The underdeveloped role of social work in schools: a localised perspective within a Peri-Urban setting
Publication Name
Social Work Education
Abstract
The role of social work in schools remains underdeveloped as there appears to be a lack of nuanced understanding of social work practice in the education system. In providing a localized perspective of the Illawarra region, which consists of a socio-economically diverse demographic, this research strives to contribute to the literature accounting for the understanding of social work in schools by school staff across a region. A qualitative study design was applied to this study and the data collection included online semi-structured interviews with school staff. Participants with experience in areas independent, public, and catholic school systems were included in the sample. A manual thematic analysis was conducted using the interview transcripts and audio-visual recordings. Findings indicate that the role of social work remains underdeveloped due to the lack of understanding by school staff as to what social work practice is and, in some cases, uncertain due to the lack of priority on student wellbeing. The recommendation of this study is that a collaborative approach, including all key stakeholders promoting education on social work practices in schools is needed in the Illawarra region and could be most effective in addressing the underdeveloped nature of school-based social work.
Open Access Status
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