Common Ground for Social Work - BSW and MSW-Q

The Aged Care sector is undergoing changes. With the release of the Royal Commission into Aging and Disability report and recommendations in 2021, changes will be sweeping the sectors.

The aged care sector has very few qualified social workers employed, and the sector is interested in building its workforce. The research of social work students during placements impacted by covid has been a productive manner in developing this field of practice.

The AASW has a Scope of Social Work Practice: Social Work in Aged Care, in which they describe the role of social work and the scope of practice and skills used. However, little is written about social work field education in aged care settings. This changing with UNE research and field education.

In 2021, the original research project was to determine what the role of social work students during placement might be and to create two Positions Descriptions. One position description was for Residential Aged Care (RAC) settings, and the other for In-Home settings. The results of this can be found here in A Handbook for managers, supervisors and social work students undertaking placements in Aged Care contexts. What is the role of social work students in Aged Care Field Education?

In 2022, social work students will pilot the handbook to test the accuracy and detail of the research into the roles of social work students and staff perceptions of the roles. The research to date has been welcomed by the aged care sector with open arms and discussions of partnerships with facilities. The timing of such partnerships and engaging with the sector is fortuitous as our aging community continues to increase in number and has a declining media presence.

The aging population of Australians retiring, coupled with the decline in workers to pay taxes to fund aged care, has led to some of the challenges the sector is facing. Very few higher qualifications are employed in aged care, and so to have Social Work contributing to researching how to bring about positive changes is exciting. Policies over the past twenty years have failed to bring about adequate change. The Royal Commission's recommendations are for wide and sweeping changes to address the decades of neglect. The report includes legislation, policy and funding arrangements to bring about a more equitable and inclusive mode of care. Social work has a voice in these discussions.

Aged Care in rural settings has further challenges than its urban counterpart. Family structures are changing in rural and remote settings, meaning younger families are leaving their communities for urban jobs. This leaves the elderly alone on large properties with great distances to travel for care and support. Few rural settings have choice or control of their aged care plan - there are no options for some but to leave the region for a larger centre. In turn, this can lead to isolation and grief and loss, further negatively impacting health and wellbeing.

Social work is a profession that views the whole person including family, social contexts, economic situations and advocating for the best care possible. Alongside aged care clients are the rest of the family members who may also be experiencing distress and challenges in the situation they find themself in. Social work has much to offer in this setting and can expand into palliative care and dementia advocacy and support.

Do you wish to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable people in aged care?

Would you like to pioneer this part of research and field education?

Please reach out to inform the fieldwork office. Placements are a great way of trying something new and adding value to your social work learning.