Social Workers as Collaborators? The Ethics of Working Within Australia’s Asylum System
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12901949 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Chris Maylea (0000-0003-3688-0487, RMIT University, corresponding author), Asher Hirsch (0000-0002-5675-5977, Monash University) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 160-178 |
| Publication date | 2017-04-06 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Ethics and Social Welfare (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1749-6535 • E-ISSN: 1749-6543 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/17496535.2017.1310918 |
| OpenAlex | W2604502096 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 13 |
| References cited | 25 |
Social workers working within the Australian asylum seeker processing system, particularly offshore on Nauru and Manus Island, risk being collaborators in the systemic abuse of men, women and children who seek asylum in Australia. In order to avoid accusations of collaboration, social workers must work to end this abuse. However, the current policy environment makes this very difficult, with social workers who resist the status quo risking unemployment, public shaming and imprisonment. Using freedom of information disclosures, whistleblower testimony, leaked documents, parliamentary records, case law, media reports and academic literature, this paper examines this difficult position. Alternatives to retreating from the system are proposed, including advocacy through whistleblowing, policy reform and litigation, or subversive action from within. Social workers are encouraged to act in whatever ways they can, within the ethical, legal and practical limitations which are imposed
Appeal · Asylum seeker · Business · Criminology · Freedom of information · Imprisonment · Political science · Position (finance · Prison · Public relations · Refugee · Sociology · Status quo · Homelessness and Social Issues · Law · Migration, Health and Trauma · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work
Regime of Truth
Analysis of the Declining Commitment to the Refugee Convention
Anti-Oppressive Perspectives on Social Work’s Responsibilities Towards Irregular Migrants in South Africa
Ethical conflicts, moral distress, and moral action in social work
Evidencing Violence and Care along the Central American Migrant Trail through Mexico
Ethics in Forced Migration Research
Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Social Workers
Managers’ Moral Struggle
The Influence of Policy, Cultural and Historical Contexts on Social Work and Human Service Practice Responses with People Seeking Asylum in Germany and Australia
Cultural Adaptations of Evidence-Based Mental Health Interventions for Refugees
Exploring the Relationship between Ethical Conflicts and Psychological Distress among Social Workers
The Ethical Conflict of Dual Obligations Amongst Social Workers
Mobile sovereignty
A Less than 'Pacific' Solution for Asylum Seekers in Australia
Assuming Responsibility for Justice in the Context of South Africa's Refugee Receiving Regime
A rejection of involuntary treatment in mental health social work
Care or Collusion in Asylum Seeker Detention
Moral outrage
Secrecy and human rights abuse in Australia’s offshore immigration detention centres
Marriage of convenience’ or a ‘match made in heaven’
The Sanctity of Asylum
Social Workers' Experiences of Covert Workplace Activism
Refugees and asylum seekers living in the Australian community
We Shouldn't but We Do
Local Reactions to Global Problems
Introducing 'Deviant' Social Work
Plaintiff M68/2015 v. Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
Offshore
Strategy, Rupture, Rights
Mental health and legal representation for asylum seekers in the 'legacy caseload
Australian border policing
| Unique citing works | 13 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,63 |
| Citation span | 2018 - 2025 (8) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 13 |