Wendy Bowles
Biographic Data
| ID | 4446480 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Wendy Bowles |
| GIVEN NAMES | Wendy |
| FAMILY NAME | Bowles |
| SIGNATURE | BOWLES W |
| AFFILIATIONS | Charles Sturt University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6946-3140 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 21 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 78 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 21 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2001 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Toward a definition of professional identity for social work
Defining professional identity has long been a contested matter, even more so in social work with ongoing questions about our professional status. To address these questions, this article explores how professional identity is theorized, defined, and/or measured in peer-reviewed social work literature by reporting on a subset of findings from a scoping review. The search protocol produced a total dataset of ninety-one peer-reviewed articles, sixty…
Mechanisms that impact the experience and sustainability of the professional identity of social workers
This paper identifies mechanisms that impact the professional identity of qualified social workers. Professional identity has become a focal point in social work, especially considering contemporary neoliberal settings and pressing global concerns about workplace conditions affecting the status of the profession. On this basis, a scoping literature review was implemented with an aim to identify how professional identity is experienced, sustained,…
Activist leadership in social work education
This article provides an account of the collective activism of four social work academic leaders who formed a coalition with students and trade union advocates to bring about one of the most significant progressive reforms to higher education in Australia in decades. Our campaign, involving a multipronged strategy, resulted in the Federal Government announcing a Commonwealth-funded ‘Prac Payment’ to help 68,000 students (studying social work, nur…
Perspectives of Ecosocial Practice in Human Services
This article reports on research in Finland and Australia exploring the similarities and differences between Finnish and Australian human service professionals’ perspectives about ecosocial practice. Surveys consisting of quantitative questions were conducted in both countries, recruiting 542 Finnish participants and 277 Australian participants. Data from each country were analysed descriptively using SPSS software, and the results were compared.…
Ray Peckham (1929–2025)
Australian perspectives on environmental practice
This article reports on research exploring the perspectives of Australian social work and human service professionals about environmental practice. An online survey consisting of quantitative and qualitative questions was conducted, recruiting 303 participants from the human services sector. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS and qualitative data analyzed thematically using NVivo. Findings Overall, results indicated that par…
Saving Australian Social Work
In 2020, the Australian Government proposed a new model of higher education funding that purported to incentivise study in national priority areas. However, despite shortages of social workers, the initial proposal doubled the student fee contribution for a social work degree. The Save Social Work Australia campaign was established by the Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work to redress errant assumptions underpinning the funding …
Creating ‘Communities of Practice’ to Enhance Ecosocial Work
This article reports on findings from a small qualitative study in two industrialised countries—Finland and Australia, which aimed to engage social work practitioners in ‘communities of practice’ to collaboratively explore ecosocial work practice. Using a Participatory Action Research approach, a series of workshops were established to plan, implement and evaluate ecosocial work interventions. Data were gathered using qualitative pre- and post-su…
Virtual Study-Abroad Through Web Conferencing
BACKGROUND: With a focus on building global citizens, a U.S. and Norwegian academic collaborative partnership fostered clinical learning experiences addressing cultural and health care comparisons. High-impact educational practices integrated into international clinical experiences, combined with virtual global learning classrooms, highlighted the Sustainable Development Goals. PROBLEM: Given nursing education's requirements, devising innovative …
Raising awareness of transformative ecosocial work
This article reports on Participatory Action Research with social work practitioners who collaboratively explored the effects on professional practice when practitioners raise their awareness of an ecosocial work approach. Although contemporary research in the profession has contributed to the ongoing development of ecosocial work, there is a notable lack of collaboration with social work practitioners. Using a transformative ecosocial work model…
Enabling Narrative Pedagogy
The role of the nurse has become considerably more demanding in the past twenty years through increased complexity of patient care within a rapidly changing health care environment. Research is needed to expand the pedagogical literacy of nurse educators and address the needs of students entering a complex health care system. Narrative Pedagogy was identified as a research-based nursing pedagogy and has been enabled in nursing education for over …
A Developmental Approach to Recognition of Prior Learning in Social Work Field Education
This paper comments on the policy issue of recognition of prior learning (RPL) in social work education. Contrasting approaches to RPL are explored through a case study of Charles Sturt University’s experiences with RPL in its professional entry social work programs. RPL for field education in Australian social work education has been a contested issue within the profession and for social work education providers since its introduction in 2008. N…
Exploring the Development of Professional Identity with Newly Qualified Social Workers
This paper discusses the experiences of newly qualified social workers as part of a research project exploring professional identity. Drawing on literature in this area and a subset of data from a larger study involving Australian practitioners, it is argued that while several studies explore experiences of identity, the phenomenon remains under-researched, especially in Australia. Seventeen people participated in three in-depth, semistructured i…
