SOAD2012 Decolonising Social Work

This topic will examine understandings of decoloniality through considering the past, present and futures of social work practice with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. As part of the process, a recognition of the visibility or invisibility of our personal culture and its impact on others including an examination of critical whiteness, allyship, power and oppression will be required.

An examination of the impacts of racism including systemic racism will be undertaken and a space will be established within which non-Indigenous social workers can take responsibility for, rather than remain complicit in, ongoing racism.

Models of intercultural communication and social work interventions will be considered and students will be encouraged to work toward developing a ‘third space’ for their social work practice. Non-Indigenous students will be expected to integrate culturally competent, safe and sensitive approaches to practice within their developing social work practice framework; and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students will be expected to integrate an appreciation of the contributions of their cultural knowledge into their developing Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander social work practice framework.

This topic aims to:

• Explore understandings of decoloniality and its relevance to social work practice in Australia
• Introduce concepts of critical whiteness theory, oppression and privilege and allyship
• Understand the ongoing impacts of colonization and racism on Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders peoples and recognize the contributions of social work and welfare practice
• Explore models of intercultural communication and social work interventions that support the creation of a ‘third space’ for social work practice
• Contribute toward the development of culturally responsive, safe and sensitive social work practice framework

1. Analyse the impacts of colonisation, ongoing colonialism and racism, including structural racism on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
2. Appraise social workers’ role within Australia’s colonial history and their ongoing contributions to the oppression of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
3. Discuss the relevance of critical whiteness theory, the third space and allyship as they relate to social work practice
4. Evaluate own cultural positioning and the impacts this has on your social work practice with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students what it means to work as a social worker within your community
5. Integrate principles of culturally responsive, safe and sensitive practice into their developing social work practice framework; or as an Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander student integrate your cultural knowledge into your developing social work practice framework
6. Apply the principles of cultural responsiveness to a case study