’t meet the broad criteria, please submit
recognize and reward AASW Members across multiple
an EOI and we will consider your involvement further. We
career stages and specific social work categories.
anticipate Selection Committees will meet at least twice, with
The Awards are: meetings held via Zoom.
AASW Social Work Researcher of the Year Throughout April/May the Selection Committees will have
AASW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social input into the development of the Award criteria. Further
Worker of the Year details regarding the Award criteria and nomination process
will be released to Members in May and will close in July.
AASW Social Worker of the Year
The Award winners will be announced at the 26th Asia-Pacific
AASW Social Work Student of the Year
Regional Social Work Conference Dinner in November, in
Brisbane.
Further details will be provided via our
Member newsletters. The National Excellence Awards well complement the current
AASW Branch Awards and State & Territory Awards, and
winners will be eligible for a National Excellence Award in the
same year.
Cindy Smith EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
•
8 / NEWS
RAP update
Approaching the end of the third quarter of the AASW Innovate
Reconciliation Action Plan 2020-22, there has been development in
several areas.
Linda Ford was elected to the position of National Vice President marked an historic
event for the AASW, Professor Sue Green was elected to the Board as the new Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Director, so two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social
workers now hold key positions in the Association. The RAP Working Group chaired by the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Director also has a minimum of two other Aboriginal
and/or Torres Strait Islander members.
The RAP Working Group monitors and reports on the progress of the achievement of
actions and deliverables.
In this period RAP actions have included:
• A very successful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Social Work symposium
that was held in November, featuring an online Truth-Telling session to mark
NAIDOC Week, and registration numbers of 1000+.
• A new group has been established in the Community Hub in response to a
Member request, on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Work in which
Indigenous and non-Indigenous members can participate.
• AASW staff, Managers, BMCs and Working Group members were encouraged
to participate in and report on NAIDOC Week events. In total staff and
managers attended and reported on a total of 27 events.
• A dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Work edition of Social
Work Focus was released in October.
• The Social Policy and Advocacy Framework has been updated to ensure
targeted consultation with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander members
and stakeholders are consulted on AASW submissions and policy activities,
where relevant and as appropriate.
• Cultural Awareness training for all staff is being held in March 2021.
• Acknowledgement and Welcome to Country Protocols are being reviewed.
• Mentoring Program for all AASW Members was launched in February 2021
and includes the development of a specific professional mentoring network for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Members in 2021.
NEWS / 9
Social Work Focus on
Ethical Practice
In late 2020, the AASW released an updated 2020 Code of Ethics
and revised Ethics Complaint Management Process. These signal the
Association’s ongoing commitment to strong ethical practice and
robust standards across the profession and the community, and are
aligned with the Association’s commitment towards registration and
collective efforts at a legislative level in South Australia.
The AASW’s Ethics Complaints and • Implementing and understanding
Consultation data highlight common conflicts of interest, professional
threads across social work practice where boundaries, and dual relationships
ethical dilemmas and misconduct issues
• Working within one’s scope of
can arise. These include:
practice, particularly with respect
• The sharing of clinical records, to the preparation of reports and
Australian Association consent, and confidentiality, provision of private practice
of Social Workers particularly in private practice
Code of Ethics • The scope of social work practice
2020 • Complex matters related therapeutic within schools, with issues relating
practice with families and children to consent, confidentiality and
in the context of family violence, the record keeping in multidisciplinary
family court and parental separation. teams
This includes social workers finding
themselves ethically caught or • Understanding and applying
enmeshed in these dynamics, with mandatory reporting requirements
demands for case notes and case across states, territories and areas
records that may be in opposition to a of law and practice, such as in the
NOVEMBER 2020 client’s best interests, and even used context of historical sexual abuse.