Is social work really greening? Exploring the place of sustainability and environment in social work codes of ethics
This article examines the extent to which issues of environmental sustainability are represented in three national social work codes of ethics – the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. These national codes are discussed and implications for social work are analysed with a view to strengthening the profession’s position regarding environmental sustainability. Findings suggest that national codes do not include concern for environmenta…
We're Still in There’—Consumer Voices on Mental Health Inpatient Care
This paper reports on research undertaken in an acute inpatient mental health facility in rural Australia to explore the lived experience of inpatient care. Conceptualised within a recovery framework that emphasises the biopsychosocial approach acknowledging consumers' lived experiences alongside clinical perspectives, this study contributes to addressing a gap in the literature about what consumers experience as being most important to their rec…
Challenges of recovery-oriented practice in inpatient mental health settings – the potential for social work leadership
Recovery-oriented practice has become the main mantra in mental health services, irrespective of the way it is understood, accepted and practised. This article aims to analyse the principles of recovery as stipulated in Australian national policies and to examine the challenges associated with implementing these in an inpatient mental health facility. Using a qualitative method incorporating a literature review, documentary analysis of policy and…
Developing intercultural competence and global citizenship through international experiences
International education is a key priority for Australian universities, government and employer groups. For students, an international professional experience is uniquely placed in providing opportunities for developing intercultural learning, intercultural competence and global citizenship. Employers see graduates with international experiences as interculturally competent, viewing them as proficient in analysing and responding appropriately to c…
Reflections on rural identity from West Wyalong, New South Wales
A Satellite Model for Rural and Remote Social Work Field Education
Social workfield education is expanding in rural areas at a time when rural social work is under great strain. This paper discusses a new model for rural field education. In this 'satellite' model, the university employs local senior social workers as university liaison staff to locate, organise, resource, support and assess social work placements in their region. Based on four years' experience, it is argued that the 'satellite' model addresses …
Help or hindrance? Outcomes of social work student placements
This paper discusses the findings of a pilot project exploring the benefits and costs of social work student placements to host agencies. In this qualitative study, 43 supervisors were interviewed about their experiences of the costs and benefits of having a student on placement. Overall, the benefits were assessed as outweighing the costs. The main benefit identified was the work undertaken by students, such as counselling, research projects, ev…
Privacy and confidentiality in social work
In the human services confidentiality is a central principle defining the relationship between the worker and the client. In this paper the authors argue that the human services have privileged the notion of confidentiality over the more fundamental right of privacy. They argue there is a persistent confusion between these two concepts and that privacy is an important but neglected ethical concept within human services. The authors discuss the re…
Developing intercultural competence and global citizenship through international experiences
International education is a key priority for Australian universities, government and employer groups. For students, an international professional experience is uniquely placed in providing opportunities for developing intercultural learning, intercultural competence and global citizenship. Employers see graduates with international experiences as interculturally competent, viewing them as proficient in analysing and responding appropriately to c…
Raising awareness of transformative ecosocial work
This article reports on Participatory Action Research with social work practitioners who collaboratively explored the effects on professional practice when practitioners raise their awareness of an ecosocial work approach. Although contemporary research in the profession has contributed to the ongoing development of ecosocial work, there is a notable lack of collaboration with social work practitioners. Using a transformative ecosocial work model…
Is social work really greening? Exploring the place of sustainability and environment in social work codes of ethics
This article examines the extent to which issues of environmental sustainability are represented in three national social work codes of ethics – the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. These national codes are discussed and implications for social work are analysed with a view to strengthening the profession’s position regarding environmental sustainability. Findings suggest that national codes do not include concern for environmenta…
Exploring the Development of Professional Identity with Newly Qualified Social Workers
This paper discusses the experiences of newly qualified social workers as part of a research project exploring professional identity. Drawing on literature in this area and a subset of data from a larger study involving Australian practitioners, it is argued that while several studies explore experiences of identity, the phenomenon remains under-researched, especially in Australia. Seventeen people participated in three in-depth, semistructured i…
Help or hindrance? Outcomes of social work student placements
This paper discusses the findings of a pilot project exploring the benefits and costs of social work student placements to host agencies. In this qualitative study, 43 supervisors were interviewed about their experiences of the costs and benefits of having a student on placement. Overall, the benefits were assessed as outweighing the costs. The main benefit identified was the work undertaken by students, such as counselling, research projects, ev…
Saving Australian Social Work
In 2020, the Australian Government proposed a new model of higher education funding that purported to incentivise study in national priority areas. However, despite shortages of social workers, the initial proposal doubled the student fee contribution for a social work degree. The Save Social Work Australia campaign was established by the Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work to redress errant assumptions underpinning the funding …
