This article reports on a study that examined how fieldwork education in Southern and East Africa... more This article reports on a study that examined how fieldwork education in Southern and East Africa was responding to the developmental social work agenda. The study used semi-structured qualitative interviews with key informants from 15 social work programmes in 11 different Southern and East African countries. It investigated whether the social work fieldwork placements on offer provided practical experience of a developmental approach to social work practice. The study showed the creativity and enthusiasm with which social work educators were embracing the goals of developmental social work education, despite the pitfalls and limitations of doing this within fieldwork resource constraints. This article reports on a study that sought to examine how fieldwork education in Southern and East Africa was responding to the developmental social work agenda. The shaping of relevant, culturally appropriate and socially responsive social work practice in Africa rests crucially on the extent to which future practitioners understand the context in which their work is conducted.
Student engagement, retention, and professional commitment is strongly influenced during the earl... more Student engagement, retention, and professional commitment is strongly influenced during the early stages of the university experience. However, a number of factors can undermine engagement, which has implications for the individual, the professional workforce, and university funding and reputation. This paper reports on cooperative inquiry research that explored the beginning experiences of 17 social work students from one regional Australian university. In-depth, qualitative data were collected during six discussions that focused on understanding the experiences that influenced university retention, enjoyment, and success. Data analysis revealed three primary themes: (i) purpose and timing, (ii) balancing commitments, and (iii) a sense of belonging. Findings suggested that students often struggled to balance life, work, and family commitments, while appreciating university processes that reduced stressors and contributed to a sense of belonging.
This article reports on qualitative Australian research that was conducted with 32 workers from J... more This article reports on qualitative Australian research that was conducted with 32 workers from Job Services Australia and Emergency Relief agencies. Researchers investigated the operationalisation of assistance for unemployed people to illuminate the language, discourse and processes through which workers and unemployed people were constructed within the quasi-market culture. Findings included individualistic and behaviourist frames, paradoxical positions in relation to client choice and blame, and a metaphorical frame which reinforced position, status and difference. This study provides important evidence from the frontline of Australia's deregulated employment services, adding to the growing body of international social work literature pertaining to neoliberal welfare reform.
A B S T R A C T Effective communicative processes and practices are widely regarded as core to na... more A B S T R A C T Effective communicative processes and practices are widely regarded as core to natural disaster management. However there is some evidence that some groups may have different communicative needs and less access to disaster related information and technologies. This article reports on a qualitative research project undertaken in regional Australia with five potentially vulnerable or 'particular' groups: older people, people with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations, families with young children, and people in low income households. Seventeen focus groups were conducted to investigate the communication experiences, expectations and perceived needs of these groups. Three core themes emerged: trust, hope and source credibility; preferred communicative technologies; and clarity and confusion during a crisis. The implications of these themes are discussed in relation to disaster policy and practice.
This qualitative study examined the experiences of 25 adult children who initiated or maintained ... more This qualitative study examined the experiences of 25 adult children who initiated or maintained estrangement from one or both parents. Participants often stated that they initiated or maintained estrangement to provide relief and space to heal from a difficult relationship, but it was also experienced as a considerable loss that impacted them across the lifespan. They missed having a family and the benefits of such a relationship, including emotional, financial and physical support. However, the majority stated that they did not miss 'their own family' or the person they were estranged from, often taking active measures to keep the estrangement status intact. Estrangement also appeared to affect participant's experiences of other relationships with non-estranged family members, work colleagues, and potential partners and friends. These findings suggest social work practice that is focused on understanding and addressing grief reactions, a critical examination of family, stress reduction, and reconnection to safe and trusting relationships.
KEY FINDINGS FROM A WOMEN'S COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM Based on a social intervention rese... more KEY FINDINGS FROM A WOMEN'S COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM Based on a social intervention research study into mentoring with women from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, this study considers some of the key differences between traditional workplace and community-based mentoring when used as a social work intervention. The study involved 18 women who participated in a preparation-for-mentoring groupwork program for 12 months. Eleven of these participants were then matched with a mentor and supported in this relationship for a further 12 months. Qualitative analysis points to three key factors likely to enhance the success of community-based mentoring relationships: (i) relational qualities, such as trust, engagement, and authenticity; (ii) mentees' readiness for change and ability to overcome adversity; and (iii) mentors' practical assistance with tasks and overcoming obstacles. Social workers implementing a community-based mentoring program need to be mindful of the importance of these factors in order to ensure that mentees are supported to engage effectively in any mentoring relationship and overcome structural, community, and familial barriers that may adversely affect them.
In this article I examine some issues involved in researching vulnerable populations and sensitiv... more In this article I examine some issues involved in researching vulnerable populations and sensitive issues, and the challenges and risks of researching issues of a deeply personal nature. Participants might have complex needs and vulnerabilities, but they also have many resources to ensure their own well-being. I ask researchers to move beyond the minimum standards espoused by human ethics committees, and utilize participant strengths to further reduce the risk of harm. My reflections on a study of older people who were experiencing family estrangement highlight some of the actions that participants used to increase their personal safety. I discuss the usefulness of "strengths" questions in assessing risk and facilitating participant strengths to minimize harm. Finally, I propose a three-way model for reducing risk that involves the "lessons learned" from ethics committees, researchers, and the participants themselves.
