Exploring Social Workers' Experiences of Working with Bushfire-affected Families

Bibliographic Data

ID11957442
AuthorsHelen Hickson (0000-0001-7693-0085, La Trobe University, corresponding author), Jennifer Lehmann (0000-0002-2522-0603, La Trobe University)
Year2013
Volume67
Issue2
Pages256-273
Publication date2013-09-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAustralian Social Work (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0312-407X • E-ISSN: 1447-0748
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0312407x.2013.832788
OpenAlexW2055488108
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited18

Following the devastating Victorian bushfires in February 2009, social workers engaged with people affected by this event in a variety of roles, including bushfire case manager, counsellor, and community development worker. This paper explores the experiences of social workers who worked with bushfire-affected families to understand their role and the context in which they practised. It describes the personal impact of disaster recovery work. Secondly, by drawing on the knowledge and experiences of these social workers, this investigation identified skills and personal qualities that can be used to inform the preparation and support of social workers responding in future disaster events or emergency recovery situations. The research design featured a mixed methodology that included an anonymous online survey completed by 22 participants and personal interviews with 6 social workers. Narrative data analysis was performed to identify themes. A key finding of the study was that, while social workers frequently work in contexts of uncertainty, the demands placed on practice were exacerbated by the lack of familiarity with geography, social networks, and resources, as well as by higher levels of uncertainty and lack of clarity and detail relating to the event itself

CLARITY · Context (archaeology · Event (particle physics · Geography · Narrative · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Variety (cybernetics · Disaster Management and Resilience · Disaster Response and Management · Psychology · Social Psychology · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work

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