Creating ‘Communities of Practice’ to Enhance Ecosocial Work
This article reports on findings from a small qualitative study in two industrialised countries—Finland and Australia, which aimed to engage social work practitioners in ‘communities of practice’ to collaboratively explore ecosocial work practice. Using a Participatory Action Research approach, a series of workshops were established to plan, implement and evaluate ecosocial work interventions. Data were gathered using qualitative pre- and post-su…
Challenges of recovery-oriented practice in inpatient mental health settings – the potential for social work leadership
Recovery-oriented practice has become the main mantra in mental health services, irrespective of the way it is understood, accepted and practised. This article aims to analyse the principles of recovery as stipulated in Australian national policies and to examine the challenges associated with implementing these in an inpatient mental health facility. Using a qualitative method incorporating a literature review, documentary analysis of policy and…
Privacy and confidentiality in social work
In the human services confidentiality is a central principle defining the relationship between the worker and the client. In this paper the authors argue that the human services have privileged the notion of confidentiality over the more fundamental right of privacy. They argue there is a persistent confusion between these two concepts and that privacy is an important but neglected ethical concept within human services. The authors discuss the re…
Mechanisms that impact the experience and sustainability of the professional identity of social workers
This paper identifies mechanisms that impact the professional identity of qualified social workers. Professional identity has become a focal point in social work, especially considering contemporary neoliberal settings and pressing global concerns about workplace conditions affecting the status of the profession. On this basis, a scoping literature review was implemented with an aim to identify how professional identity is experienced, sustained,…
Perspectives of Ecosocial Practice in Human Services
This article reports on research in Finland and Australia exploring the similarities and differences between Finnish and Australian human service professionals’ perspectives about ecosocial practice. Surveys consisting of quantitative questions were conducted in both countries, recruiting 542 Finnish participants and 277 Australian participants. Data from each country were analysed descriptively using SPSS software, and the results were compared.…
We're Still in There’—Consumer Voices on Mental Health Inpatient Care
This paper reports on research undertaken in an acute inpatient mental health facility in rural Australia to explore the lived experience of inpatient care. Conceptualised within a recovery framework that emphasises the biopsychosocial approach acknowledging consumers' lived experiences alongside clinical perspectives, this study contributes to addressing a gap in the literature about what consumers experience as being most important to their rec…
Privacy and confidentiality in social work
In the human services confidentiality is a central principle defining the relationship between the worker and the client. In this paper the authors argue that the human services have privileged the notion of confidentiality over the more fundamental right of privacy. They argue there is a persistent confusion between these two concepts and that privacy is an important but neglected ethical concept within human services. The authors discuss the re…
A Satellite Model for Rural and Remote Social Work Field Education
Social workfield education is expanding in rural areas at a time when rural social work is under great strain. This paper discusses a new model for rural field education. In this 'satellite' model, the university employs local senior social workers as university liaison staff to locate, organise, resource, support and assess social work placements in their region. Based on four years' experience, it is argued that the 'satellite' model addresses …
Help or hindrance? Outcomes of social work student placements
This paper discusses the findings of a pilot project exploring the benefits and costs of social work student placements to host agencies. In this qualitative study, 43 supervisors were interviewed about their experiences of the costs and benefits of having a student on placement. Overall, the benefits were assessed as outweighing the costs. The main benefit identified was the work undertaken by students, such as counselling, research projects, ev…
Reflections on rural identity from West Wyalong, New South Wales
Developing intercultural competence and global citizenship through international experiences
International education is a key priority for Australian universities, government and employer groups. For students, an international professional experience is uniquely placed in providing opportunities for developing intercultural learning, intercultural competence and global citizenship. Employers see graduates with international experiences as interculturally competent, viewing them as proficient in analysing and responding appropriately to c…
Challenges of recovery-oriented practice in inpatient mental health settings – the potential for social work leadership
Recovery-oriented practice has become the main mantra in mental health services, irrespective of the way it is understood, accepted and practised. This article aims to analyse the principles of recovery as stipulated in Australian national policies and to examine the challenges associated with implementing these in an inpatient mental health facility. Using a qualitative method incorporating a literature review, documentary analysis of policy and…
We're Still in There’—Consumer Voices on Mental Health Inpatient Care
This paper reports on research undertaken in an acute inpatient mental health facility in rural Australia to explore the lived experience of inpatient care. Conceptualised within a recovery framework that emphasises the biopsychosocial approach acknowledging consumers' lived experiences alongside clinical perspectives, this study contributes to addressing a gap in the literature about what consumers experience as being most important to their rec…
Enabling Narrative Pedagogy
