‘Great Lifestyle, Pity about the Job Stress’: Occupational Stress in Rural Human Service Practice

Abstract

Social workers, welfare workers and others living and working in small rural communities report that they are generally highly satisfied with their work and lifestyle. Paradoxically, high levels of occupational stress are also reported. Rural welfare work has elements such as the adoption of dual and multiple roles, cultural ‘isolation’, the blurring of work and home, professional and citizenship roles, and lack of anonymity, which can contribute to occupational stress. Concerns about personal and family safety with exposure to episodes of violence, harassment and bullying, within small communities also contribute to feeling stressed.Using qualitative and quantitative data gained from the authors’ two Australian studies, together with international research, this paper examines rural practice and occupational stress. Whilst employers and colleagues may attribute stress reactions to the individual practitioner’s inability to cope with the demands of rural practice, strategies that are both systemic and structural are required to address this significant occupational issue.