Luke Cantley
Can Aboriginal ways of knowing and doing co-exist in a modern society that seeks to regulate the social work profession?
Abstract
Social workers in South Australia will be required to register with the newly established Social Workers Registration Board. It is likely that National registration will follow. Discussions have arisen that the work of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce is based on cultural knowledge rather than social work knowledge, or a combination of both. This presents an opportunity for the social work profession to explore how to represent the cultural contributions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce.
This thesis explores the historical context of social work and how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges were silenced, particularly through systems and policies that lead to the forced removal of children and young people. At the same time, this thesis will investigate how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges survived and grew within this social work context. A qualitative design using yarning and interviewing will be held with key stakeholders to examine the challenges and opportunities in incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into social work registration. Through these conversations, the thesis aims to develop an understanding of cultural knowledge and its place within a social work regulatory environment.
Supervisors
School
Department of Social Work in the Melbourne School of Health Sciences