Working with Older People: How Prepared are Social Work Students?

The safety and quality of care for Australia's rapidly growing ageing population is highly dependent on a skilled and competent human service workforce, and social workers have an important and emerging role to play within this space. Older Australians experience a multitude of complex and diverse care needs within their communities and other care settings. Within these contexts, the critical role of social workers cannot be underestimated, considering the evolving expectations of service users, their families, and carers as well as the local community. With such dynamics, exploring social workers' preparedness to work with older people becomes imperative and a policy priority. This report presents findings based on a qualitative pilot research project that explored social work students' preparedness to work with older people in NSW- Australia. The research also explored faculty perspectives on students' preparedness to work with older people. Preparedness in this research was contextualised as Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP). The research is a response to the Commonwealth Government 's aged care Workforce Strategy – A Matter of Care (2018), that calls for attention within the undergraduate training programs to ensure that they address current and future competencies and skills requirements for the sector. This is well-aligned with the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommendation 76 (2a). Several themes about enablers and constraints to social work students' preparedness emerged from in-depth interviews with seven final year undergraduate social work students, and five faculty who teach and coordinate subjects within the social work degree. Overall, the role of students' knowledge, attitude, perception, curriculum design, pedagogical practices, field placement opportunities were underscored as imperative in shaping preparedness to work with older people

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Women in Prison: Pre-Prison Experiences and Post-Release Reintegration

When one migrates, under forced circumstances, from one’s home country to a ‘new’ country, they carry with them feelings of loss and hope: Loss of the life that one knew, hope for a more secure life. Migration journeys under precarious conditions are fraught with traumatic experiences. Women often make these migration journeys with their children, younger siblings, or other family members. While caring for their children or family members, to ensure their survival, they are also holding within themselves their own experiences of gender-based violence. Arrival in the ‘new’ country is met with multiple challenges, including differences in language, and culture, and the use of legalese. Often, just crossing a road seems daunting because of the unfamiliarity of the spaces. Where women can access formal support systems—government or non-government—they begin to rebuild their lives and to make every effort to shift from ‘surviving’ to ‘thriving’. Many engage in this endeavour of rebuilding by negotiating with or resisting the everyday and systemic challenges, without any support. However, given their deep sense of isolation, due to the lack of extended networks and social support, due to unemployment, homelessness, and genderbased violence, they often find themselves manipulated by people who offer to ‘help’ or provide emotional support. These so-called ‘support systems’ often pave their pathway to prison. This report documents the experiences of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) women, born in non-English speaking countries, now in prison in NSW

The transinstitutionalisation of people living in licensed boarding houses in Sydney

Deinstitutionalisation, one of the most significant social policies of the last century, was introduced into Australia from the 1960s, and involved the closure or downsizing of large institutions and the integration of people with disability and mental illness into the community. One of the community-based accommodation options for people leaving institutions was boarding houses. This paper presents the findings of a study into the use of licensed boarding houses for people with intellectual disability and people with mental illness in Sydney, Australia. The study aimed to explore how boarding houses operate as an accommodation option within the policy of deinstitutionalisation and the extent to which this accommodation type upholds human rights principles and contributes to residents' quality of life. Forty interviews were conducted with a range of participants including current and former residents, proprietors of licensed boarding houses, and staff of community organisations and government agencies about licensed boarding houses and the quality of life of residents. The study found that licensed boarding houses are a form of transinstitutionalisation and do not serve to enact the human rights principles articulated in current policy and legislation