as forms of abuse/control Such ethical issues are common to10 / NEWS
both private practice and to social work practice, and the challenges It is the experience of the AASW Ethics
workers employed by organisations faced by our clients. and Complaints team that these very
where there may be a lack of (or at stealth or seemingly minor ethical
Given that ethical dilemmas are
times problematic) policy guidance dilemmas, are those that social workers
common, and their consideration
and support from employers. should be particularly mindful of from
necessary aspects to critical social
an early intervention and prevention
The service has also experienced a work practice, adopting a mindful
perspective – particularly before
number of social workers reporting the and deliberate early intervention or
they “slide” into potential areas of
complexities faced by COVID-19, with preventative approach to minimising
professional harm and misconduct.
respect to the demands on their own avoidable ethical dilemmas is vital.
mental health and impacts on ethical This is particularly advisable for social To reiterate, ethical dilemmas cannot
practice boundaries. Members have workers in private practice and/ be entirely avoided, as critical practice
likened 2020 to an extended crisis or fee-for-service settings, where is core to our profession’s scope of
response experienced concurrently broader organisational support is not practice and professional values.
by clients and social workers alike, always available for guidance in the Therefore, it is incumbent on social
with little sense of beginning or end. management of complex ethical or workers to:
As such, we have observed a growing legal matters should they arise. • Proactively minimise and manage
potential for professional burnout;
ethical dilemmas that are within
brought about by the high demand
AVOIDING THE “SLIPPERY SLOPE” their control, as early as possible
for complex mental health services,
the demands of quick adaption to Ethical dilemmas and issues of • To remember that it is the
telehealth and online communication professional misconduct, often responsibility of the social worker
(including for clients), a sense of emerge as “slippery slope” or (not the client) to manage, as
professional disconnection, a lack of “stealth issues”, arising from best as possible, the potential for
distinction between work and home circumstances where appropriate conflicts by establishing clear,
life, and a reduced scope for critical boundaries, processes or standards upfront professional boundaries
and ethical reflection. Such challenges of practice have not been adequately (as per 2020 AASW Code of Ethics,
in practice enhance the likelihood for considered, prepared for, identified, Standard 4.5)
ethical issues to emerge. or acted upon, in the early stages of
practice. SOCIAL WORK FOCUS AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF A In such instances, matters that may ETHICAL PRACTICE
PREVENTATIVE ETHICAL at first seem minor, negligible or Given the centrality of ethical practice
APPROACH TO PRACTICE unlikely to be problematic, can to the social work profession, from this
Since the implementation of eventually become significant issues issue of Social Work Focus onward,
the updated Ethics Complaint over time. This can eventuate in a section on ethical practice will be
Management Process in October 2020, social workers facing difficult ethical, included. This will provide a space for
the AASW has received approximately and even legal, circumstances the AASW to explore areas of ethical
80 discrete enquiries about potentially that could have otherwise been practice interest with Members,
concerning social work practice. While avoided. Such instances can often informed by general Member practice
not all of these will result in formal arise with respect to professional experiences and emerging trends
complaints, these data highlight the boundaries and conflicts, and identified through the Complaints and
AASW’s responsibilities towards the in practice settings where clear Consultation service.
profession in lieu of registration, and processes and permissions around
client engagement have not been If Members have ideas for future
the importance of embedding strong
thoroughly developed or adhered to. discussion and reflection, or would
ethical principles as a cornerstone
like to seek an individual ethical
of practice, as a means of ensuring
Should a social worker suddenly find consultation, they are encouraged
client care and avoiding issues of
themselves on this “slippery slope”, to contact the Ethics team via ethics.
misconduct.
they may recall “feeling or having a conualtaion@aasw.asn.au
Ethical dilemmas and complexity are sense that something was not right”.
Members are also strongly encouraged
fundamental and unavoidable aspects They may also recall finding it hard
to access the AASW suite of Ethical
to social work practice. This is by to institute an early boundary, often
Practice Guidelines that embed and
virtue of the profession’s commitment from interpersonal, organisational, or
expand upon the ethical principles
to equity; our support of vulnerable commercial perspectives, or out of a
articulated in the Code of Ethics, by
and marginalised individuals and well-meaning desire to not disappoint
applying them to range of topical and
communities; and the often structural or refuse a service to a client in need.
common direct practice areas.
and systemic forms of oppression and In these instances, access to objective
disadvantage that informs both social supervision is critical. •12 / NEWS
Australia Day Honours
Congratulations to Australian Association of Social Workers
Members, Norma Tracey, Professor Margaret Alston,
Professor Margarita Frederico and Mary Jo McVeigh,
recognised in the 2021 Australia Day Honours list for their
outstanding contributions to social work and the community.
