There are some things you should know about Australia before you apply to become a social worker. A bachelor's degree will allow you to apply for social work visas. It is necessary that you have completed at least three years of university studies. This includes one year of social science. You can then apply for a Skilled Migration Evaluation. This is a job assessment carried out by the Australian Government and is mandatory for social workers wanting to live and work in Australia.
Research is needed on the australian social worker
Recent research by the Australian Association of Social Workers, (AASW), argued that social worker should be registered as health practitioners to protect the public. According to the AASW this would help raise standards in practice as well as advance education and professional training. The report did not ignore the fact that although there is substantial support for social workers being registered, practical questions must be answered. A key substantive concern concerns the impact of social worker registration on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culturally responsive practice. It was also recommended to appoint at least one Aboriginal person to the Social Work Registration Board.
The report also showed that New Zealand and Australia are not as advanced in social work services. Internet and broadband connection speeds are much lower in rural areas, which limits the extent of online practice. This suggests that social work services are impacted by varied technological environments. Online practice and remote access might be necessary in certain situations.
Social work practice in a broad scope
The practice area of a social worker is vast and covers many activities as well as different client types. There are three main types of social worker: micro (helping individuals), mezzo (helping small groups), and macro (helping large numbers of people). In micro social work, the aim is to improve people's quality of life, while in mezzo social work, the aim is to improve community life and the lives of those living in society. In macro social work, social workers advocate for policies on behalf of their clients or community groups. They are also involved in writing policy documents.
Australia's social work workers were affected by the recent global pandemic. Due to the widespread death and reduced resources, social workers have seen their practice expand significantly. Many workers have been working for extended periods and had limited breaks. This has led to many changes in their job roles. This article discusses the effect of these changes in the practice and work of social workers in Australia.
Influence of COVID-19 upon social work practice
Every country affected by the COVID-19 outbreak has suffered widespread mortality and morbidity. Many countries' health systems have been overloaded and many health workers have been working very long hours without any rest. Social workers who work in different settings of the health system have also been affected. This article explores the implications for this profession in Australia.
The pandemic affected minorities differently, affecting both their physical and mental health. Andrea Heyward, Deputy Director of Centre for Community Health Alignment points out that the pandemic was social in nature. Social workers will find that many COVID-19 service users were suffering from poor health care, social and determinant health, as well as prejudice.
COVID-19 has increased the number and severity of child protection problems. Many service user have been exposed to increased alcohol and drugs use as well as homelessness and unemployment. These issues have negative effects on families and their health.