Social Work and Aboriginal Australians: What Gets in the Way of Good Practice

The social work profession is rightly criticised for past and present wrongdoing against Aboriginal Australians. Non-Aboriginal social workers have significant contact with Aboriginal peoples but despite their guidance, social workers can struggle to engage effectively. Whilst this work is complex, little is known about the challenges non-Aboriginal social workers encounter, and how they might be navigated better. To address this gap, this article explores accounts from seventeen non-Aboriginal social workers who were interviewed about their practice with Aboriginal peoples in Australia, with framing and interpretation informed by interviews with thirteen Aboriginal Australians. Data were analysed using two approaches: a microanalysis and The Listening Guide. Participants insisted that their challenges are insignificant compared to those of Aboriginal Australians. Findings illustrate the complex nature of this experience for non-Aboriginal social workers, that is both highly valued and has the potential to distress. Implementing ethical practice against a backdrop of Australia's history of invasion and colonisation and their on-going impacts such as the racist treatment of Aboriginal Australians can be difficult to navigate. Supervision is a recognised approach to managing challenges; however, we caution against adopting this strategy without recognising and addressing the contextual dimensions of these experiences. Using accounts from seventeen non-Aboriginal social workers and framed by interviews with thirteen Aboriginal Australians, this article examines the experiences of non-Aboriginal social workers who work with Aboriginal Australians. Findings highlight the complex nature of this experience which despite participants' insistence that their challenges are insignificant to those of Aboriginal Australians, can have adverse impacts. Participants reported feelings of distress, organisational isolation and even trauma. Implementing ethical practice against a backdrop of Australia's colonised history and the on-going racist treatment of Aboriginal Australians can be difficult to navigate. Whilst supervision is a recognised approach to managing challenges, we contend that the contextual dimensions of this experience must also be attended to.