NORMA TRACEY
Norma Tracy AM received much more towards the left. It is an
her Medal of the Order of enormous shift,” she said.
Australia “for significant
Norma started her career as an
services to mental health,
Assistant to the Professor of Child
and to Indigenous children
Health at Sydney University in a
and their families”.
role that involved teaching young
Eighty two year old Norma doctors about the emotional and
Tracey is a pioneer, reforming psychological needs of babies and
and creating new services children, and the need to maintain
since the earliest stage of her strong relationships with their parents
career and introducing many of the while the children were in hospital.
things that we take for granted in how In the mid 1960’s, children and babies
hospitals look after patients. were tied to the cots and beds (to stop
An AASW Member since 1987, an them from falling out) and parents
Accredited Mental Health Social were allowed to visit for only an hour
Worker since 2009 and Member of and one of the children’s wards was
the NSW Branch Reconciliation Action next to the mortuary with trolleys
Committee since 2018, Norma said being wheeled past the door. It was
there were 26 people in her class very plain to Norma that lots of things
when she started social work and she that needed to be changed. So she
felt so honoured and thrilled to be joined the social work team at the
accepted. hospital, even though the professor
saw this as representing a ‘step down’.
“I was under 21 which was the
admission age so I had to go before “In working with mothers and infants,
a special board. When I think now I was greatly influenced by John
Bowlby (a pioneering theorist of
of those 26 dedicated, rather
Attachment Theory), who personally
conservative people from Sydney
gave me the advice that developed
University who did social work in
my entire career right to this
those days, and that now there are
present day.”
hundreds each year from every
university around the country, and all “I had been invited as a social worker
youngsters out of school, moving so at the Children’s Hospital to meet withNEWS / 13
him. I was eager to show him my plan on Norma currently runs an organisation I am excited about
how to change the entire hospital into a called ‘Strong Mothers’, in Sydney’s
warm and receptive place for mothers inner city Redfern. the future of social
and children. He looked at my grand
map, rolled it up and put it in the corner
“I am still now building little models of work and as I know all
excellence, right here in Redfern in our
of the room. ‘We might just leave that for
new little organisation called Strong
too well how change
now, remember the most anyone human
can do is create one brick in the edifice
Mothers and while the Organisation brings chaos and
is new, at 82 years of age, I am not.
of life, choose a small area, working it
We in ‘Strong Mothers’ work with disorder, and disrupts
into a model of excellence, and then
disseminate it’. I cried for three days but
Aboriginal Mothers and babies from identity, as a new
pregnancy through to age six. We have
decided I would work on our very small
two social workers, a psychologist, two identity is born within
burns ward unit.”
psychotherapists specialising in treating the profession
Norma set about transforming the the trauma, Indigenous art therapists, a
burns unit which she worked into a speech therapist and two nutritionists.
warm and caring place for the children. Each mother’s group is run weekly for
She recognised things that were a period of six years, and women can
hampering the children’s progress, choose to have any of these services.”
such as the lack of communication
“The results are quite stunning
between professionals, a lack of contact
and the wonderful feeding in from
with parents and was very concerned
psychoanalytic theory, attachment
about hospital cleaners being used
theory, have deepened and enriched
as interpreters, even for sensitive
our work beyond belief. So strange
conversations about serious medical
when I look back that I am still using that
problems.
one model from John Bowlby, and how
“All the staff met every morning on well it has served me.”
every single case, parents were invited
Norma said the Social Work profession
in with no limited visiting hours, every
is now so much broader, and as many
profession would have one or two social
more skilled people join it, there are so
workers there and maybe one or two for
many different pathways now to fit each
the rest of the hospital. I quickly learned
individual worker.
