AASW Recording | The Scope of School Social Work Practice

With their focus on student engagement with learning towards the goal of social justice, School Social Workers provide a specific but creative and complex practice within the core values of social work. School Social Work requires a multi-level approach to the removal of barriers to student achievement, whether they are located within in the individual, family, classroom organisation, teacher-student relationship, peer group, school policy and practices, or government policies. Students are impacted by socio-political issues, child and youth culture, poverty, homelessness, climate change and epidemic. In current times, student learning and wellbeing are impacted by the staffing and resource pressures felt by teachers and School Social Workers alike.

School Social Workers hold their core values and goals to remain flexible even where teacher expectations, school policies or position guidelines appear to define their practice. They find shared values in teamwork with educators who are the core professionals. School Social Work practice can include mental health and counselling, group work, advocacy, family support, case management, student learning and behaviour plans, teacher professional development, school policy evaluation and development, referral to and liaison with student support and community agencies. Ultimately, irrespective of the methods and targets for intervention, evaluation of School Social Work practice must include questions of improved student inclusion, engagement and learning.

Presenter

Dr Chris Barrett has extensive experience as a school social worker initially as a member of school staff and then as a state education department student support consultant across a network of schools. Over time, she has experienced the changing government policies and education practices, child and youth cultures, school cultures, increasing inclusion of diversity and climate change that are part of the environment within which School Social Workers shape their practice.

Chris delivered a broad range of services incorporating direct practice, primary prevention and school development. She coordinated a fieldwork unit across several primary schools where social work students were introduced to the specific practice of School Social Work and principals appreciated their importance in the school setting. She has held teaching positions at tertiary level. Her research documented the history and practice of School Social Work in Victoria and she has delivered several papers at international and USA School Social Work conferences. Chris has been an active member of the School Social Work Practice Group (Victoria) for more than 20 years. She is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, offers professional supervision and has a particular interest in School Social Work.

AASW Credential: Schools