Jennifer McKinnon

Exploring the Nexus Between Social Work and the Environment

Abstract Within social work discourse, “the environment” seems inevitably to refer to the sociocultural environment. Such a focus reflects the domain that social work has defined for itself through various codes of ethics, as well as the theory and practice focus of social workers. Over a long period of time, doubt has gradually been dispelled about the effect that humankind has had on the environment, and it is now largely accepted that global warming has an anthropogenic basis. The present paper examines the place of social work in a world that is trying to come to terms with various ecological disasters, not the least of which is climate change. Social work is cast as a profession that needs to become more aware of the ways in which society is embedded in the natural world and our physical environment as a whole. The issue of social sustainability is explored as a focus for the relevance of social work knowledge and practice in this time of environmental crisis.

Rural Women and Climate Change: A Gender-inclusive Perspective

Abstract This paper reports on a small-scale research study that explores the impact of climate change on rural women. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with 7 women, who came from a regional centre and were either employed by womens services or who had activist roles within the community pertaining to womens services. Outcomes of the study identified a range of areas of impact, including increased hardship for rural women, implications of household roles, and subsequent organisational responsibilities. A high level of concern, particularly for the vulnerability of women in crisis, was identified among participants. We contend that the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly relevant to the social work profession and that specific groups such as women are at risk of further disadvantage unless collective action is taken to circumvent the impact of climate change. Strategies for social work practice and policy initiatives are considered.

The Environment: A Private Concern or a Professional Practice Issue for Australian Social Workers?

Abstract The most recent version of the Australian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics includes substantial reference to social workers’ professional responsibilities for environmental awareness and advocacy. This article reports on a qualitative study of 20 Australian environmentally-conscious social workers from a variety of fields of practice. The study found that while there was a high level of awareness of the relevance of environmental issues for social work practice, participants reported professional and organisational constraints, which prevented them from aligning their environmental concerns with their professional practice. The findings from this study suggest that proenvironmental views and actions may not yet be accepted as a legitimate aspect of social work practice, despite strong recognition of the links between social justice, human rights, social work, and the environment in the Australian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.

Equity for government school students: Reclaiming social work services in New South Wales

In Australia, school education is largely a state government responsibility, hence there are varying responses across Australia to the welfare needs of school students. The present study explores the basis for the provision of social work services within schools, particularly the special needs of rural schools, and suggests that NSW school students are disadvantaged by not having access to social work services that might help them overcome some of the educational barriers that they face. The nature of educational barriers is examined and literature on the role of school social workers is reviewed. The authors find that the social justice rhetoric of State and Commonwealth educational agencies is incongruent with NSW school practice.

Is social work really greening? Exploring the place of sustainability and environment in social work codes of ethics

This article examines the extent to which issues of environmental sustainability are represented in three national social work codes of ethics – the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. These national codes are discussed and implications for social work are analysed with a view to strengthening the profession’s position regarding environmental sustainability. Findings suggest that national codes do not include concern for environmental sustainability as a core professional concern. The authors make recommendations for developing ethical practice and further argue that the international professional body of social work, the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), should take a fundamental leadership role in advocating for environmental sustainability.

Social Work Enabling Sustainable Ecological Living

Nature and the environment have a new impetus and energy within social work. There have been rapid changes in recent decades heralding a greater understanding of the relevance of environmental issues in social work theory and practice, and a concomitant departure from the purely sociocultural lens that informed modernist social work constructions of environmental issues (Coates, 2003). Health, wellbeing, and the living environment all go hand in hand, a symbiosis that was well recognised in early forms of social work such as that practiced by Jane Addams in 1880 90 in the United States of America. Although these connections fell out of favour in social work for most of the 20th century, growing awareness of the impact of climate change and other environmental imperatives is making its mark on social work education, theory, and practice. The social work professional role that we advocate includes attention to environmental factors in all forms of social work practice. Indeed, there is emergent literature and research that includes nature as a major therapeutic resource for direct practice, particularly in relation to mental health, but also in areas like rehabilitation of young offenders or substance abusers through land revegetation and outdoor adventures (Ungar, 2004). For children, contact with nature is considered vital for their wellbeing and social workers in conjunction with many grassroots groups may engage in facilitating changes in social practices, especially at this point in time when human beings are spending an increasingly smaller amount of time in contact with the natural world. For the first time in human history, more than half of the people on this planet live in cities. Urban locations have become the site for community transformation through an increasing focus on sustainability and for reducing the impact of modern living on the environment (Bay, 2013). Community building through community gardens has also been demonstrated to increase residents’ sense of belonging and general wellbeing. Increasingly, arguments are being made to incorporate nature into direct social work practice and into institutional settings like hospitals, prisons, aged care facilities, and schools (Heinsch, 2012). Further, there are roles for social work in urban planning of green spaces for people as natural setting are associated with increased psychological, emotional, and overall wellbeing. Besthorn (2013) pointed out that urban agriculture is a growing consideration for social work in the light of current food security crises in many countries. The relationship between human beings and nature has been variously defined and contested, and caution is advised in solely considering nature as a resource and of

A Developmental Approach to Recognition of Prior Learning in Social Work Field Education

ABSTRACT This paper comments on the policy issue of recognition of prior learning (RPL) in social work education. Contrasting approaches to RPL are explored through a case study of Charles Sturt University’s experiences with RPL in its professional entry social work programs. RPL for field education in Australian social work education has been a contested issue within the profession and for social work education providers since its introduction in 2008. Notwithstanding the Australian Association of Social Workers’ credentialist approach to RPL, Charles Sturt University’s experience is that a developmental approach is preferable and can be a transformative professional education strategy.