Abstract
This study attempts to cross-compare social work education, curriculum, research, fieldwork, and professional social work practices across India and Australia. It reviews the development of social work education along with its best practices in both these countries. In doing so, it aims to understand the policies related to social work and social welfare in both the countries. In India, the social work training began in the year 1936 whereas in Australia, it started in 1940 with its launch in the University of Sydney. In Australia, the professional association called Australian Association for Social Work (AASW) accredits course work authority while in India it is the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC). Social work education in Australian universities is generic and its aim is to produce graduates with a broad range of skills in a considerable range of practice settings. India offers both generic and specialised course works. Interestingly, to date, social work in none of the countries has a registration in compliance with any state or federal agency. However, self-regulation alongside continued professional development, and peer supervisions are encouraged and followed. In Australia, the practice standards are maintained by the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS) who also regulate and guide curriculum development for social work programs in Australia. Fieldwork placement of social and community work students are dependent on the voluntary good will of the managers of social service agencies to support and resource.
Highlights
Background of Social Work EducationSocial Work is a discipline that grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals and its values are based on equality, worth, and dignity of all the people in the society
This paper aims to speak about the social work education in India and in Australia, which are the two prominent countries in the Asia and the Pacific region of the world; an attempt has been made to understand these two countries within a vast region with 49 nations covering a landmass of 17.2 million square miles
The social work discipline in Australia follows the contemporary pedagogical knowledge and the associated processes of learning that are required for developing core attributes and for building students ‘commitment to, and an identity with, professional social work’.(AASW 2010, p 6) It is recognised that tensions exist between learning processes and requirements for content, and that there is a point at which the amount of content will compromise the processes of learning and the development of social work graduates as critically reflective professional practitioners
Summary
Social Work is a discipline that grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals and its values are based on equality, worth, and dignity of all the people in the society (www.ifsw.org). The social work discipline in Australia follows the contemporary pedagogical knowledge and the associated processes of learning that are required for developing core attributes and for building students ‘commitment to, and an identity with, professional social work’.(AASW 2010, p 6) It is recognised that tensions exist between learning processes and requirements for content, and that there is a point at which the amount of content will compromise the processes of learning and the development of social work graduates as critically reflective professional practitioners These standards strive for the appropriate balance. These values and ideals derive from the profession’s commitment to the pursuit of social justice, the enhancement of the quality of life and to maximising the development of the potential of each individual, family, group and community in society Both content and delivery in Australian social work education will demonstrate the profession’s core values: respect for persons, social justice and professional integrity as defined in the AASW Code of Ethics (2010a). While Australian social work follows the IASSW practice standards for the fieldwork practice, which says: in fieldwork practicum students should have the opportunity to gain an understanding and appreciation of the experience of individuals, groups and communities within a range of different fields of practice, settings, client groups and geographical locations.(IASSW, 2010, p 47) The field work in Australian social work addresses the fields like : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; mental health; child wellbeing and child safety; ageing; income security; health; disability; cultural and linguistic diversity; rural and remote locations; correctional services and justice; housing and homelessness; international practice and education
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