Social Work Curriculum: Preparation for Sexuality and Sexual Well-being Practice

Abstract

Abstract Social work—an anti-oppressive, practice-based profession focused on social justice—supports people’s access to and ability to create healthy lives. Therefore, social workers should not only understand and value a service user’s sexuality, but also be able to competently navigate this area of practice. This mixed method study explored the role of social work education in preparing social workers for practice in sexual health settings. Forty-one Australian social workers and allied health professionals participated in a survey, seven of whom participated in subsequent focus groups. A descriptive analysis of surveys was conducted, and inductive analysis of the focus groups resulted in five overarching themes. Theme 1: ‘Educational Journey’ focused on the absence of content in Social Work curricula, contrasting with rich learning from peers and community members. Theme 2: ‘Disease, Disaster and Dysfunction’ highlighted that sexuality content was often framed through a deficit lens in their social work programmes. Theme 3: ‘Placement/Practice Learning’ highlighted the importance of social work field education programmes. Theme 4: ‘Being “Askable”’ was seen as essential. Theme 5: ‘Barriers’ resulted in four sub-themes: (i) Curriculum, (ii) Medicalisation, (iii) Baggage and (iv) Positioning. An overall recommendation is that the social work curricula must prepare social work students to utilise a sexual well-being-informed practice lens and more specifically to be askable. Further, implications for social work education and research are discussed.