Social Work Profession: Significance, Ethics, and Australian Context

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of social work as a profession, examining its multifaceted nature and significance in addressing societal issues. It explores the diverse fields where social workers operate, emphasizing their role in community development, child welfare, and social policy. The paper delves into the importance of ethical conduct, values, and the anti-oppressive practice approach within the Australian context, highlighting critical theory's role in analyzing and addressing social injustices. It discusses the historical roots of social work, its multidisciplinary nature, and the key social issues prevalent in Australia, such as health, education, and human rights. The essay also outlines the author's personal goals and recommendations for addressing these issues, underscoring the need for social workers to focus on marginalized groups and promote social wellbeing. References to key literature supporting these concepts are also provided.

Running head: SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION
SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION
Introduction:
There are various fields of services social where social workers work such as child
protection, community development, child and family welfare, disability, health, education,
social policy development and the workplaces (Garbarino, 2017). A social worker is a
professional who have various ways to contribute to the society and work towards making the
society a better place. In this paper I will describe social work as profession along with its
significance. The paper will discuss the importance and the anti-oppressive practice approach
along with critical theory in social work in context of Australia’s present cultural, political,
legislative and organizational aspects.
Social work:
Social workers work in various fields seeking after different contexts that are related to
people and their environment. Since the focus of social work is immensely vast they
worktowards everyday common situation to highly complex situations. The social work
practitioners deal with several types of people who are affected by the various kinds of situations
and their aspects. Many social workers develop special expertise in their specific areas such as
working with often neglected senior citizen, addressing the social needs of employees in large
companies, helping communities looking for better opportunity to improve their life, deal with
problems including abuse of alcohol, drugs and crimes, working with young people and children
who are neglected or abused. There are different ways social workers assist people in direct ways
such as by being involved in empowering, developing and changing individuals, groups, families
and communities (Hepworth et al., 2016). In the indirect ways too, social workers work by
administering people-serving organizations, conducting research that could help the profession

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increase its knowledge regarding interaction between society and people and supervising or
providing consultations to other professionals. They also assist people indirectly helping people
to learn better ways of intervention into difficult circumstances or when the transactions between
people and people’s environment fails to happen (Hepworth et al., 2016). Australia has several
social issues that are the main focus of the social workers. Considering the social, political and
economic condition of Australia, the social workers have a vast range to work. There are several
areas of society that requires and is being the main focus of the social workers. Health,
education, economic inequity, human rights, employment and mental health are some of the
broad categories that have always become the prime concern of the social workers. The problems
are inter-related and therefore, they are often large for a single organization to tackle. The social
workers work on these issues with their principles and theories. It is important for the social
workers to work on these issues with the anti-oppressive and critical approach. Critical approach
helps in analyzing a problem in a deeper way and the anti-oppressive approach is to ensuring a
discrimination free behavior towards people with whom the social workers work.
History:
During the late 19th century social work emerged as a professional activity. The roots of
social works lie in early social welfare activities, charity organization movement and the
settlement house movement. New York society for the prevention of pauperism (1818), various
child saving organizations American social science association (1865) and condition for the poor
(1840) are some of the initial social welfare organization (Beddoe, 2013). There have been
several miles stones since then and it spread across the globe as a profession (Reisch& Andrews,
2014).

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Social work is a multi-disciplinary profession: along with the social work theory, it is
from sociology, psychology and related field that the profession’s knowledge is based. While a
student is on practice, they get the opportunity to practice as well as learn several skills that are
taught to them. They learn specific skills through skills training workshops and field instruction
placements. It is done at various organizations under the supervision of expected social workers
(Beddoe, 2013). The practice is however always guided by the critical and anti-oppressive
approach. It is a necessity to make the decision and behave with these specific approaches as
many of the social issues have a core root in the racism and discrimination. However, the prime
aspect that is not realized in this process is that every human is equal and therefore must be
treated with equality and dignity (Nonet, Selznick & Kagan, 2017).
Australia:
Considering the social problems in Australia, there are several areas social workers are
currently working and needs more focus. The AASW is the professional body for social workers
in Australia. It is one of the most significant parts of Australia’s overall development programs.
The major social issues in Australia are violence counseling services that involve sexual assaults,
domestic violence and family violence. Mental health in Australia is one of the most important
areas of concern in Australia. A major portion of Australia’s social issues are associated with the
racism. The aboriginals people are the victim of racism and discrimination against them have led
to issues such as lack of education, unemployment, poverty, housing and many more (Nasrabadi,
Abbasi & Mehrdad, 2015). Although there are policies and laws that are aimed to help these
specific groups, it is still a gradual process (Kenny & Connors, 2016). According to me, it is
important that social workers focus on these issues and make plans accordingly. There is scope
of development for these groups and major role is being played by the Australian social workers.

