Human Services: Analyzing Social Disadvantage and Racism in Australia

This report analyzes racism as a significant social disadvantage, particularly within the Australian context, focusing on the tensions between ethnic white populations and aboriginals and immigrants. It examines two recent articles from social work and related journals, summarizing their arguments and underlying theories, including psychodynamic and social learning theories. The first article highlights cultural diversity as a driver of racism, especially in rural South Australia, while the second emphasizes the role of teachers in challenging racism through education and promoting cultural diversity. The analysis reflects on the implications of these findings for human services practice, noting the importance of long-term, holistic approaches to addressing racism and the influence of key stakeholders like teachers and parents in shaping societal attitudes. The report concludes that racism is a deeply rooted issue requiring sustained efforts to mitigate its impact, particularly on marginalized communities and children, with a focus on creating favorable environmental stimuli to reduce the intensity of racism.

Running head: INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN SERVICES
Introduction to human services
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

1INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN SERVICES
In the current time, one of the major incidents being faced by major section of the global
population is racism including different forms of social bullying. With the growth in the tension
between the different cultures and societies and increase in terrorism, hostilities between the
different social groups are increasing, which is leading to the emergence of racism. In the case of
Australia, racism is mainly evident in the fight for domination between the ethnic white people
with the aboriginals and immigrants (Kowal, 2015). It is reported that Australia is witnessing
higher inflow of immigration especially from the Asian countries, which is causing them to face
racism from the ethnic population. Thus, it can be concluded that of racism is one of the major
social disadvantages in the current perspective of Australia.
Forrest, J., & Dunn, K. (2013). Cultural diversity, racialisation and the experience of racism
in rural Australia: the South Australian case. Journal of rural studies, 30, 1-9.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2012.11.002
According to Forrest and Dunn (2013), cultural diversity is one of the major reasons for
the emergence of the racisms in Australia. This is due to the reason that South Australia is more
culturally diverse in terms of cultural and social factors and thus the probability of hostile
behavior to other social groups is also more. In the article, it is stated that the racism is mainly
being faced by non-white ethnic minorities from the white majorities. Moreover, it is also being
stated that the people from the rural section of south Australia are less tolerant compared to the
urban areas such as Adelaide. This can be concluded as the differences in social education and
awareness and surroundings. In this case, it can be noted that psychodynamic theory of
psychology will be effective because according to this theory, childhood experiences are the
major stimulus in the behavior of the individuals. The three elements including id, superego and
ego are the major determining factors in concluding the behavior of the individuals. Thus, as per

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this theory, it can be stated that the surroundings of the rural Australia are the major reasons for
more instances of racisms. On the other hand, people from the urban locations are more exposed
to the global trends and thus they are more tolerant to others. The authors have also stated that
this phenomenon is also having impact on the children as they are getting exposed to the global
trends from the very initial stage.
However, it should be noted that there are certain limitations also being identified from
the above evaluation of the theories. One of the major limitations is the implementation process.
This is due to the fact that as per the psychodynamic theory, there are no short term
implementation process of social work rather it should be done in holistic basis covering the
entire society. On the other hand, it will have influence on the practice as human services
worker. This is due to the fact that in the current time, majority of the social work approaches are
concentrated towards achieving the short term goals while as per this theory it is important to
have favorable surroundings and environment mitigating the issue of racism. This should also be
noted that with the increased trends of racism, societies especially that of the minorities are
getting marginalized due to the reason that psychological distance are getting larger.
Forrest, J., Lean, G., & Dunn, K. (2016). Challenging racism through schools: teacher
attitudes to cultural diversity and multicultural education in Sydney, Australia. Race Ethnicity
and Education, 19(3), 618-638. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2015.1095170
On the other hand, Forrest, Lean and Dunn (2016) stated a different approach in dealing
with the concept of racism. According to them, teachers play an important role in challenging the
concept of racism due to the reason that they are one who can transform the future generation
from getting freed of racism. In this case, it is also being stated by the authors that cultural

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diversity in the society can also further enhanced with the help of the teachers. On the other
hand, parents also play an important role other than the teachers in changing the social approach
towards other cultures. This is due to the reason that parents are closet ones to the children and
thus they are having the major influence over them. As per the social learning theory, it is stated
that learning of the individual is based on the environmental stimuli that includes the practices by
the majority in the society. Thus, as per the authors, teachers are having the capability of
changing the environmental factors due to the reason that thinking and learning approach of the
younger generation will be motivated and influenced by them.
In terms of the impact of racism, the authors have stated that impact will more on the
children due to the fact that they are the one who will follow the surroundings and environmental
factors. For instance, if the children from the minority communities are facing racism, then the
impact will be more on them especially in the long term (Nelson & Dunn, 2013). In practicing as
the human services worker, this article will help in having the understanding about the roles of
different stakeholders in transforming the society. Thus, it will be beneficial to review the
different responsibilities of the stakeholders towards mitigating the risks and challenges of
racism.
It can be concluded that racism is one of the major issues being faced by the society as a
whole in Australia. There are number of approaches being stated by different authors in regards
to the mitigation of this issue. On the other hand, it is also being stated by the authors that racism
cannot be mitigated in the short term basis due to the reason that it is having deep rooted causes.
The authors have also stated that increase in the rate of immigration in Australia is causing
inflow of people from different cultures and social backgrounds and it is further causing rift with
the ethnic groups of the country (Nelson, 2015). On the other hand, problems between the white

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ethnicities and aboriginals are also another major issue relevant in the current Australian
scenario. It is identified that close peoples including the teachers and parents are major
influencers in mitigating this issue. They can create the favorable environmental stimuli for the
children to experience lower intensity of racism.

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Reference
Forrest, J., & Dunn, K. (2013). Cultural diversity, racialisation and the experience of racism in
rural Australia: the South Australian case. Journal of rural studies, 30, 1-9.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2012.11.002
Forrest, J., Lean, G., & Dunn, K. (2016). Challenging racism through schools: teacher attitudes
to cultural diversity and multicultural education in Sydney, Australia. Race Ethnicity and
Education, 19(3), 618-638. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2015.1095170
Kowal, E. (2015). Time, indigeneity and white anti‐racism in Australia. The Australian Journal
of Anthropology, 26(1), 94-111.
Nelson, J. K. (2015). ‘Speaking’racism and anti-racism: perspectives of local anti-racism
actors. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 38(2), 342-358.
Nelson, J., & Dunn, K. M. (2013). Racism and anti-racism. 'For Those Who’ve Come Across the
Seas...': Australian Multicultural Theory, Policy and Practice, 259-276.