Diversity in Social Work Practice

This article discusses the challenges and key concepts of diversity in social work practice. It explores the importance of cultural responsiveness and inclusive practices, focusing on topics such as white privilege, intersectionality, and cross-cultural competence. The article provides resources and readings for further understanding.

Running Head: DIVERSITY IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
DIVERSITY IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
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Article 1
Key message
The report of Australian Association of Social Workers is associated with the culturally
responsive and inclusive social work practices that all the social workers have to follow in order
to deal with the aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders people. This paper is mainly emphasis on
the problems and challenges that the Torres Strait Islanders people are experienced in course of
time (Aasw.asn.au 2016). The purpose of enlisting the challenges is to develop proper
understanding of the issues and prepare plan to resolve it. Moreover, there is also the core values
and professional approaches of the Social workers that reflects the essential requirements for
doing social work in Australia. Moreover, a list of historical events and government initiatives
are also incorporated into the article that can provide the fathom of government initiatives in
order to develop the condition of the aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders people. For example,
mentioning the closing the gap commitments of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
intertwined with the process of establishing the significance of the culturally responsive and
inclusive practice for Australia’s First People is one of the major subject that the report discussed
briefly.
Challenges
However, there are few challenges that the reader can face while studying this report in
terms of the detailed social work structure prevalent with the country. The report rightly puts
emphasis on the government initiatives on aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders people but
there are limited perception regarding the social worker’s objectives and preferences to bring
more efficacy into the entire system. Besides this, the purpose of different subjects of discussion

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are also vague or the report tried to provide a brief of the government intention that did not
encapsulated the entire social working activities for Australia’s First Men.
Other readings
According to Hawkins and Weis (2017) beyond the cultural inclusiveness, the
educational development for the aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders people is also considered
to be an important aspect for enlightening them with the modern society. As a matter of fact, the
social work activities for the Australian aboriginals is not only limited to the framework of
making progress in the cultural field rather it is also coupled with linking the aboriginal culture
with the mainstream social practices. The motive behind such measure is to create a better
assimilation between the white and the aboriginals predominantly. In addition to this, there is
limited discussion regarding the training and skill development of the social workers to deal with
the aboriginal people. As per the research of Malmberg-Heimonen et al. (2015) it can be stated
that training and skill development is always considered to be the most important factor for
social work as the there is no certain situation that the social workers can face. Therefore, a
proactive role with highlighting the relevance of the practices is essential for the social workers
to perform.
Application
The report helps the social workers to understand the importance to conduct programs for
the aboriginals of Australia. Moreover, the government regulations and initiatives are also
helpful for the social workers to perceive a clear idea regarding their works.

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Article 2
Key message
The report of Davis and Gentlewarrior (2015) tried to deal with the white privileges in
clinical practice. From the white social workers perspective, it can be stated that there are huge
implication of the white privilege in the clinical social work practices that posed obstruction for
effective social work practice of the social workers. In course of discussion, some key themes
had been incorporated in the form of self-awareness in clinical practices. It is associated with the
mode of developing an individual perception or self-awareness that determines the success or
failure of the clinical practice. It is related to the ethical considerations that guide the social
workers to conduct effective clinical practice. Furthermore, understanding the role of the
intersectionality in social work is extensively highlighted into the discussion with the purpose to
make a clear perception of the white privileges. The implication for progressive social work
practice is the major concern for the organisations in order to bring more harmony and equality
in the clinical measures.
Challenges
However, the research highly critical and created a number of question regarding the
relationship between white privileges and clinical social work. At first it can be stated that there
was no description regarding the notion of white privileges. As a result of that it created dubious
and contradictory perceptions behind the analysis of the clinical social work. Moreover, it is also
important to point out that the relationship between white privileges and progressive social work
practice must be highlighted before evaluating the impact of white privileges on clinical social

