The Relationship Between the Social Work Profession and Indigenous People
Samuel Brown – 3100913
Indigenous Studies – Assessment 3
Topic 4: The relationship between the social work profession and Indigenous people has been a problematic one. Discuss with reference to Stolen Generations.
Social work is a complex and broad field and the relationship between social workers and Indigenous Australians can be equally intricate and difficult to navigate. The theme of this paper will be; ‘understanding the relationship between the social work profession and Indigenous Australians’. A priority will be placed on analysing the historical relationship in reference to social work practice and related Government policy. Firstly, the history of social work and Indigenous policy will be discussed in relation to present work in the welfare sector. Historic Indigenous policy will be used to illustrate the paternal nature in which the Australian Government has related to Indigenous Australians. The experiences of the ‘Stolen Generation’ will then be outlined and the consequences detailed. It will be argued that the process of forcefully removing children from Indigenous families has resulted in distrust towards human service practitioners and institutions. Contemporary approaches to managing Indigenous disadvantage will be examined in reference to the Northern Territory Emergency Response. It will be argued that these latest efforts by the Australian Government continue in the punitive and strong-handed nature of previous strategies. In conclusion a summary of the findings of the paper will be provided.
It is important to analyse the philosophical and ideological foundations of the Social Work profession when examining the role social workers have played in the implementation of the Protection Acts, the Stolen Generation, and the Northern Territory Emergency Response. An acknowledgment must be made that the profession originates from a Judeo-Christian and European perspective, and rarely takes into consideration Indigenous customs and traditions
Indigenous Studies – Assessment 3
Topic 4: The relationship between the social work profession and Indigenous people has been a problematic one. Discuss with reference to Stolen Generations.
Social work is a complex and broad field and the relationship between social workers and Indigenous Australians can be equally intricate and difficult to navigate. The theme of this paper will be; ‘understanding the relationship between the social work profession and Indigenous Australians’. A priority will be placed on analysing the historical relationship in reference to social work practice and related Government policy. Firstly, the history of social work and Indigenous policy will be discussed in relation to present work in the welfare sector. Historic Indigenous policy will be used to illustrate the paternal nature in which the Australian Government has related to Indigenous Australians. The experiences of the ‘Stolen Generation’ will then be outlined and the consequences detailed. It will be argued that the process of forcefully removing children from Indigenous families has resulted in distrust towards human service practitioners and institutions. Contemporary approaches to managing Indigenous disadvantage will be examined in reference to the Northern Territory Emergency Response. It will be argued that these latest efforts by the Australian Government continue in the punitive and strong-handed nature of previous strategies. In conclusion a summary of the findings of the paper will be provided.
It is important to analyse the philosophical and ideological foundations of the Social Work profession when examining the role social workers have played in the implementation of the Protection Acts, the Stolen Generation, and the Northern Territory Emergency Response. An acknowledgment must be made that the profession originates from a Judeo-Christian and European perspective, and rarely takes into consideration Indigenous customs and traditions