the ward sister, not the doctor, was the
centre and all revolved around her. “I have currently three young social
Soon it became a model for the whole work students from New South Wales
hospital, and all my previous plans were University, Catholic University and
so supported, that we changed the very Wollongong. They bring new life to me
nature of our work there.” daily and to my profession and I love to
share in the way they think and in the
The doctors were so impressed at
work they do. I am excited about the
the difference in the quality of the
future of social work and as I know all
communication that the hospital funded
too well how change brings chaos and
her to set up an interpreting service.
disorder, and disrupts identity, as a new
Things that are now taken for granted
identity is born within the profession.
in children’s hospitals, were started
I can’t help thinking it is just like mother
by Norma.
and father having a baby... I believe that
is a good model for social work and our
future,” she said.
•14 / NEWS
PROFESSOR MARGARET MARY ALSTON
Professor Margaret Mary Alston in Bangladesh, Laos and India and
AM, Professor of Social Work at has held several posts with the UN’s
the University of Newcastle and Food and Agriculture Organisation
Head, Gender, Leadership and (FAO) and UNESCO. As Professor of
social Sustainability Unit, received Social Work and Head of Department
a Member of the Order of Australia at Monash University, in 2008 she
for her significant service to tertiary established the Gender, Leadership
education, to social sustainability, and Social Sustainability (GLASS)
and to women. research unit, investigating diverse
issues such as climate change, violence
Professor Alston was active during
against women, leadership and
the Rural Women’s Movement of the
social sustainability.
1980s-1990s and her academic works
have directly informed policymakers and Her work epitomises social work’s ability
encouraged rural women to continue to show the links between people’s lived
lobbying and networking. She has been experience and the systemic, structural
involved firsthand with a number of rural issues at work. Since she started in social
women’s networks including the Women work, she has seen how the changes
on Farms Gatherings, the Foundation for underway in the climate have made
Australian Agricultural Women, and the their way into social work practice, and
Rural Women’s Policy Unit. the emerging field of disaster related
Her message to Her main interests of research are
social work. Publishing, Social Work in
Post-Disaster Sites in 2018.
her fellow AASW gender, climate and environmental
disasters, rural women and social work; Professor Alston said that the
Members is that and she has pursued these topics fundamental commitment to social
we all need to be through work in Australia, and overseas, justice that underpins the work of all
for NGO’s and the UN. social workers, is what distinguishes
skilled in disaster This interest started when she was
her work from that of other professions.
She describes hearing a presentation
related social working at Charles Sturt University,
from an engineer about a new piece of
which like many regional universities,
work, in assisting maintains strong connections to the
machinery about to be introduced into
a village. It was Margaret who asked
communities communities in which it is located, in a
him how many women would lose
period coinciding with the worst of the
to prepare and millennium drought, which, she noticed
their jobs and livelihood because of its
introduction, and it was Margaret who
build resilience, was treated primarily as an economic
pointed out the unfairness of the plan,
problem. Even when the social
the immediate dimensions were discussed, there was
when his answer was 25.
mobilisation of no acknowledgement that it was having Her message to her fellow AASW
different consequences for women and Members is that we all need to be
resources and men. She commenced research into this, skilled in disaster related social work,
which quickly broadened into studying in assisting communities to prepare
workers and post the way that women’s contribution and build resilience, the immediate
disaster social work to agriculture throughout Australia’s mobilisation of resources and workers
history has been overlooked. and post disaster social work.
The author of several books that Professor Alston is currently a Chief
focus on the role of farming women Investigator on an Australian Research
in Australian agriculture, Professor Council project on social sustainability
Alston argues that Australian farming in the Murray-Darling Basin area and
women have been neglected, ignored on the ARC Invisible Farmer project
and silenced in mainstream narratives with the Victorian Museum to develop
about rural Australian life and has urged awareness of rural women’s contribution
media, government and researchers to to Australian society. She is also a guest
take more notice of what she calls the editor for a special edition of Australian
‘hidden heart of rural Australia’. Social Work on social work and disasters
Overseas she has studied the •
gender impacts of climate changeNEWS / 15
PROFESSOR MARGARITA FREDERICO
Professor Margarita Frederico AM which commenced in 2004. Her
received her Member of the Order belief is that simply removing
of Australia for significant service to children from the risks in their
tertiary education, to social work, and to environment is not enough to
the not-for-profit sector. With more than counteract the effects of trauma
50 years’ experience as a social worker and in fact can compound them.
