Social work with aboriginal clients: Perspectives on educational preparation and practice

Abstract

The many Aboriginal and non Aboriginal social workers who work with Aboriginal communities to address health and socioeconomic disadvantage have a key role to play in reducing the continuing inequalities experienced by many Aboriginal clients in Australia. The need for more culturally-responsive practice is well recognised, as historic barriers to effective practice and relationships persist. This paper describes the views of Aboriginal people about the knowledge that social workers need to possess for effective work with Aboriginal clients, and the ways that this might be learned. Four focus groups with 30 urban Aboriginal community members identified three key areas of knowledge: Aborigina..