Engaging with Social Work: A Critical Introduction

Contemporary global challenges require practitioners to confidently analyse the dominant discourses and develop frameworks and strategies for future change. Engaging with Social Work equips students with a critical perspective and develops their understanding of social work and human services practice, with an emphasis on the principles of social justice and human rights. This fully revised second edition includes a new chapter on the emerging challenges and opportunities for social work, covering rising global inequality, re-invigorated possibilities for addressing violence against women, and threats to the planet. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are integrated throughout the text to provide a more in-depth understanding. Reflective exercises, key definitions, case studies and unique practitioners’ perspectives are integrated into each chapter to support learning. Engaging with Social Work provides an accessible, research-informed and rigorous introduction to complex concepts, theories and analyses, and develops a solid skill-set to prepare students for professional practice.