호주 윤리강령에서 'social worker' 정의와 일

[김세진]

1.1 Who we are

Informed by principles of the inherent dignity of humanity, human rights, and social justice, social workers work with, and on behalf of, individuals, families, groups and communities to:

• enhance their individual and collective wellbeing and social development

• resolve personal and interpersonal problems

• improve and to facilitate engagement with the broader society

• address systemic barriers to full recognition and participation

• protect the vulnerable from oppression and abuse.

This Code of Ethics (the Code) of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) expresses the principles and responsibilities that are integral to, and characterise, the social work profession.

It is intended to assist all social workers, and social work students currently enrolled in an accredited social work program collectively and individually, to act in ethically accountable ways in the pursuit of the profession’s aims.

The democratic values and principles embraced by the AASW as stated in the Constitution of the AASW (2008) (Constitution) underpin the Code of Ethics. Under the Constitution, the AASW will maintain a Code of Ethics that contains a set of principles agreed to by all members.

The social work profession in Australia adheres to the definition of social work jointly agreed to by the International Federation of Social Workers and International Association of Schools of Social Work in 2014.

Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing.

The profession subscribes to the principles and aspirations of the United Nations

Universal Declaration of Human Rights2, other international conventions derived from that Declaration, as well as treaties to which Australia is a signatory3,4 and other human rights documents.

Social workers recognise, acknowledge and celebrate the diversity within and among cultures in Australian society. They value a deep understanding of the cultural contexts in which ethical decision making occurs and the importance of taking into account individual, family, group, and community needs and differences. Social workers respect others’ beliefs, religious or spiritual world views, values, culture, goals, needs and desires, as well as kinship and communal bonds, within a framework of social justice and human rights.

When engaged in service provision, education, administration, policy and advocacy;

research and other recognised social work roles, social workers commit to promoting awareness of cultural and cross-cultural issues, and culturally safe practice, seeking to prevent and eliminate negative discrimination and oppression.

1.2 What we do

Social workers operate at the interface between people and their social, cultural and physical environments. In all contexts, social workers maintain a dual focus on assisting human functioning and identifying the systemic issues that create inequity and injustice.

Our service users are individuals, families and other kinship arrangements, groups, partnerships communities, organisations and societies. We focus especially on those who are neglected, marginalised, vulnerable, excluded, disadvantaged, alienated or have exceptional needs.

Social work practice includes:

• action to address the personal difficulties of service users through casework, counselling, clinical intervention, work with individuals, families, partnerships, communities and groups

• research, social policy development, administration, management, consultancy, education, training, supervision and eval‎uation undertaken to further human wellbeing and social development.

Social work action embraces advocacy and policy reform initiatives to achieve equitable access to social, economic, environmental and political resources focused in particular on:

• raising awareness of structural and systemic inequities

• promoting policies and practices that achieve a fair allocation of social resources

• acting to bring about social or systemic change to reduce social barriers, inequality and injustice.

출처 : Australian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics 2020