Empowering Social Workers

Empowering Social Workers

Manohar Pawar Richard Hugman Andrew Alexandra A.W. (Bill) Anscombe Editors Empowering Social Workers Virtuous Practitioners 123

Editors Manohar Pawar School of Humanities and Social Sciences Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia Richard Hugman School of Social Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW Australia Andrew Alexandra Department of Philosophy The University of Melbourne Parkville, VIC Australia A.W. (Bill) Anscombe School of Humanities and Social Sciences Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia ISBN 978-981-10-3808-2 ISBN 978-981-10-3809-9 (ebook) DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-3809-9 Library of Congress Control Number: 2017930406 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore 2017 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore

Acknowledgements We have greatly enjoyed researching social workers practice and have learned a good deal from the insightful and inspiring life stories, qualities and practice wisdom of the practitioners presented in this book. For frankly sharing their personal and professional life experiences, we immensely thank ten social workers who kindly agreed to participate in the project, which required long and demanding interviews. We specially invited six colleagues, whose names appear at the head of their respective chapters, to join us in conducting interviews and co-authoring chapters with us, and we really appreciate their time for this research project. In addition to all authors, we invited Prof. Tom Campbell, Prof. Mel Gray, Dr. Graeme McLean, Dr. Rose Melville and Mr. Arif Rehman to participate in a two-day workshop to thoroughly discuss each chapter and, based on that high quality discussion, the writing was further refined. We are grateful for their generosity in providing their time and thoughts. We also thank Ms. Narrelle Ingold for her outstanding assistance in organising the workshop and Ms. Nikki Scott and Ms. Debra Noy from the Institute for Land, Water and Society for providing excellent administrative assistance. We thank Ms. Heather Kelly for editing the final manuscript. This research was supported under the Australian Research Council s Discovery Project funding scheme (DP140103730; project title, Virtuous Practitioners: Empowering Social Workers) and we are grateful to all those who have offered comments and suggestions on the grant application, and contributed to this decision. We are also grateful to Charles Sturt University s Human Research Ethics Committee for approving the research proposal (protocol no: 2014/057). v

vi Acknowledgements We would also like to thank peer reviewers of the book proposal. At Springer, we greatly appreciate the work of Ms. Ilaria Walker, Mr. Nick Melchior and their team in facilitating the commissioning process and their commitment to publishing it. Thanks also to Roman Mr. Ashok Kadam for his efficient copy editing and to Mr. Henry Pravin Arokiaraj for successfully managing the production of the book in a professional and friendly manner. In essence, this book is a product of excellent teamwork. However, for any shortcomings and limitations in it, we are responsible. Manohar Pawar Richard Hugman Andrew Alexandra A.W. (Bill) Anscombe

Contents 1 Introduction The Role of Virtues in Social Work Practice... 1 Manohar Pawar, Richard Hugman, Andrew Alexandra and A.W. (Bill) Anscombe 2 Voice to the Voiceless Sue Ash, AO.... 17 Christina Fernandes and Richard Hugman 3 But You Can Push and Push and Push Diana Batzias... 37 Manohar Pawar 4 Empower People to Take Control of Their Own Lives Tom Calma, AO.... 53 Andrew Alexandra and Manohar Pawar 5 Respect and Integrity John Gavaghan... 77 A.W. (Bill) Anscombe and Emma Rush 6 What Can We Do to Make Changes? Virginia (Ginni) Hall, AO.... 87 Emma Rush and A.W. (Bill) Anscombe 7 A People World, Rather Than a Paper World Bronwyn Hyde... 101 Manohar Pawar and Wendy Bowles 8 I Cannot Give up, I Cannot Give up on the Children Bernadette McMenamin, AO.... 123 Manohar Pawar and Linda Briskman 9 You Roll up Your Sleeves and You Help, and Work with People Robyn Miller.... 139 Manohar Pawar and Sharlene Nipperess vii

viii Contents 10 Hunger for Movement and Action Sue Vardon, AO... 157 Manohar Pawar and Sue King 11 What You Know Plays Out in Action Jill Wilson, AO... 179 A.W. (Bill) Anscombe 12 Virtue-Led Social Work Practice... 193 Manohar Pawar, Richard Hugman, Andrew Alexandra and A.W. (Bill) Anscombe

Editors and Contributors About the Editors Manohar Pawar is Professor of Social Work at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Charles Sturt University and is the President of the Asia-Pacific branch of the International Consortium for Social Development. He has over 30 years of experience in social work education, research and practice in Australia and India. He is the lead chief investigator of research funded by the Australian Research Council s Discovery project that focuses on virtues and social work practice. Manohar has received a number of awards, including Citation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2008, from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council); and Quality of Life Award (2001, from the Association of Commonwealth Universities). His interests and recent publications include Future Directions in Social Development (Palgrave Macmillan 2017); Reflective Social Work Practice: Thinking, doing and being (Cambridge University Press 2015); Water and Social Policy (Palgrave Macmillan 2014); Social and Community Development Practice (Sage 2014); International Social Work: Issues, strategies and programs (2nd edition, Sage 2013); and Sage Handbook of International Social Work (Ed., Sage 2012). Richard Hugman is currently Professor of Social Work at the University of New South Wales and has practised, taught and researched in Australia and the United Kingdom. From 2002 to 2008, he was a member of the International Federation of Social Workers ethics committee and subsequently chaired the committee from 2008 to 2014. Richard has published widely on ethics, including Rethinking Values and Ethics in Social Work (Palgrave Macmillan 2016); Culture, Values and Ethics in Social Work: Embracing diversity (Routledge 2013); New Approaches for Ethics for the Caring Professions (Palgrave Macmillan 2005). ix