Family estrangement is the physical distancing and loss of affection between family members, ofte... more Family estrangement is the physical distancing and loss of affection between family members, often due to intense conflict or ongoing disagreement. While the concept is rarely referred to in the research literature, it is not an uncommon issue raised in clinical practice. This article provides a brief overview of the literature pertaining to later-life intergenerational family estrangement, primarily between adult children and their parents. It then examines later-life family estrangement in relation to Boss's (2006) concept of ambiguous loss and Doka's (1989) ideas about disenfranchised grief. Finally, the article comments on the practice implications when working with elders experiencing family estrangement toward the end of life.
This qualitative study examined the experiences of 25 parents who were estranged from their adult... more This qualitative study examined the experiences of 25 parents who were estranged from their adult children in later life. Most participants experienced estrangement as an unanticipated, unchosen, and chronic loss for which they felt ill prepared. Most described a traumatic loss, ambiguous because of its uncertainty and inconclusiveness, and disenfranchised by societal ideologies embedded in constructs of parenting and motherhood as essential, natural, and universal. Many participants said they were subjected to the social stigma associated with tainted or devalued parenthood. In many cases, the gendered stigma accompanying estrangement positioned the female participants precariously for social rejection.
This paper discusses three feminist research principles through three doctoral studies and their ... more This paper discusses three feminist research principles through three doctoral studies and their accompanying supervision and support group: (i) capturing women's experience; (ii) improving women's lives; and (iii) equalising power. These guiding principles assisted in understanding the connections between feminist theory and the respective studies on: older people experiencing family estrangement (Kylie); a mentoring program with women from disadvantaged backgrounds (Jennifer); and arts-based intervention research to raise awareness of domestic violence in a disadvantaged community (Leanne). It discusses the way in which these guiding principles informed the studies and the supervision process from the students' and supervisor's perspective.
This paper reports on a collaborative student-for-student research project conducted in 2012, whi... more This paper reports on a collaborative student-for-student research project conducted in 2012, which aimed to improve the first year experience for students at one Australian University. A cooperative inquiry group was established to focus on the issues experienced by first year students from low socio-economic backgrounds, raise critical consciousness, question existing ideological constructs and develop a response to the identified issues in the form of a V-pod. Thematic analysis of recorded data from meetings and written data from group wiki pages revealed three key themes related to: sharing experience, sharing power and sharing time. Findings suggest a clear place for cooperative inquiry in the higher educational sector, but this must be supported by the time and space to establish collaborative relationships. When academics and students recast their roles as 'the researcher' and 'the researched' in the pursuit of co-created knowledge they are more able to rally against structural barriers and produce more meaningful outcomes.
This article reports on a qualitative study of adult children who were estranged from at least
on... more This article reports on a qualitative study of adult children who were estranged from at least one parent. Twenty-six Australian participants reported a total of 40 estrangements. Of these, 23 estrangements were initiated by the participant and 16 were maintained by the participant after being initiated by the parent or occurring after a mutual lessening of contact. Participants reported three core reasons for estrangement: (i) abuse, (ii) poor parenting, and (iii) betrayal. However, estrangement was predominantly situated in long-term perceived or actual disconnection from the parent and family of origin. Most participants had engaged in cycles of estrangement and reunification, using distance to assess the relationship and attend to their own personal development and growth across time. Estrangement was generally triggered by a relatively minor incident or a more serious act of betrayal considered to have been enacted by the parent.
This article reports on qualitative research that examined the experiences of 25 Australian parti... more This article reports on qualitative research that examined the experiences of 25 Australian participants aged over 60 years who were estranged from at least one adult child. When participants were asked about their perceptions of the cause of the estrangement they described events prior to and at the time of the estrangement, possibly perceived as a form of parental rejection or relational devaluation by the estranged children. Findings suggested a complex interplay of long-term factors that appeared to contribute to an eroded relationship between parents and children, including divorce, third-party alienation, and multiple family stressors. Ultimately participants said that the adult children responded by: (1) choosing what they perceived to be a less rejecting or less dangerous relationship over a relationship with their parent; (2) choosing to stop contact or reduce emotional interactions with their parent; or (3) using estrangement to punish their parent for the perceived rejection.
a b s t r a c t This article provides an overview of recent perspectives on neoliberalism, which ... more a b s t r a c t This article provides an overview of recent perspectives on neoliberalism, which serve as a foundation for the assessment of neoliberalism's influence on human services practice. Conventionally, neoliberalism has been conceived of as an ideology, but more recent perspectives regard neoliberalism as an art of government, a thought collective, and an uneven but path-dependent process of regulatory development. We argue that these new perspectives have the potential to contribute to our critical capacity and open avenues for the analysis of contemporary transformations of public policy and its delivery.
