- Title
- Australian and New Zealand Social Workers adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Creator
- Alston, Margaret; Irons, Kelly; Foote, Wendy; Adamson, Carole; Boddy, Jenny; Fronek, Patricia; Briggs, Lynne; Hay, Kathryn; Howard, Amanda; Rowlands, Allison; Hazeleger, Tricia
- Relation
- The British Journal of Social Work Vol. 52, Issue 4, p. 1859-1877
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab163
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2022
- Description
- In 2020, social workers across the world responded to the global COVID 19 pandemic and the consequent strict lockdown procedures over several months. In many countries, including Australia and New Zealand, this virtual shutdown period necessitated a reframing of social work practice to incorporate factors including delivery of services via virtual means and more limited access for vulnerable clients. This paper draws on the integration of two methods designed to address the research question: ‘How has social work practice in Australia and New Zealand been affected by COVID 19?’ These include: a) a narrative review of papers published during 2020 on social work practice and the COVID 19 pandemic; and b) an online survey, undertaken from October to December 2020, of Australian and New Zealand social workers. The questionnaire data were analysed using SPSS and thematic analysis. This paper details findings including the significant impacts of COVID 19 on practice, the increased needs of clients, including a rise in health issues, violence, homelessness, and financial concerns, and the resulting critical changes to social work workloads. Social workers also reported greater use of technologies to deliver services and fears for their families and themselves if exposed to COVID 19.
- Subject
- Australia; COVID-19; New Zealand; practice impacts; social work; vulnerable people
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1442449
- Identifier
- uon:41692
- Identifier
- ISSN:0045-3102
- Language
- eng
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