Child Abuse and Neglect
Within Australia, there are many concerns for social work, a major and current one being the maltreatment of children. In March this year it was reported that ‘The number of child abuse and neglect victims rose 20 per cent last year, reversing a long-term decline’ (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2013). There are many problems which stem from the maltreatment of children which call concerns for social workers, as their work is needed to overcome this problem and enhance individual wellbeing, all carried out through the different levels of interventions and methods open to social workers to overcome this issue. In regards to this issue, there are different types of individuals, such as people of different race or class, that might view or experience child abuse and neglect in diverse ways; where I will be raising my values and views of the maltreatment of children.
There are many variations of child abuse and neglect, all of which, according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, reflect psychological and physical damage objected ‘to the child brought upon by the abusive and neglectful behaviour of others, or the incompetence of others to protect a child from such harm and destruction’ (James, M 2013). These different types of child maltreatment are: physical abuse, emotional abuse or neglect, sexual abuse and physical neglect.
The issue of physical abuse towards a child involves the use of non-accidental physical force that leads to harm to the child; where intent of severity of damage does not have to be present. These physical injures might include bruising, fractures, cuts and burns; and the cause being kicking, punching, biting or other physical abuse. Emotional abuse refers to the parents lack of love and proper direction, inability to accept a child with his potentialities as well as his limitations and failure to encourage the child’s normal development by assurance of love and acceptance (U.S. Department of Health,
There are many variations of child abuse and neglect, all of which, according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, reflect psychological and physical damage objected ‘to the child brought upon by the abusive and neglectful behaviour of others, or the incompetence of others to protect a child from such harm and destruction’ (James, M 2013). These different types of child maltreatment are: physical abuse, emotional abuse or neglect, sexual abuse and physical neglect.
The issue of physical abuse towards a child involves the use of non-accidental physical force that leads to harm to the child; where intent of severity of damage does not have to be present. These physical injures might include bruising, fractures, cuts and burns; and the cause being kicking, punching, biting or other physical abuse. Emotional abuse refers to the parents lack of love and proper direction, inability to accept a child with his potentialities as well as his limitations and failure to encourage the child’s normal development by assurance of love and acceptance (U.S. Department of Health,