Evaluation of the Boarding Houses Act 2012: Final Report

This is the final report of the evaluation of the Boarding Houses Act 2012 (the Act). This report presents findings on the implementation of the Act, as well as resident outcomes in relation to rights and standards and well-being, based on a longitudinal dataset from 2014-2017. The Act commenced in 2013 and aims to establish a regulatory framework for boarding houses to ensure that boarding house residents are provided with adequate protection and living standards. This evaluation has both process and outcomes components, and draws on program logic methodology. There are four overarching aims of the evaluation, including: assess the effect of the Act on the well-being of residents of boarding houses; assess whether the rights of residents of boarding houses are better protected following the introduction of the Act; determine the effect of the Act on the sustainability of the boarding house sector; and determine levels and types of collaboration between departments, agencies and community organisations that work with the boarding house sector. The evaluation included annual data collections from residents, proprietors, staff who work in the health and welfare sector, as well as information from relevant state government agencies. The report has three main sections: 1. Regulatory framework – reporting on registrations included on the central register that is overseen by NSW Fair Trading; stakeholder (resident, proprietor, agency staff) reports of the implementation of the Act particularly in terms of the role of different organisations in regulating and governing the Act; stakeholder and proprietor knowledge and use of dispute resolution mechanisms; and analysis of complaints and enquiries made to NSW Fair Trading. 2. Rights and standards – reporting on the use of written occupancy agreements; the extent to which standards set out in the legislation are met; resident and proprietor reports of knowledge of the Act; and fire safety measures. 3. Well-being of residents – reporting on the results of the personal well-being index, boarding house satisfaction index, as well as service use and need

Boarding Houses Act Evaluation: Interval 3 Report

This is the third interval report for the five year evaluation of the Boarding Houses Act 2012 (the Act). This report presents data that has been collected throughout 2016 in relation to the implementation of the Act, as well as resident outcomes in relation to rights and standards and well-being. This report also provides comparisons of data between the three annual collections prepared to date (2014-2016). The Act commenced in 2013 and aims to establish a regulatory framework for boarding houses to ensure that boarding house residents are provided with adequate protection and living standards. This evaluation has both process and outcomes components, and draws on program logic methodology. There are four overarching aims of the evaluation, including: assess the effect of the Act on the well-being of residents of boarding houses; assess whether the rights of residents of boarding houses are better protected following the introduction of the Act; determine the effect of the Act on the sustainability of the boarding house sector; and determine levels and types of collaboration between departments, agencies and community organisations that work with the boarding house sector. The evaluation involves annual data collections of residents, proprietors, staff who work in the health and welfare sector, as well as information from relevant state government agencies. The evaluation is producing a comprehensive longitudinal dataset that is generating sound evidence in relation to the impact of the Act, and particularly the experience of vulnerable and marginalised people who live in boarding houses. The interval reports are expected to present evidence that will assist in the successful implementation of the legislation. The interval reports can highlight emerging issues that need to be addressed through policy and program responses. This report has three main sections: 1. Regulatory framework – reporting on registrations included on the central register that is overseen by NSW Fair Trading; stakeholder (resident, proprietor, agency staff) reports of the implementation of the Act particularly in terms of the role of different organisations in regulating and governing the Act; stakeholder and proprietor knowledge and use of dispute resolution mechanisms; and analysis of complaints and enquiries made to NSW Fair Trading. 2. Rights and standards – reporting on the use of written occupancy agreements; the extent to which standards set out in the legislation are met; resident and proprietor reports of knowledge of the Act; and, fire safety measures. 3. Well-being of residents – reporting on the results of the personal well-being index, boarding house satisfaction index, as well as service use and unmet need

The ethical and methodological challenges of social work research with participants who fear retribution : to ‘do no harm’

This article discusses some of the ethical and methodological challenges experienced throughout a doctoral study focusing on boarding house residents in Sydney, Australia, particularly participants’ fear of retribution. Informing the research were forty interviews with a range of participants including current and former licensed boarding house residents, proprietors of boarding houses, and staff of community organizations and government agencies providing support services or monitoring the conditions in boarding houses. The article discusses and analyses the complexity and understandings of anonymity, confidentiality, informed consent and the meanings and implications of de-identification. Some of the strategies to address these complexities are presented and are significant for qualitative researchers, particularly doctoral and early career researchers

