Social Workers In Australia

A social worker has six primary responsibilities or purposes outlined by NASW (1999). These purposes are to service a client, to provide social justice when needed, to increase and emphasize the individual worth of people, to emphasize the importance of relationships between individuals, and to have integrity and be competent when completing these purposes (NASW, 1999).

The “Grand Challenges for Social Work” are important because they promote: the well-being of people and families, a strong social fabric, and a just society that fights exclusion and marginalization, creating a sense of belonging, promoting trust, and offers pathways for social and economic progress (“American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare”, 2017). The 12 Grand Challenges help continue the transformation of society through social work. As a social worker, you are put able to make changes in the lives of those who need help, and the presented issue needs help. As stated in the Preamble of the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers, “The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being

Traditionally, Social Workers are seen as human rights workers who advocate for the people to ensure equal access to all services by ensuring services are in place to meet human rights such as the right to

Abstract The roles of a social worker are many and although it may be seen to most as a simple profession, it is of great value. A social worker has to broaden his or her horizon to see things in a new perspective. One must be able to understand, empower and help individuals, families or groups to overcome some of lives most difficult obstacles. As a social worker you are supposed to be able to appreciate the perspectives of all parties involved.

This paper will review and critically evaluate a submission by The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Being put forward to the Senate Education, Employment and workplace Relations Committee in 2012, in reference to “the adequacy of the allowance payment system for jobseekers and others, the appropriateness of the allowance payment system as a support into work and the impact of the changing nature of the labour market.” (Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Reference Committee, 2012).

Although social workers are expected to advocate for their clients, many social activities revolve around individual advocacy. Advocacy is the cornerstone on which social work is built. It is very important that it is framed in three sections of the NASW (2008) (pg. 61) Code of Ethics. Advocacy for those individuals, communities, and systems is not just a proposed activity for social workers it is a requisite.

Clients, especially in the poorer and more vulnerable settings that social workers work in, are often unaware of their rights and the actions that they need to adopt in order to lead a healthier, safer life. This is where advocacy comes in where social workers make clients aware of their rights, responsibilities, and more 'enlightened' and healthier forms of conduct. In my case, this is Planned Parenthood where I teach a mother who already has many children how to prevent herself from having more; or I may teach an adolescent the rudiments of sex education and hand her contraceptives.

Social workers assist individuals, groups or communities restore or enhance social functioning through creating living conditions favorable to their goal or need. Social workers are trained professionals that help people overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges such as poverty, discrimination, abuse, addiction, physical illness, educational issues, mental illness, disability, unemployment, etc. They accomplish this through counseling individuals, families and communities; teaching them how to cope with the stresses of everyday life. From a political standpoint, social workers spend time and money on campaigns that elect public officials that are committed to social work values. Sound public policies enable social workers to meet human needs, be fairly compensated and promote social justice. Overall I perceive social work as a “take action” profession. Often times, we as human beings complain and talk about what needs to be done but do not do anything beyond that. Social workers are hands on. They are not just talking about what “should” be done but they are doing something to better our communities. Social workers are about making a difference in society by helping others out that are in need for various reasons. If you are very sick and in need of assistance to perform normal, everyday functions, social workers can assist

Social workers have the responsibility of advocating for their clients (C. Garrett, personal communication, September 9, 2015). Whether it’s petitioning congress on matters that effect vulnerable populations (C. Garrett, personal communication, September 9, 2015). Such as cutting funding for the federal SNAP Benefit program (C. Garrett, personal communication, September 9, 2015). This directly affects a social worker’s ability to get resources to clients. Specifically, within the Head Start program a social worker can petition to have the poverty guidelines raised (C. Garrett, personal communication, September 9, 2015).

The role of the social worker is not to change people, treat people, or help people cope, but to nourish, encourage, assist, and unleash the strengths within people. They

“The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well being and help meet the basic human needs of all people with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty.” (1)

#1 A: Social work can be defined as a broad profession, with the sole purpose of improving the lives and relieving the hardships of the members of a population. Social work addresses many problems for the well being of society, including: health care, criminal justice and domestic violence, economic and public policies, child and family welfare, as well as homelessness. Social workers are trained professionals with the education and tools necessary to address problems from several different perspectives, with the intention of helping the masses and not just individuals. Social workers have the ability to inform people in need of resources available to help them achieve a wide variety of goals, whether personal social mobility, or financial independence.

The most important tool that I have learned as being a social worker is to meet people where they are. When I learned to separate my own personal thoughts, I was more successful with building a healthy rapport with clients. I am able to provide a service that best meet their individual needs by separating their personal values from my own. This past year I have been working with women in the area of mental health and substance abuse. This is a population that are faced with many challenges in life, not only are they fighting to remain substance free, they are learning to live life on life’s terms. I assist clients with finding resources in their community. It is very important to empower them to learn about the community that they are apart

Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients. “Clients” is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. These activities may be in the form of direct practice, community organizing, supervision, consultation administration, advocacy, social and political action, policy development and application, education, research and evaluation. Social workers seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs. They also seek to promote the

My understanding of the profession of social work is to enhance human well-being and to help meet the basic needs of all society, especially the needs of the most vulnerable, oppressed, and the needs of the people living in poverty. Social work leading duties are to promote social justice and social change on behalf of clients.