Race, Ethnicity and Identity

Running head: RACE, ETHNICITY AND IDENTITY
Race, Ethnicity and Identity
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Name

1RACE, ETHNICITY AND IDENTITY
The term social work can be defined as the academic disciple as well as profession which
concern itself with families, individuals, groups as well as communities in an effort to increase
social functioning as well as overall well-being. The profession of social work practice is based
on the personal values and ethics of the social workers. Social workers stand up for human rights
as well as justice for giving voice to unheard as well as marginalized population. In Australia a
good number of human beings are still subjected to racism, visible as well as invisible oppression
and lack of social privileges. The chief aims of the social workers include bettering the lives of
the individuals and thus improve the society as a whole. In order to deal with the above
mentioned issues it is highly crucial for the social workers to develop an effective understanding
of the issues. Personal experience of dealing with such factors possesses the potential to shape
the values of the social worker to a great extent. Social workers who have personally
experienced racism, oppression in their personal life possess the capacity to effectively relate to
such issues and thus eradicate the same by taking stern steps. Besides that personal experience of
racism, oppression and lack of privileges, as per my opinion, impose significant impact on the
one’s values and ethics. In this report, how my personal experience of racism, visible, invisible
oppression and lack f privilege have shaped my personal values as a social worker will be
discussed. Along with this, how the values reflect in my social work and how the practice of
reflection reflects to the development of my personal growth will also be discussed in this essay.
Considering the fact that from childhood, I have always aspired to be a social worker, my
constant effort includes locating myself efficiently personally as well as professionally in the
context of social work. Despite the fact that several civil rights movements have been held in
Australia against racism, racism can be considers as a major issue in Australia. According to
researchers, racism can be defined as the belief in superiority over one another that lead to

2RACE, ETHNICITY AND IDENTITY
discrimination, provision of limited or no privilege to the dominated group (Case 2017). Racism
process direct linkage to oppression and according to several researchers’ racism is a major part
of oppression. Even before starting my carrier, I have evidenced several oppressions against the
indigenous people in Australia and have always protected against in. The chief reason behind
selecting social work as my profession is to deal with racism, invisible as well as visible
oppression and lack of privilege faced by the Aboriginal and Torres islanders. In order to
demonstrate how I locate myself professionally and personally to help people suffering from the
above mentioned issues, I would like to recall one of my personal experiences. During the initial
stage of my occupation, I was appointed by my superior to help out a middle aged aboriginal
woman who has lodged a complaint for getting subjected to racism, visible and invisible
oppression and lack of privileges. She with her husband used to reside in a rented house in
Brisbane. After the death of Mrs. X, the house owner, who is a non-indigenous Australian, has
asked Mr. X to leave the house. The reason stated by the houseowner for compelling him to
leave the house is that renting house to a “black” individual with no family is risky since they are
often found to be associated with criminal activities. Mr. X ha d initially lodged a complaint
against hiss house owner. However, no vital step has been taken against the house owner and h
was unofficially suggested to look for another house. In order to get rid of this tension, Mr. X
had tried to find a new house to leave in. he had confirmed his deal with another house owner.
However, when a white couple expressed their desire to buy the house, the house owner
immediately broke the contract with Mr. X and gave the rent to the new couple. Same indirect
and reluctant rent was obtained by him when he lodged complaint against the second house
owner. Frustrated, Mr. X have lodged complaint to the social worker society. As a social
worker, I was recruited to look after the issue of Mr. X. While communicating, I understood that

3RACE, ETHNICITY AND IDENTITY
Mr. X is being victimized of direct oppression and lack of privilege for being indigenous. Being
a indigenous individual myself, I could personally related to the issues faced by him. Since he
had got severely depressed due to his constant struggle for living, I demonstrated companionate
behavior and assured him to get back his right. Firstly, I communicated with the local police
station and provide him with the identity certificates of Mr. X where it was clearly stated he
work as a teacher in the XYZ school. Secondly, I lodged complaint against the inhuman and
unethical behavior of his house Owner and the racist comments that was made to him. In order
to gain legal support, I had contacted the human Right Commission department and had taken on
of their executives with me. In order to keep no stone unturned, I also took the legal documents
of the agreement that took place between Mr. X and his house owner. The agreement was for 5
years, where 2 years were still left. Secondly, no mention of the issue that had been mentioned
by the house owner no was mentioned in that report. After getting all the proofs, the police
officer decided to come with us and warn the house owner that he will b arrested if further such
racist attitude and unethical claims are made by him.
I believe that my nourishment along social experiences that I have gained both before and
after joining my profession of a social worker, have shaped mu values. Thus my personal values
always reflect in my social work. I was born in an indigenous family. For majority of the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander individuals, family as well as kin relationships is
considered to the central part of the social as well as cultural life. Indigenous families of
Australia are diverse when it comes to their structure and strong families are pivotal to their
health and wellbeing. This often got reflected in my professional life. As a social worker, I
always elevate public service above self interest as well as for personal gain. As a social worker,