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Therefore, with the knowledge and skills I have gained in my course of studies, I wish to work
on the similar issues. Specifically the issues those are associated with the aboriginals (Mayo,
2014).
Values and ethics:
I have learned that a social worker must abide by the ethical values while working with
the communities, groups, family and individuals. The AASW practice standards provide the
guidelines in the Australian context that define the ways a social worker should carry out their
work. Ethical behavior is of extremely high significance in social work. Perhaps it is the most
distinguishing feature of this specific profession. A professional social work is that professional
which has authority vested in them by the law. The most significant principles are included in a
code of professional conduct involving ethical responsibility towards clients, colleagues, to the
professions and the broader society (Schön, 2017). It is necessary for them to follow it.
Practitioners may get sanctioned in case they do not follow these principles in practice.
Therefore, one should be aware of their actions and their way of working.Principles of social
justice and ethical values are subscribed and aspired by the social workers. They are aspired to
the principles of justice, respect for people’s worth, equality, human rights and dignity, behaving
with honesty and integrity, maintaining high standards of competence, upholding professionals
standards of conduct, showing concern and care for others wellbeing and lastly placing elevated
services to others above self-interest(Nonet, Selznick & Kagan, 2017).These are the things that
make social workers efficient and important contributors of society. I have learnt to pursue these
values being aware of their own attitudes towards society and people along with being open to
changes in me (Hyde, Bowles &Pawar, 2014).I will have to see that my own personal values and
ethics and goals are aligned as a critical social worker with the organization that I am working

5SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION
with and think critically that the society we live in may have social unjust and we don’t have
control over it.
Critical approach is essential in social work. It is a critical theory perspective that seeks to
address social injustice which focuses mainly on individualized issues. They are essential in
social work in order to present equal behavior to everyone (Strand et al., 2014). In Australia
specifically whre people are from diverse background it is important one have this approach to
ensure people are treated equally with dignity. Anti-oppressive practice is an interdisciplinary
approach that is primarily enrooted within the practice of social work. For a social worker is
significant, specifically in Australia as it would make the practice of social work valid and the
way it is meant to serve (Lawrence, 2016). In a nation like Australia it holds a prime place as
discrimination is an underlying behavior among the Australian population (Lawrence, 2016).
Personal goal:
I have always wanted to help people in such a way that would be beneficial them for their
lifespan. It is a way I gain satisfaction from my own work. Working as a social worker will help
me contributing to society and be the agent of change. I can help them in situations when they
need adjustments such as help with their access to housing, education, employment and
healthcare. On the broader aspect, I can be an agent of change in the society. I can develop
myself and be able to bring change in painful social situations, development of constructive
forces. I can be the agent for providing opportunities for experimenting democratic and
humanistic behaviors. Social work is a profession that work to assist individuals, families and
groups in relation to both social and economic forces by which they are affected. Therefore, I
will be able to work in the same way which has always been my goals. My ideas in regard to

6SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION
Australia’s social issues can be implemented in this cause to help society and I can work on
maximizing resources that are available in the community by promoting social well-
being.Specifically targeting the Australia’s deprived groups who are socio-economically
backward. It is important that every person get the resources and opportunities equally in order to
make the society a better place.
Recommendation:
Australia is certainly a multicultural nation and inequality; disadvantage and social
justice are the prime issues that underpin social work and hispassion that drive the social
workers. These issues in Australia are certainly not static and it is constantly evolving and
shifting which is a circumstance of change (Bradley, 2015). There are some major challenges
that require to taken under consideration in the coming decades. It is certainly a future plan for
every social worker to contribute in this including me. The challenges involve the ageing
population dilemma, the tyranny of distance that needs to address the inequality of services
across communities and assessing the environmental impact which includes rural communities
(Kenny & Connors, 2016).
Conclusions:
As discussed above, there are various fields of services social where social workers work
such as child protection, community development, child and family welfare, disability, health,
education, social policy development and the workplaces. I aims to work with the sills and
knowledge’s that I have received in my course. In the end I can conclude that the job involves
several challenging moments however the course have taught me to face the challenges in better
ways.

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References:
Beddoe, L. (2013). Health social work: Professional identity and knowledge. Qualitative Social
Work, 12(1), 24-40.
Bradley, H. (2015). Fractured identities: Changing patterns of inequality. John Wiley & Sons.
Garbarino, J. (2017). Children and Families in the Social Environment: Modern Applications of
Social Work. Routledge.
Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., & Strom-Gottfried, K. (2016). Empowerment
series: Direct social work practice: Theory and skills. Nelson Education.
Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., & Strom-Gottfried, K. (2016). Empowerment
series: Direct social work practice: Theory and skills. Nelson Education.
Hyde, B., Bowles, W., &Pawar, M. (2014). Challenges of recovery-oriented practice in inpatient
mental health settings–the potential for social work leadership. Asia Pacific Journal of
Social Work and Development, 24(1-2), 5-16.
Kenny, S., & Connors, P. (2016). Developing Communities for the Future 5ed. Cengage AU.
Lawrence, R. J. (2016). Professional social work in Australia. ANU Press.
Lyons, K. (2017). Reflecting on social work-discipline and profession. Routledge.
Mayo, E. (2014). The social problems of an industrial civilisation. Routledge.
Nasrabadi, A. N., Abbasi, N. H., & Mehrdad, N. (2015). The prevalence of violence against
Iranian women and its related factors. Global journal of health science, 7(3), 37.

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Nonet, P., Selznick, P., & Kagan, R. A. (2017). Law and society in transition: Toward
responsive law. Routledge.
Reisch, M., & Andrews, J. (2014). The road not taken: A history of radical social work in the
United States. Routledge.
Schön, D. A. (2017). The reflective practitioner: How professionals think in action. Routledge.
Strand, V. C., Abramovitz, R., Layne, C. M., Robinson, H., & Way, I. (2014). Meeting the
critical need for trauma education in social work: A problem-based learning
approach. Journal of Social Work Education, 50(1), 120-135.