The role of the nurse has become considerably more demanding in the past twenty years through increased complexity of patient care within a rapidly changing health care environment. Research is needed to expand the pedagogical literacy of nurse educators and address the needs of students entering a complex health care system. Narrative Pedagogy was identified as a research-based nursing pedagogy and has been enabled in nursing education for over …
A Developmental Approach to Recognition of Prior Learning in Social Work Field Education
This paper comments on the policy issue of recognition of prior learning (RPL) in social work education. Contrasting approaches to RPL are explored through a case study of Charles Sturt University’s experiences with RPL in its professional entry social work programs. RPL for field education in Australian social work education has been a contested issue within the profession and for social work education providers since its introduction in 2008. N…
Exploring the Development of Professional Identity with Newly Qualified Social Workers
This paper discusses the experiences of newly qualified social workers as part of a research project exploring professional identity. Drawing on literature in this area and a subset of data from a larger study involving Australian practitioners, it is argued that while several studies explore experiences of identity, the phenomenon remains under-researched, especially in Australia. Seventeen people participated in three in-depth, semistructured i…
Is social work really greening? Exploring the place of sustainability and environment in social work codes of ethics
This article examines the extent to which issues of environmental sustainability are represented in three national social work codes of ethics – the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. These national codes are discussed and implications for social work are analysed with a view to strengthening the profession’s position regarding environmental sustainability. Findings suggest that national codes do not include concern for environmenta…
Raising awareness of transformative ecosocial work
This article reports on Participatory Action Research with social work practitioners who collaboratively explored the effects on professional practice when practitioners raise their awareness of an ecosocial work approach. Although contemporary research in the profession has contributed to the ongoing development of ecosocial work, there is a notable lack of collaboration with social work practitioners. Using a transformative ecosocial work model…
Virtual Study-Abroad Through Web Conferencing
BACKGROUND: With a focus on building global citizens, a U.S. and Norwegian academic collaborative partnership fostered clinical learning experiences addressing cultural and health care comparisons. High-impact educational practices integrated into international clinical experiences, combined with virtual global learning classrooms, highlighted the Sustainable Development Goals. PROBLEM: Given nursing education's requirements, devising innovative …
Saving Australian Social Work
In 2020, the Australian Government proposed a new model of higher education funding that purported to incentivise study in national priority areas. However, despite shortages of social workers, the initial proposal doubled the student fee contribution for a social work degree. The Save Social Work Australia campaign was established by the Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work to redress errant assumptions underpinning the funding …
Creating ‘Communities of Practice’ to Enhance Ecosocial Work
This article reports on findings from a small qualitative study in two industrialised countries—Finland and Australia, which aimed to engage social work practitioners in ‘communities of practice’ to collaboratively explore ecosocial work practice. Using a Participatory Action Research approach, a series of workshops were established to plan, implement and evaluate ecosocial work interventions. Data were gathered using qualitative pre- and post-su…
Australian perspectives on environmental practice
This article reports on research exploring the perspectives of Australian social work and human service professionals about environmental practice. An online survey consisting of quantitative and qualitative questions was conducted, recruiting 303 participants from the human services sector. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS and qualitative data analyzed thematically using NVivo. Findings Overall, results indicated that par…
Toward a definition of professional identity for social work
Defining professional identity has long been a contested matter, even more so in social work with ongoing questions about our professional status. To address these questions, this article explores how professional identity is theorized, defined, and/or measured in peer-reviewed social work literature by reporting on a subset of findings from a scoping review. The search protocol produced a total dataset of ninety-one peer-reviewed articles, sixty…
Mechanisms that impact the experience and sustainability of the professional identity of social workers
This paper identifies mechanisms that impact the professional identity of qualified social workers. Professional identity has become a focal point in social work, especially considering contemporary neoliberal settings and pressing global concerns about workplace conditions affecting the status of the profession. On this basis, a scoping literature review was implemented with an aim to identify how professional identity is experienced, sustained,…
Activist leadership in social work education
This article provides an account of the collective activism of four social work academic leaders who formed a coalition with students and trade union advocates to bring about one of the most significant progressive reforms to higher education in Australia in decades. Our campaign, involving a multipronged strategy, resulted in the Federal Government announcing a Commonwealth-funded ‘Prac Payment’ to help 68,000 students (studying social work, nur…
Perspectives of Ecosocial Practice in Human Services
This article reports on research in Finland and Australia exploring the similarities and differences between Finnish and Australian human service professionals’ perspectives about ecosocial practice. Surveys consisting of quantitative questions were conducted in both countries, recruiting 542 Finnish participants and 277 Australian participants. Data from each country were analysed descriptively using SPSS software, and the results were compared.…
Ray Peckham (1929–2025)
Political science (19 works) · Sociology (17 works) · Social Work Education and Practice (14 works) · Public relations (11 works) · Social Work (11 works) · Engineering (9 works) · Psychology (9 works) · Medicine (8 works) · Pedagogy (8 works) · Law (7 works)