Margarita is currently the Graduate Together with the Take Two team
Research Co-ordinator in Social Work she has worked hard to improve the
and Social Policy at La Trobe University, evidence base by identifying outcome
and Principal Research Consultant at measures that are both validated and
Berry Street’s Take Two Program. appropriate to Aboriginal and/or Torres
She was drawn to social work because of Strait Islander children in state care.
its sense of purpose, and its aim of social In her current role at La Trobe university,
justice and she said that although the Margarita supervises the higher
human rights paradigm is challenging research degree students in child
for her, it still provides a valuable vision wellbeing and trauma, and leadership
for global social change. and human service organisations,
From the beginning of her career, combining this with extensive work on cross section of professional
Margarita has been dedicated to linking evaluation, leadership and governance knowledge and personal
research and practice, and asserts the in human services. experience. Social workers’
need for evidence (WHERE WHEN deep appreciation of how
The many threads of her work have
WHAT?), understanding that this takes a person’s context creates
enriched each other, so that she now
on a particular flavour when working barriers against change,
has extensive expertise in engaging
with marginalised groups. Illustrating means that many social
children and young people in research
the point, after post graduate studies workers have understood
in an ethical and meaningful way. She
at Yale University’s Child Studies the experience of
has undertaken process and outcome
Centre, she was the first social worker intersectionality before the
evaluations and action research with
to be employed in the local community term was in common use.
vulnerable populations, into complex
health centre and realised that the issues, in Australia and overseas. Margarita describes herself
local people had been not only the as being lucky and privileged
subject of extensive research but had A member of the AASW since 1965, and to have worked with and
feeling of having been the objects now a life Member, Margarita’s active learned from many inspiring
of that research which had a created involvement with the AASW has seen and interesting people, from
distrust of professionals. Her conviction her fill many voluntary roles, including a Anna Freud to Aunty Mollie
that everyone’s contribution had period as a national director from 1996 Dyer and Professor Muriel
value, led her to involve the people to 2000, Victorian branch president Bamblett AM.
she was working with in the design of from 1997 to 2000, and Chair of the
the evaluation. A process we now call Ethics Tribunal from 2001 to 2006. When asked about the next
co-design. Her contributions to our sector are challenges for the profession,
similarly impressive and she is currently she returns to the topic of
Returning to Australia, Margarita’s first a director of Jesuit social Services and evidence for practice. She
social work role was in the social work Odyssey House, both of which are nominates the way our
department at the Royal Melbourne evolving scientific knowledge
in Victoria.
Hospital and throughout her career has in fields like genetics are
continued to concentrate on child and Reflecting on her more than 50 years’ making it possible for the
family wellbeing, childhood trauma experience, she is struck by the medical professions to
and child protection, maintaining this continuity in the profession’s dedication individualise treatments
interest while moving onto academia in to social change, driven by our values to particular patients. She
1976. In 1995, she led the development and human rights and points to the looks forward to social work
of the new School of Social Work at opportunities to work with and build developing an evidence base
Australian Catholic University, where she relationships with all people in all that is similarly validated
was the Inaugural Head of School. settings and from all backgrounds. and individualised.
