Discrimination Against Aboriginals: Social Work Theory and Practice

Running head: SOCIAL WORK THEORY AND PRACTICE
SOCIAL WORK THEORY AND PRACTICE
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Topic: discrimination against aboriginals
Social workers are trusted professionals, who provide support, guidance and assistance to
individuals, families and communities in their time of need. Social work is not only a profession
but also a passion, a drive to help others. Moreover, they leave a positive lasting impact that is
associated with the well-being of others (Cheung, 2016). Certain places are composed of diverse
culture, where social injustice is highly possible to occur. Australia is one of the nations that
have a large population of aboriginals and Torres Straits Islander people known as the First
Australians. They have a long history in the land of Australia, the land where they are now faced
with several challenges. Today, the land, winds and water of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
islanders peoples are used and shared by the maximum population of the country. However, the
situation is must worse than merely sharing their land, water and wind where the aboriginals are
discriminated and deprived of their resources. Social workers acknowledge the Torres Strait
islanders people and aboriginals, their contribution and sacrifices, their continuing and enduring
cultures that has deepen and enriched the life of the nation as well as communities. Social
workers make commitments to acknowledge the contribution of the aboriginals and aim to work
on the historical and contemporary disadvantages experienced by Aboriginals and Torres Strait
Islander people and implement them in the social work practice. In a similar discourse, the paper
aims to discuss the way social workers are responsible for ensuring that their method is culturally
competent, sensitive and safe.
Indigenous culture in Australia is strong and diverse in its natural way. They make a vital
contribution to the nation’s identity. In Australia, the word ‘discrimination’ is a subtle sword that
is used against the aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders (Fiske, Hodge & Turner, 2016). They
are often deprived of their fundamental rights from due to their race or their heritage or ethnic

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origin. Australia has a history of American people during the colonized period when white
people failed to understand the aboriginal culture (Malaspinas et al., 2016). The wide gap and
difference between their culture and the culture of the first Australian lead to unpleasant attitude
towards the aboriginals. The rich culture of the indigenous people was certainly leads to
ignorance of the culture since it was difficult to understand. During this period, thousands of
aboriginal people were killed, punished and deprived of their fundamental rights associated with
their land, water, forest and winds. Even today in the contemporary era, aboriginal people
continue to feel misunderstood by non-indigenous people. According to the indigenous people
many legislative acts reflect a white point of view and lack the understanding of the aboriginals.
The aboriginals who are living the professional life, approximately 70 per cent claim to have
experienced discrimination. The condition of indigenous Australian is a national disgrace for the
discrimination has led the people belongs from aboriginal culture lack behind. They lack
educational opportunity, job opportunity, healthcare and wellbeing beneficiaries and many
fundamental rights (Rigney, 2017).
The idea is that there is a constant struggle in the society which occurs due to conflicts
between different social classes or groups. There is a scare of resources and opportunities. Every
group struggles to attain more resources as they are limited in society and they must struggle
with other groups in order to get access and retain the resources. Groups in power or privileged
will always try to protect their own interest. Therefore, they block the progress of other groups
(Craib, 2015). The structure of the Australian society can be explained with the struggle. Here
the white Australians try not to give away their powers in the hand of aboriginals, hence create
blocking in their progress. Those in more powers, non-indigenous create laws that will certainly
feel like a benefit to the aboriginals however, they are only little or no benefits. The reason

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indigenous people are treated unequally is to prevent them from claiming the power and
resources. The land, water, forest and resources are at present in the hand of the powerful.
Through education and other mediums of help, aboriginals will only claim their position back,
making the ones in power lose power. This can be done unconsciously or consciously. Hence,
the condition of the aboriginals and the discrimination against them is to prevent them from
getting access to the limited resources of the society (Parsons, 2017).
The profession of social work has played a significant role in its involvement with the
indigenous peoples. It has been noted that several times aboriginals are the clients of social
service agencies in many areas. The Australian Association of social worker (AASW) has been
working with the aboriginals for years, respectfully acknowledging aboriginals and Torres Strait
Islanders’ people as the first Australians. The present condition of aboriginals and the result of
decades of discrimination call loudly for social justice. Social justice is embedded in every
mission of the present day’s social workers. It is not only ethical but also necessary to promote
social justice by the social workers in their work with others. Social justice includes ensuring that
the aboriginals are getting equal opportunities, participation in decision making and they are
provided with the essential amenities to thrive as a member of the society. Also, while promoting
the social justice social workers bear the responsibility of enhancing the social welfare of the
indigenous people (Bell & Adams, 2016).
It has always been an essential concern for social workers and social service workers
regarding social justice. The profession is built on the concern of social justice, and social justice
plays an important role in opening access and opportunity for everyone, specifically for the
people in greatest need. The reason it is vital to involve social justice in social work is for they
work directly with the people in need. Although social workers are not the only one who works