Social work leaders constantly strive to incorporate cutting-edge research and promote international collaboration in a dynamic contemporary environment. To address these ongoing concerns, this unique book focuses specifically on strategic leadership, asking critical questions about change-making, political strategy, and the opportunities that present themselves to lead new directions in social work education. Among the topics covered: Disruptive agendas and research dialogues in social work education Diversity leadership and perspectives beyond the mainstream The role of international bodies in advancing social work education Intellectual leadership and anticipating future advances in teaching strategies Democratising social work education Collaborative leadership models Strategic Leadership in Social Work Education examines the ability of social work to shape futures through education, training, and effective leadership, and suggests strategies for advancing responsible social work education in order to best meet tomorrow's needs and aspirations.

Social work leaders constantly strive to incorporate cutting-edge research and promote international collaboration in a dynamic contemporary environment. To address these ongoing concerns, this unique book focuses specifically on strategic leadership, asking critical questions about change-making, political strategy, and the opportunities that present themselves to lead new directions in social work education. Among the topics covered: Disruptive agendas and research dialogues in social work education Diversity leadership and perspectives beyond the mainstream The role of international bodies in advancing social work education Intellectual leadership and anticipating future advances in teaching strategies Democratising social work education Collaborative leadership models Strategic Leadership in Social Work Education examines the ability of social work to shape futures through education, training, and effective leadership, and suggests strategies for advancing responsible social work education in order to best meet tomorrow's needs and aspirations.

This wide-ranging collection of essays offers valuable insights into the cultural issues involved in the practical application of social work theories. Leading contributors explore the challenges faced by indigenous populations and ethnic minority groups, examining how they can gain control over their position as minority populations, and offering valuable guidance on cross-cultural work. The direct implementation of four established theoretical approaches - ecological systems, community development, strengths-based approaches and attachment theories - is shown in a variety of contexts, including mental health care, trauma counselling and child protection. Using community development work in Australia and New Zealand as a case study, the contributors also advocate using these approaches in work with migrants and refugees. Social Work Theories in Action recognizes the importance of drawing on the strengths of families, individuals and communities and offers theoretical perspectives that can be applied in everyday work situations. It is essential reading for social and community workers, mental health professionals and social work students.

Work within the human services is increasingly influenced by rights-based thinking, and this book offers advice for the practitioner on how to translate abstract rights theory into their everyday practice. The book outlines the theory that underpins human rights and outlines the ethical debates and dilemmas that frequently surround them. It also provides a practical model that outlines how to embed human rights theory within practice and the professional decision-making process. Drawing extensively on real-life case examples, the book includes chapters on rights-based work with different client groups including offenders, people with intellectual disabilities, immigrants and refugees, and children and families. This important book will be a useful source of guidance and advice for professionals working across the human services, including those in social care, health and justice settings.

This exciting new book is the first of its kind to offer an analysis of Service Navigation and provide a framework for understanding the role and its application across a range of fields of practice. With an emphasis on the participation of individuals in their own care, it directly addresses the recent changes in policy and service development in health and human services, including the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Developed by a team of experts at one of Australia's leading universities, this unique text helps social workers, nurses, and allied health workers navigate the various systems that the service user has to use to become responsible for managing their own care arrangements and to help them to achieve their desired goals.

Providing services that are culturally relevant is an ongoing challenge for practitioners, managers, and policy-makers within the social services. Culture and Child Protection is a concise exploration of the close links between social service practices and cultural values which offers a culturally sensitive model of child protection practice. The authors demonstrate the ways in which a combination of personal, professional and societal attitudes often influence practice decisions. In a context where children from ethnic minorities dominate the welfare statistics of the Western economies, the authors argue against a reliance on rigid approaches to working with particular ethnic groups. They propose effective alternative strategies that will assist social workers in responding appropriately to diverse cultural needs and circumstances. Implications of cultural difference are also considered with respect to class, socio-economic group, gender and age, reinforcing the need to recognise broader interpretations of difference within practice. This book is full of integrated examples and case studies and also discusses wider practice issues, such as working with offenders, the impact of funding restraints and the dynamic of reflexivity in practice and supervision. Culture and Child Protection is a key text that will help social workers and culture academics to understand the ways in which cultural thinking affects and shapes child protection practice.

Social Work: Contexts and Practice is a practical introduction to contemporary issues in social work, providing the context of practice and the broad influences shaping the vision and development of the social work profession. It demonstrates how knowledge contributes to flexible social work responses and identifies the ways in which research findings, theoretical insights and practice wisdom can be integrated within dynamic practice frameworks. The fourth edition brings together a team of expert authors to guide students through the unique experiences of social work across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. It explores how the enduring commitment to social justice and the protection of human rights shapes social work perspectives and practices.