Margarita is well known in the child She believes that because of these •
protection sector for establishing the relationships, social workers are also
Take Two program with Berry Street, exposed to the broadest possible16 / NEWS
MARY JO McVEIGH
Mary Jo McVeigh is a social As a passionate writer, Mary Jo has
worker with more than 35 years’ sole authored a leadership resource
experience, an AASW Member and training course called Without
since 1996 and AMHSW since Question, the Language of the Mindful
2009 and received the Medal of Leader. She has also written numerous
the Order of Australia for ‘service training programs for practitioners and
to the community through social managers in government and charitable
welfare organisations’. organisations within Australia and has
published three innovative social work
Mary Jo is the founder and director
resources for working therapeutically
of Cara House ‘a place for healing,
with children and young people.
discovery and growth’ and the CaraCare
charity, that both support vulnerable Mary Jo is acknowledged in her field
children, young people and their as an expert in child protection, trauma
families through trauma - specific therapy and leadership coaching. Her
counselling and human rights practices. expertise has been sought on advisory
panels such as the NSW Domestic
As a trauma therapist and an Accredited
Violence reforms and the Royal
Mental Health Social Worker, Mary Jo
Commission into institutional abuse.
has worked with children and families
She continues to present at national
who have experienced child abuse,
and international conferences, giving
violence and trauma by assisting them
further voice to children, adults and
to tap into their own resilience and
families who have been impacted by the
strengths, to look at how they have
oppression of abuse and trauma.
survived in the face of adversity.
Mary Jo has “absolute faith in the social
Mary Jo completed her Honours degree
work profession” and is excited to see so
in Social Science in 1983 and worked in
many young people coming into social
the community of North Belfast in the
work in a world which values money,
United Kingdom, before returning to
even though it isn’t well paid.
university and completing a master’s
degree in Social Work in 1986. “I believe the practice of critical self
reflection is ‘the bounty of social
More recently, Mary Jo’s curiosity for
work’, because we constantly examine
knowledge has led her down the path of
our own position and this way we
exploring and studying comprehensive
avoid replicating the oppression that
bodies of literature, creatively utilising
vulnerable people are experiencing,”
it within her therapeutic and leadership
she said.
practice and more recently for
undertaking a research PhD in Social •
Work at Sydney University, focusing
on children’s rights and participatory
values.
While the importance of children’s
human rights has been nationally and
internationally acknowledged on larger
socio-political and systemic scales, Mary
Jo’s research and literature review has
highlighted that within the context of
every day social work and therapeutic
practice, children’s rights often remain
invisible. This has inspired her to
champion a children’s rights agenda
across these sectors.NEWS / 17
AASW Podcast
“Social Work People”
The launch of the AASW Podcast “Social Work People” in January The Podcast is designed to appeal to
social workers but has the potential
was dedicated to exploring the diverse world of social work and
to impact on and touch a audience
connecting listeners to the people driving change and providing broader than that AASW Members.
advocacy on the issues that impact upon the quality of life of Each episode is a very accessible audio
all Australians. capsule, featuring a person working in
the field of social work, talking about
Social Work People explores what social intrusive with listeners deciding what their speciality area and underscoring it
workers are doing and thinking, the they want to hear, and when they want with the reality, the issues/problems and
stories behind their work, the issues they to hear it. emotions they deal with on a daily basis.
grapple with and the vision that keeps
The aim of the AASW “Social Work Researched and hosted by AASW Social
them going.
People” was to highlight the people and Advocacy and Policy’s Angela Scarfe,
Podcasting is a time-efficient and stories of social workers and take the “Social Work People” is available on all
very portable form of communication opportunity to personalise and expand major streaming services. Subscribe
and subscribers can listen while they on bigger issues that we think about now on Apple , Google Podcasts and
do other things at work or at home, but don’t have time to explore in depth Spotify
or during their commute and as an through other mediums.
•
on-demand technology, they aren’t
Social Work
People
Discover the latest podcast from the AASW
Social Work People explores the diverse world of social work and connects
listeners to the people driving change and providing advocacy on the issues
that impact upon the quality of life of all Australians.18 / NEWS
South Australian
registration
campaign update
The AASW has commended the South
Australian Parliament for its bipartisan
commitment and national leadership, as
the first Australian state to develop specific
World Social
legislation for the statutory registration of
social workers.
Work Day
On 18 March, South Australian MP Tammy Franks
asked Parliament to note the final report of the Joint
Committee into the Registration of Social Workers Bill,
the key recommendation of which is for South Australia
to implement this nation leading legislation.