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work. However, there is little evidence behind the relationship before jump onto the impact of
white privilege on clinical practice.
Other readings
As per the research of Bennett (2015) it can be argued that the white privilege in clinical
social work is considered to be one of the severe issue related to the ethics of the social workers.
It is coupled with the racial theory of white supremacy where the fair skinned people are aspired
to get better and quality treatment in compare to the dark skinned patients. As a matter of fact,
the research of Case (2015) articulated that there were numerous incidents where the clinical
social workers prioritise their patients on the basis of skin colour. It created a great deal of
problem for the objectivity of the social work and violated both the ethical correlation of social
work and medical paradigm. The role of the clinical social workers is to create an equal
treatment for different people irrespective of their race, gender or religion. It will help to deliver
success in the clinical social work framework as well.
Application
This understanding will help the social workers to acknowledge the importance of ethics
in social work practice. The interconnection between social work and moral stand point through
the glance of ethics generates a clear perception regarding the importance and significance of the
ethical proceedings in social work. Moreover, the practicing the ethical proceedings in course of
social work practice is also an effective measure for the social workers to develop their ability
and skill.

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Article 3
Key message
There are different approaches that can equally contribute to the social work practice.
Among all those factors the research of Mattsson (2014) pointed out intersectionality as the key
concept of making anti-oppressive social work. In this regard, the aim of this research is
associated with the activities of critical social work tradition with the focal point on challenging
oppression and inequality. The article also defined oppression and injustice by connoting the
general terms of inequality related to sexuality, gender, race and class. Moreover, the complexity
of critical reflection paves the way for implementing intersactionality as a key tool to create
effective framework for the social workers.
Challenges
There are series of determinant factors that are responsible to bring efficiency into the
practice of critical social work. However, this article was intended to focus on the
intersectionality as the only useful tool. It is true that transactionality influences the critical social
work practice extensively and formulate better condition for the social workers to introduce
effective measures to mitigate certain social issues. Nevertheless, there are other factors like
communication and responsibility of the social workers that also leave a great deal of impact on
the critical social work practice. This research restricts the discussion within the intersectionality
and obscures other factors of critical social work development.
Other readings
The research of Rowe, Baldry and Earles (2015) identified responsibility as a key concept
to deal with the critical social work theory. In fact, responsibility of the social worker is one of

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the major driving factor that creates a justification for the social workers to deal with the social
issues effectively. It is associated with the practice of effective means of bring justice to the
people and create an equal formation of the society so that the marginalised population also
enjoys the fruits of healthy social practices. Therefore, responsibility of the social workers plays
a significant role in enhancing the efficacy of the social workers and develops their ability to face
the challenges effectively.
On the other hand, Sims and Cabrita Gulyurtlu (2014) advocated that the communication
has an impeccable impact on the social work as it helps the social workers to identify the issues
specifically and plan a remedy to eradicate the social problem. As the mitigation plan is
primarily focused on the depth of understanding the social issue therefore acknowledging the
issue with in-depth analysis is considered to be one of the major criteria for the social workers to
deal with. Furthermore, communication between the social workers in order to take an important
decision is also treated as significant part of creating critical social work. As a result of that
communication creates better opportunity for the social workers to develop their abilities
effectively.
Application
The research helps the social worker to use internsectionality as a key tool to channelize
the critical social work to deal with oppressive and unequal social issues. Moreover, the possible
risks have also been narrated into the article that can bring a solid justification behind the use of
intersectionality in critical social work practice.

