Selma Macfarlane – författare

Social work practitioners must be prepared to respond to emerging social problems in a rapidly changing world. Engaging with Social Work provides an introduction to critical social work, helping students to cultivate their own understanding of the structures and discourses of oppression and disadvantage, while exploring the role of the social worker. The third edition contains updated content on emerging social issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, broken systems - such as aged care and child protection, increasing wealth inequality, threats to democracy and the decolonisation of social work. Chapters include margin definitions of key terms, reflective exercises and case studies. Perspectives on Practice are integrated throughout the text. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are also included throughout, providing an understanding of their experiences. Written by experienced practitioners, Engaging with Social Work is an approachable resource for students, providing them with foundational knowledge in critical concepts and theories.

Contemporary global challenges require practitioners to confidently analyse the dominant discourses and develop frameworks and strategies for future change. Engaging with Social Work equips students with a critical perspective and develops their understanding of social work and human services practice, with an emphasis on the principles of social justice and human rights. This fully revised second edition includes a new chapter on the emerging challenges and opportunities for social work, covering rising global inequality, re-invigorated possibilities for addressing violence against women, and threats to the planet. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are integrated throughout the text to provide a more in-depth understanding. Reflective exercises, key definitions, case studies and unique practitioners'' perspectives are integrated into each chapter to support learning. Engaging with Social Work provides an accessible, research-informed and rigorous introduction to complex concepts, theories and analyses, and develops a solid skill-set to prepare students for professional practice.