This paper illuminates two under-investigated, and often intersecting, frontline services
accesse... more This paper illuminates two under-investigated, and often intersecting, frontline services accessed by unemployed people. It reports on the narratives of 32 Australian service providers working in emergency relief or employment services during 2012, including perceptions of clients’ presenting issues and problems, and rationale for intervention. Workers tended to use reductionist and individualistic terms to describe complex client issues suggesting self-motivation and personal responsibility were key to gaining employment or alleviating poverty. Clients were often viewed as having the power to change their circumstances, while workers appeared unaware of their positional power and drew from dominant conservative discourse about welfarism and unemployment to fortify their compliance requirements. The findings are discussed in relation to service delivery and reform.
Australian social work graduates face an increasingly complex work environment where the role of ... more Australian social work graduates face an increasingly complex work environment where the role of the social worker is often overlooked or misunderstood. In order to examine the anticipated and concrete practice reality for social workers, this qualitative study examined the expectations of social work students preparing to enter the workforce (n=29) and the experiences of new social work graduates in the workplace (n=9). Findings suggest that undergraduates have a realistic understanding of the challenges they would encounter in practice, including anticipated value and ethical conflicts, and allied professions' conceptions of the social work role. They did not anticipate the busyness of the workplace or the level of supervision offered.
While most social work graduates will not practice in organizations specializing in the threat or... more While most social work graduates will not practice in organizations specializing in the threat or aftermath of violence, they will encounter clients affected by interpersonal violence and trauma in almost all fields of practice. Therefore, the social work curriculum should provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to work with these clients. In developing a suitable curriculum it is important to be mindful of the adverse reactions students might experience when exposed to traumatic material, especially those who have experienced prior trauma. This article discusses a third-year social work course that examined social work interventions in response to interpersonal violence, with a focus on sexual assault and domestic violence. It describes four “safety strategies” implemented in 2010; (a) ongoing recognition of, and education about, self-care and vicarious trauma, (b) development of a supportive culture in the classroom, (c) accessible avenues of personalized support and debriefing, and (d), providing transparent and diverse curriculum. Finally, it draws from relevant research and student feedback to discuss the strengths and limitations of each “strategy.”
As governments continue to spend more money on law enforcement and prison construction, social wo... more As governments continue to spend more money on law enforcement and prison construction, social workers will be increasingly faced with clients who have connections with the criminal justice and correctional systems. Despite the increasing numbers of women entering the criminal justice system, they continue to be one of the most marginalised groups in Australian society. This article reviews the social work literature concerning this population and proceeds to argue that social work has a significant role to play with women in corrections. Using a conceptual model based on an ecological systems framework, the author examines the mutuality of various social work practice principles at different levels of intervention and the roles that social workers may engage in to enhance the lives of women in corrections.
The single most important event that has molded changes to welfare policy across the developed We... more The single most important event that has molded changes to welfare policy across the developed Western world in the so-called post-industrial nation state is the advent of computer technology and the World Wide Web in what has been dubbed the information age or knowledge-based society. This technology enables policy researchers to search the Internet for clues as to what is being done elsewhere and morph together policies with bits from everywhere as they see fit. Australia is no exception, and while historically it evolved a unique welfare system, in contemporary times, it increasingly bears the hallmarks of policy development in the United States and the United Kingdom, with whom it most identifies. For the most part, however, even in the face of economic globalization, welfare policy remains the province of nation-states, albeit influenced by international conventions and human rights charters. We believe that claims that globalized capitalism has reduced the nation-state’s control of its territorial boundaries are overzealous.
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Papers by Kylie Agllias
one parent. Twenty-six Australian participants reported a total of 40 estrangements. Of these,
23 estrangements were initiated by the participant and 16 were maintained by the participant after
being initiated by the parent or occurring after a mutual lessening of contact. Participants reported
three core reasons for estrangement: (i) abuse, (ii) poor parenting, and (iii) betrayal. However,
estrangement was predominantly situated in long-term perceived or actual disconnection from the
parent and family of origin. Most participants had engaged in cycles of estrangement and
reunification, using distance to assess the relationship and attend to their own personal development
and growth across time. Estrangement was generally triggered by a relatively minor incident or a
more serious act of betrayal considered to have been enacted by the parent.
accessed by unemployed people. It reports on the narratives of 32 Australian service
providers working in emergency relief or employment services during 2012, including
perceptions of clients’ presenting issues and problems, and rationale for intervention.
Workers tended to use reductionist and individualistic terms to describe complex
client issues suggesting self-motivation and personal responsibility were key to gaining
employment or alleviating poverty. Clients were often viewed as having the power to
change their circumstances, while workers appeared unaware of their positional
power and drew from dominant conservative discourse about welfarism and
unemployment to fortify their compliance requirements. The findings are discussed in
relation to service delivery and reform.