World Social Work Day 2022
It’s hard to think of a profession involving more altruistic notions than social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversity. These are the motivations of our social workers in their daily work life, helping people who are in crisis and need support.
The 2022 theme for World Social Work Day is Co-building a New Eco-Social World: Leaving No One Behind (external site).
We’re prompted to consider the reality of the physical and mental trauma that results from climate disasters for example, the displacement of people and the mental anguish after climate-driven events such as the bushfires and floods in Australia.
The Australian Association of Social Workers is calling on the government to take action to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees to minimise these social impacts and to acknowledge the resilience of citizens and social workers in the face of climate change.
We asked some of the social workers in Mental Health Services to tell us how this intersection between social work and the eco-world resonated for them.
“The mental health consequences of climate disasters go beyond the direct trauma of those who have survived bushfires, droughts and flooding. Social, political, and economic determinants of mental health such as poverty, unemployment, and housing are also severely affected by these climate disasters. It’s clearer than ever that we need to take collaborative action to address the eco-social world we live in, and to ensure that we all have a sustainable world to enjoy, where there is reciprocal confidence and protection of our vulnerable communities so that everyone can belong.”
- Hope Gilmour, Social Worker, Mirrabooka Community Health.
“Climate change is inherently a social justice issue as the effects compound and exacerbate existing inequalities. There are impacts across every aspect of life including increased food and utilities prices, failing public infrastructure, inundation of coastal areas and accommodation and loss of culturally significant areas for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. There are also well documented impacts on mental health and increased rates of family violence and abuse as a result of these stressors. Within a Mental Health inpatient service, Social Workers are constantly striving to ensure that individuals affected by a variety of different climate change issues are provided with appropriate and immediate support to ensure their needs are going to be met before they return to their community.”
- Michelle Miller A/Head of Department Social Welfare, Graylands Hospital.
“Working as a Social Worker in Mental Health for me, incorporates and encapsulates everything that it means to be a social worker: a holistic respectful person-centred approach, advocating and working directly with people to navigate complex systems, structures and to challenge oppression, disadvantage and social injustice. World Social Work Day gives us a moment to reflect on what we have learnt, what we need to change and how we need to move forward. I reflect on my work and the great pride I have in working in this amazing occupation. This year’s theme helps us raise awareness of climate disasters and the realities of this trauma, in so using our collective knowledge, experience, transferable skills, united voice, together with our passion and shared vision to make a positive difference.”
- Sarah Sprague, Senior Social Worker, Butler CMHS.