Evaluation of the Boarding Houses Act: Interval Report Number 2, 2015

This is the second interval report for the five year evaluation of the Boarding Houses Act 2012. This report presents evidence that has been gathered to date in relation to the implementation of the Act, as well as the outcomes for residents and the sustainability of the boarding house sector. The Act commenced in 2013 and aims to establish a regulatory framework for boarding houses to ensure that boarding house residents are provided with adequate protection and living standards. This evaluation has both process and outcomes components, and draws on program logic methodology. There are four overarching aims of the evaluation, to: assess the effect of the Act on the well-being of residents of boarding houses; assess whether the rights of residents of boarding houses are better protected following the introduction of the Act; determine the effect of the Act on the sustainability of the boarding house sector, and determine levels and types of collaboration between departments, agencies and community organisations that work with the boarding house sector. The evaluation involves annual data collections of residents, proprietors, staff who work in the sector, as well as, information from relevant state government agencies. Importantly, the evaluation is producing a comprehensive longitudinal dataset that is generating sound, reliable and robust evidence in relation to the impact of the Act, and particularly the well-being of vulnerable and marginalised people who live in boarding houses. The interval reports are expected to present evidence that will assist in the successful implementation of the legislation, to ensure that it receives desired results. The interval reports can highlight emerging issues that need to be addressed through policy and program responses. This second interval report includes comparisons of data between the two annual collections prepared to date

The role of engagement, ongoing support and housing availability in rehousing people experiencing chronic homelessness

This article presents the findings of a ‘street to home’ study in Parramatta, Sydney. The study utilised a case study methodology to capture both the process of rehousing and the participants’ evaluation of the interventions that supported them to access and maintain housing. Five of the men in the study were rehoused via a Housing First model, and three received traditional homeless services. The men participated in interviews pre- and post-housing over an eighteen-month period. This article discusses the outcomes for the men, including improvements in health and wellbeing, and workforce and social participation. The article also discusses the role of engagement, ongoing support and housing models in rehousing and maintaining tenancies

Leaving a licensed boarding house : transcending trans-institutionalisation with person-centred transitions

While de-institutionalisation set out with the laudable aim to improve the quality of life of people with disability, the untethering of accommodation from support services has in some cases led to less than desirable outcomes. Poor regulation of for-profit boarding houses licensed to care for people with disability has led to the exploitation and abuse of some of Australia’s most vulnerable and marginalised people. Recognition of this, and a number of other factors, has led to the closure of many of New South Wales’ licensed boarding houses. This research presents the experiences of 15 former residents of licensed boarding houses and their supporters spanning from their time as a resident, the transition to other accommodation and their quality of life post transition. While finding the transition challenging, almost all of the former residents identified improvements in their lives since leaving the boarding house

[In Press] Exploring women's experiences of sexuality education, sexual expression and violence: inclusive research with disabled women

Over the last two decades there has been an increase in the use of participatory and emancipatory methodologies within disability research; centring the lived experience of disabled people. This paper explores some of the ethical and practical considerations when researching in the area of disabled women and sexuality, highlighting the pervasiveness of ableist attitudes and processes. Drawing on critical disability studies and utilising critical reflexivity, the researcher, a disabled woman, discusses some of the strengths and limitations of being an 'insider-outsider' researcher. The paper also presents some strategies and considerations for researchers who seek to use inclusive methods in research with and by disabled people, including the importance of language and multi-methods to facilitate and promote access and expression. If research is to be a true reflection of the community being researched, then it is vital inclusive principles are incorporated into all stages of research projects.Points of interest There has been an increase in research that includes disabled people in all stages of the research process. This paper discusses some of the ways the researcher, a disabled woman, used inclusive research methods throughout her study focused on disabled women's experiences of sex education, sexual expression and violence. The paper considers some of the strengths and challenges of insider research, and outlines ways to promote access and expression