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Article 4
Key message
Cross-cultural competency is identified as the key proposition of the research that is
coupled with the paradigm of cultural diversity. In response to this, the cross-cultural
competence is considered to be the fundamental dimension of the effective and ethical social
work and created a number of social work education, scholarship and code of ethics. ::::::::::::::::
tried to formulate a dynamic impact of the cross-cultural competence on different social work
activities that enables the social workers to imbibe the skill to deal with different social work
practices. In addition to this, the researcher also aligned the framework of cross-cultural
competence with the postmodern epistemic frame that depicts a clear perception regarding
critical cultural consciousness for working across different social work.
Challenges
The research points out a very microscopic objective that overshadowed other possible
elements that critical social work theory embodies. The cross-cultural competence model
primarily based on the post-modern theory of social work. However, there are other theoretical
framework as well that helps to establish effective social work model. For instance, feminism
and radical social work are also contributed effectively in the social work practice. Therefore, it
can be argued that there are some conceptual gaps in understanding the social work practice as a
whole and formulating the cross-cultural competence will conceal the discussion in a specific
theme rather than lingering with the dynamic approach.

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Other readings
The research of Turner and Maschi (2015) put a great deal of emphasis on
individualisation as the core of social work. It identifies the unique quality of the social worker
to use individual principles and methods to acknowledge and address the situation. As the social
issues are different from each other and unique in nature therefore, it is obvious for the social
worker to treat the issue in a completely different manner. However, there are some general
understanding regarding the responsibility of the individual social worker but it does not push
him to deal with the situation in a general approach.
On the contrary, client self-determination is also played a crucial part in order to deal
with the situation effectively. The research of Davidson, Brophy and Campbell (2016) confirmed
that it is important for the research to respect the decisions and self-determination of the client
rather than unthrusting his own understanding. As a result of that irrespective of the cultural and
gender differences it will not be a problem for the social worker to address the issue positively.
As a matter of fact, the implementation of strategies and policies are also intricately associated
with this to bolster the measures effectively.
Application
The discussion significantly helps to point out different attributes of the social workers to
identify and handle the social issue effectively. In this context, the cross cultural competence will
provide an effective measure to step forward working across different social work conditions.

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Reference
Aasw.asn.au, 2016. Preparing for culturally responsive and inclusive social work practice in
Australia: Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.. [online] Aasw.asn.au.
Available at: https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/7006 [Accessed 4 Apr. 2019].
Azzopardi, C. and McNeill, T., 2016. From cultural competence to cultural consciousness:
Transitioning to a critical approach to working across differences in social work. Journal of
Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 25(4), pp.282-299.
Bennett, B., 2015. “Stop deploying your white privilege on me!” Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander engagement with the Australian Association of Social Workers. Australian Social
Work, 68(1), pp.19-31.
Case, K.A., 2015. White practitioners in therapeutic ally-ance: An intersectional privilege
awareness training model. Women & Therapy, 38(3-4), pp.263-278.
Davidson, G., Brophy, L. and Campbell, J., 2016. Risk, recovery and capacity: Competing or
complementary approaches to mental health social work. Australian Social Work, 69(2), pp.158-
168.
Davis, A. and Gentlewarrior, S., 2015. White privilege and clinical social work practice:
Reflections and recommendations. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 26(3), pp.191-208.
Hawkins, J.D. and Weis, J.G., 2017. The social development model: An integrated approach to
delinquency prevention. In Developmental and Life-course Criminological Theories (pp. 3-27).
Routledge.

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Malmberg-Heimonen, I., Natland, S., Tøge, A.G. and Hansen, H.C., 2015. The Effects of Skill
Training on Social Workers' Professional Competences in Norway: Results of a Cluster-
Randomised Study. The British Journal of Social Work, 46(5), pp.1354-1371.
Mattsson, T., 2014. Intersectionality as a useful tool: Anti-oppressive social work and critical
reflection. Affilia, 29(1), pp.8-17.
Rowe, S., Baldry, E. and Earles, W., 2015. Decolonising social work research: Learning from
critical Indigenous approaches. Australian Social Work, 68(3), pp.296-308.
Sims, D. and Cabrita Gulyurtlu, S.S., 2014. A scoping review of personalisation in the UK:
approaches to social work and people with learning disabilities. Health & social care in the
community, 22(1), pp.13-21.
Turner, S.G. and Maschi, T.M., 2015. Feminist and empowerment theory and social work
practice. Journal of Social Work Practice, 29(2), pp.151-162.