Welfare Bushed

First published in 1998, this volume explores the Australian welfare system in the 1980s through the lens of being ‘bushed’: lost, tired, confused and don’t know which way to go. Numerous key factors have hindered the development of Australia’s welfare system along with the ability of rural Australians to access formal welfare services which have frequently been inappropriate to their needs and lifestyles. These include a fragmented and centralised policy and service system for decision making, information, control and accountability, a highly professionalised welfare workforce and a ‘provision’ approach to social care built on the assumption that it is best provided by a network of formal services which are largely disconnected from natural sources of support.

Intends to significantly extend previous research work on the rural impacts of national welfare reform and position it in a broader context. This title provides a comprehensive and comparative account of the rural dimensions of welfare in a number of developed countries.

Modern globalisation is producing far-reaching changes for communities, regions and nations, and creating new types of social, political and economic challenges and opportunities. More than just being an economic phenomenon, this globalisation is quickly reaching into new areas of human activity, and creating new contexts for individuals.

This book gives voice to the direct practice experience of social workers working in rural and remote contexts using Australia as the primary case-study. The authors undertake a qualitative research project, conducting in-depth interviews to examine social work theory and practice against the reality of rural and remote contexts. Practice examples provide the reader with an insight into the diverse and complex nature of social work in rural and remote Australia and the role of contemporary social work. Through placing rural and remote social work in its historical, theoretical and geographical contexts, this work explores a range of considerations. These include isolation; ethical dilemmas when working with small and closely linked communities; climate, disaster relief and the environment; community identity and culture; working with indigenous communities in remote contexts; and social work education. Based on direct practice research, this book challenges existing theories of practice and reframes those to reflect the reality of practice in rural and remote communities. As social work must continue to critically reflect on its role within an ever changing and individualistic society, lessons from rural and remote settings around engagement, sense of place and skillful, innovative practice have never been more relevant.

Workers in the service industry face unique types and levels of stress, and this problem is worsening. Many workers and organizations are now recognizing work stress as a significant personal and organizational cost, and seeing the need to evaluate a range of organizational issues that present psychosocial hazards to the workers. Occupation

This book interprets the predicament faced by Australia's regional people from their own perspective and proposes a means by which they can act together to find a secure future under globalisation. It argues that neoliberalism in combination with its 'real world' effects in economic policy are driving regional Australia further into social, environmental and economic decay. The book will be of great interest to all concerned about the future of regional Australia, and will make a lively and relevant text for students studying the social sciences in the countryside or in the major cities.

In much of the West the concerns of rural people are marginalised and rural issues neglected. This stimulating book draws upon a rich variety of material to show why rural social work is such a challenging field of practice. It incorporates research from different disciplines and places to provide an accessible and comprehensive introduction to rural practice. The first part of the book focuses upon the experience of rurality. The second part of the book turns to the development of rural practice, reviewing different ways of working from casework through to community development. This book is relevant to planners, managers and practitioners not only in social work but also in other welfare services such as health and youth work, who are likely to face similar challenges.