Role of Social Work Australia Discussion 2022

Running head: ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK
ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK
INTRODUCTION
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are an important part of the Australian
society. They are the original natives of Australia. However, unfortunately they are the ones
who face the maximum discrimination due to racisms. Many attempts are made by various
researchers and social workers to find out the main reason behind the discriminations and the
different way through which it can be prevented.
DISCUSSION
Gair, S., Miles, D., Savage, D. and Zuchowski, I., 2015. Racism unmasked: The
experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in social work field
placements. Australian Social Work, 68(1), pp.32-48.
“The subtle dynamics of personal, institutional and cultural racism permeate the routine
minutiae of social work policy and practice and these, combined with the strategies white
social workers utilize to avoid the tricky task of confronting racism in their work,
mean that black people's needs receive short shrift”, as said by the Dominelli nearly
around twenty five ago. During that time, it was rule of the British when racism existed in the
field of social work. It is all more disturbing because of the fact that “Indigenous peoples” are
the most backward and disadvantaged group in Australia on the entire socio economic and
political front. It is very much relevant in the current scenario. However all the efforts are
being made social worker to create a environment which is inclusive of all the “Indigenous
peoples” that may include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. The social workers
tries to find out about the history of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and tries
to find out different respectful ways in order to help them rather than following the age old
“western model”. In order to improve the overall living standard of the “Indigenous peoples”

2ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK
and to remove inequality and to bring about social justice for the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander People, the “Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) has
introduce a Reconciliation Action Plan in the year 2013”. In addition, latest Professional
Standards were also brought about in the year 2013 followed by a “revised code of Ethics” in
the year 2010 and a “published special editions of the professional journal Australian
Social Work to highlight issues of concern and to contribute to the development of inclusive
social work practice and education with and for Indigenous Australian”.
Now talking about the above mentioned research paper, it was well researched and well
structured. The authors Susan Gaira, Debra Miles b, Dorothy Savage c and Ines Zuchowski
are professional qualified writer who worked at the James Cook University. The main
audience to which the whole Research paper was focused includes the fellow researchers and
the students. The research paper was very relevant in today’s time. It deals with a topic of
relevance of social work towards the “Indigenous Australian” which should be dealt with
importance, as they are an important part of the society. The following research paper is
unique and the topic was not dealt before. From the following research paper the authors
reveled the racial discrimination that exist in the field of social work is no different than the
racism that is faced by the “Indigenous Australian” which mainly includes the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander People. The various methods used by the author includes “cultural
support which includes elders and mentors to buffer experiences of racism, Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander academic staff, and enduring antiracism strategies to counter
personal, organizational and cultural racism in the university and in partner organizations”. In
addition, for the research purposes, the sample size used for the survey is very wide and
large. As a result, it cannot be generalized. The major limitations in the following research
paper is the fact that the references or the study materials that are used are majorly out dated
that may have little or relevance in today’s dynamic changing time.