x Editors and Contributors Andrew Alexandra is Senior Research Fellow in the Australian Research Council Special Research Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne, with research and teaching interests in political philosophy and professional and applied ethics. Among his many publications in these areas are his co-authored books Reason, Values and Institutions (Tertiary Press 2002), Police Ethics (Allen & Unwin 2nd edition 2006), Ethics in Practice: Moral theory and the professions (UNSW Press 2009), Integrity Systems for Occupations (Ashgate 2010), and Media, Markets, and Morcals (Wiley-Blackwell 2011), and his co-edited book, Private Military and Security Companies: Ethics, policies and civil-military relations (Routledge 2008). Andrew has engaged in consultancies and collaborative research projects with a range of professional groups, including the Australian Association of Social Workers, Victoria Police, the Safety Institute of Australia, the Consumers Health Forum, the Professional Standards Council (New South Wales) and the Australian Anthropological Society. A.W. (Bill) Anscombe is Adjunct Associate Professor of Social Work at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Prior to retiring, he had 21 years at CSU and before that 20 years in Corrections, where he held trainee to senior management positions. He was seconded from the university to be the Director for Child Protection (Western) as part of the then New South Wales Department of Community Services, with responsibility for 70% of the state geographically. He also operated in a joint appointment between CSU and the Department of Community Services for 4 years. He is currently a voluntary director of four not-for-profit small/medium human service companies or associations. He has an active, committed Christian faith. Bill s research interests and projects have been broad, including in the areas of Indigenous housing and governance, multicultural Australia, rural social services and numerous service evaluations. His doctoral studies were on Consilience in social work: Reflections on thinking, doing and being. His most recent publication is Reflective Social Work Practice: Thinking, doing and being (Cambridge University Press 2015). Contributors Wendy Bowles is Professor of Social Work and Human Services at Charles Sturt University and Acting Head of School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Wendy s main practice area and her Ph.D. research are in the disability field and professional practice, working from citizenship and relational perspectives. Her teaching and research interests also include professional practice, ethics, eco-social work, field education and rural practice. Wendy is co-author of two books: Research for Social Workers: An introduction to methods (3rd edition, Allen & Unwin 2012) and Ethical Practice in Social Work (Allen & Unwin 2006). She has published numerous book chapters and refereed journal papers, enjoys working with and supervising research students and practitioners, and has participated in several

Editors and Contributors xi national research projects into field education, which have produced online resources for practitioners, students and academics. Linda Briskman is Professor in Margaret Whitlam Chair of Social Work at Western Sydney University. Her main areas of research and activism are Indigenous rights, asylum seeker rights and countering Islamophobia. She has an interest in bioethics, including collaborative projects on the health of Afghans in Iran and ethical issues related to health and welfare professionals employed in immigration detention settings. Linda extensively publishes her research. Her most recent book is Social Work with Indigenous Communities: A human rights approach (The Federation Press 2014). She also engages regularly in media commentary and opinion pieces, and plays a lead role in change-focused networks, including Voices Against Bigotry, Social Workers Without Borders and Academics for Refugees. Christina Fernandes is a lecturer and course co-ordinator in the Department of Social Work, in the School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work at Curtin University. Tina s Ph.D. explored the relationality inherent in work between social workers and language interpreters in torture and trauma services. Her research interests are in the areas of homelessness and substance use, the service and support needs of carers (mothers, parents and grandparents) and the lived experiences of mothers with children with disabilities. Tina has recently completed an industry-funded research project that sought to work using the principles and processes of coproduction. Sue King is a social worker and former Discipline Head, Social Work and Human Services at the University of South Australia. Her current roles are in the field of organisational governance. She is Chair of Uniting Communities Inc. and a board member of several other not-for-profit organisations. Sue is an active member of the Australian Association of Social Workers and a past president of the South Australian branch. As a member of the University of South Australia Centre for Social Change, Sue s research and writing focuses on the impact of social policy on the delivery of human services, the governance of human service organisations and the conceptualisation of workers. Sharlene Nipperess is a lecturer in social work at RMIT University. Her research focuses on critical human rights based practice, social work ethics, critical multicultural practice, green social work, and practice with refugees and asylum seekers and people experiencing mental distress. She is concerned with exploring the relationship between these issues and the implications for social work education. Sharlene is President of Australia and New Zealand Social Work and Welfare Education and Research (ANZSWWER). Her most recent publication is Doing Critical Social Work: Transformative practices for social justice (co-edited, Allen & Unwin 2016).

xii Editors and Contributors Emma Rush is a lecturer in philosophy and ethics at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and a member of the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University. She teaches professional ethics to human services, health and creative industries students, as well as history of philosophy subjects. She is nationally recognised for her research on the sexualisation of children. She was the lead author of two papers on this subject released by the Australia Institute in 2006. These papers prompted considerable public debate, ultimately leading to a Senate Inquiry into the issue. Emma continues to write and speak about the sexualisation of children to academic, professional and general audiences. Within applied ethics, Emma s other major research areas are professional ethics and environmental ethics.