Ms Franks said before Parliament that the Australian
Association of Social Workers has been calling for this
reform for more than 20 years.
“Multiple reviews and reports have recommended the
registration of social workers. It’s time to get this done.”
“Social workers represent one of the largest
professional working groups in Australia but have
no formal registration requirements. They work with
vulnerable people every day. But at the moment,
people have limited options for recourse or action if
a social worker is either acting inappropriately or is On World Social Work Day 16 March 2021, the AASW
calling themselves a social worker without any formal celebrated WSWD by hosting Branch events across
qualifications.” Australia, as well as an online National event.
This legislation will provide the South Australian During the national event, AASW National President
community the assurance that the social worker they Vittorio Cintio provided an opening address and was
see is a qualified social worker and will hopefully have a followed by a panel of speakers who contributed to the
ripple effect across the nation. We are closely reviewing discussion on the role of social work and social workers in
the legislation in anticipation of it being voted on by the progressing social justice, solidarity and connectedness
South Australian Parliament in early 2021 and will keep between people, communities and environments.
Members informed as this process continues.
The panelists for this event included:
•
• Professor Margaret Alston: Professor of Social Work
at the University of Newcastle and Head, Gender,
Leadership and Social Sustainability Unit
• Professor Sue Green: AASW Aboriginal and/or Torres
Strait Islander Director
• Linda Ford: AASW National Vice President and Asia
Pacific Region representative on the IFSW Indigenous
Commission
Watch the National World Social Day event.
•
YOU TUBESAVE THE DATE
11-13 NOVEMBER
BRISBANE
2021
THE 26TH ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL
SOCIAL WORK CONFERENCE
SUPPORTED BY IFSW | APASWE | AASW
SOCIAL WORK AND THE SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Offering face-to-face or virtual attendance options,
the 2021 conference is a networking and professional
development opportunity that you won’t want to miss!
More information including ticket purchasing, keynote
speakers and sessions will be released shortly.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST20 / SOCIAL WORK FOCUS
Cultural influences on
social work practice
a Vietnamese Australian’s account
TRI NGUYEN
Social work is not a value free, technocratic practice. The social
work profession and each individual practitioner’s values cannot
be ‘left at the door’: they unavoidably influence social workers’
work and relationship with clients (i.e. individuals, groups, families
and communities).
In this short essay, I apply Ishido’s Australia as refugee migrants,
(2010) autoethnographic approach I obtained Confucian, communitarian
to explain how my background as ways of viewing the world. At the
a second generation Australian of same time, I was also ‘raised’ by
Vietnamese ethnic background, with the Australian education system
my hybridised identity of Western and and Australian television, adopting
Confucian values and experiences, Western world views that privilege
informs my professional identity and claims to objectivity, rationality and
future practices as a social worker. individualism. My background as
I will demonstrate that critical dialogue a second generation Australian of
between my cultural identity and Vietnamese ethnicity, represents a
professional identity results in an third, hybridised identity of Western
anti-oppressive mode of social work and Confucian values that are not
practice that prioritises the reflective wholly Confucian, nor wholly Western:
and relational ‘lens’ of working with what I colloquially call a “Confus-ern”-
clients. This requires conscious, “West-ucian” identity. The extent to
critical reflection and sharing my which I hold and are perceived to
About the author own positionality with clients in open hold certain cultural identities, values
dialogue about our values. Practicing and worldviews that are Western
in this way will best enable me to fulfill or Confucian, varies on the issue
Tri Nguyen is a newly graduated social
the other two ‘lenses’ of social work, and may also be viewed differently
worker, having completed a Masters
social justice and change, in a way depending on the cultural background
of Social Work (Qualifying) at the
that brings honour to how I work with of the person I interact with and the
Australian Catholic University. Tri’s
clients and dignity to their experience context. These experiences of cultural
previous career involved policy and
and wishes. disjuncture and difference are part of
political analysis, advice, advocacy
my cultural identity.
and government relations roles with I will first describe my cultural identity
the federal government, private by applying Ishido’s (2010) concept of My hybridised cultural identity
industry and not-for-profit health hybridised identities, “being across influences my professional identity
practitioner and consumer bodies, and between two cultures”, using as a social worker in how I view and
throughout which he applied Bachelor an autoethnographic approach. apply the social work profession’s
of Arts (Hons) and Laws (Honours) Autoethnographic approaches involve ethics and values. The foundational
degrees obtained from the University critically reflecting and deconstructing document for the Australian social
of Sydney. Tri has worked in the one’s own self-concept and identity work profession, the Australian
settlement services, out of home care as they are revealed through social Association of Social Workers [AASW]
and homelessness sectors and is contexts. Raised in a household of Code of Ethics (2020) (Code), outlines
due to start working with youth and ethnically Vietnamese family of one the ethical rules, values and principles
community development. parent, six aunts, two uncles and for social work practice. While the
maternal grandparents, who came to Code explicitly states that the rightsSOCIAL WORK FOCUS / 21
My background as a
second generation
Australian of
Vietnamese ethnicity,
represents a third,
hybridised identity
of Western and
Confucian values
that are not wholly
Confucian, nor
wholly Western
of individuals and communities are to own experience of tensions with the and privilege that can negatively
be recognised by social workers, the Confucian aspects of my cultural impact clients if inadequate critical
Code nonetheless heavily preferences identity provides an opportunity reflection and consideration is given to
individualist conceptions of choice, to strive to be consciously aware of clients’ values and worldviews.
wellbeing and freedom; reflecting how there will be situations where
This critical reflection on my cultural
the Western origins of the social work certain clients may not agree with
and professional identity and the
profession (and Australian society) or prioritise the ethics and values of
relationship between them therefore
more broadly. For example, the Code social work in the way the Code has.
shapes the approach I take to the ‘four
states social workers are to respect The larger lesson I therefore draw is
lenses’ of my social work practice.
others’ cultural and group identities that everyone, whether from the same
My social work practice prioritises
and needs “within a framework of cultural background or not, can have
the reflective and relational lens
human rights and social justice” (clause differing views on the extent to which
of social work by adopting Healy’s
4.1), it provides no further guidance certain values should be prioritised
(2014) Anti Oppressive Practice (AOP)
on how this is to occur. Similarly, the over others.
approach to Critical Social Work
Code’s requirement that social workers
My cultural identity’s experiences practice. AOP reflects my personal
oppose all violations of human rights,
as a migrant minority living in the orientation to social work practice:
appears to subtly prioritise preferences
dominant white Australian society Social justice can be advanced by
on civil and political rights, noting that
also has some resonance with the supporting individuals’ empowerment
those rights “will be accompanied by
social work profession’s history of to overcome inequity. I will only
economic, social and cultural rights”
cultural domination. Social workers’ directly challenge structural inequities
(clause 2.2) Furthermore, although
not-so-recent participation in the if my partnership with the client is not
the Code requires social workers
Stolen Generations was driven by compromised and no harm comes to
to recognise cultural diversity and
the profession holding notions of them. Attending to the reflective and
engage in culturally safe practice,
(Western, white) cultural superiority relational aspects of social work will be
and appropriately states that social
and dominance. I connect with this the best way I can contribute towards
workers own acknowledgement of
history through my experience of social justice and change. I will do this
the significance of their own culture
tensions and oppression from both by being critically reflective and open
impacts such practice, it does not
‘sides’ of my Western-Confucian about my own positionality, values, and
provide further guidance on how social
hybridised cultural identity and from world view, in the social worker-client
workers can do this.
white privilege in Australia. This relationship. Through this, I aim
Although the Western parts of my experience and understanding of to engage clients in a respectful,
cultural identity have an affinity social work’s history reveals to me cross cultural dialogue about what
with those individualist ethical and that social work, as a profession and is important to the client and what
value orientations of the Code, my institution, has considerable power is possible. This way of practicingYou can also read
