Social Work Team Contribute to Classic Textbook
A book chapter by A/Prof David Rose and Rachel Blance-Palmer from the Department of Social Work was recently published in Social Work in the Shadow of the Law (6th Ed).
David and Rachel thoroughly enjoyed collaborating on the chapter titled ‘Older People’ in the textbook - now in its 30th year of publication. The book provides a practice and educative resource on the complex intersection between social work and legislation, having been brought together by an editorial team of social workers and lawyers.
Both David and Rachel were prescribed this textbook as social work students and have used it as a resource in practice since then. Reflecting on writing this chapter, David said, “this textbook was first developed by A/Prof Phillip Swain at the University of Melbourne and over subsequent decades it has become a classic of Australian social work education. I have used it as student, as a practitioner, as a teacher of social work students and now as a contributor along with a new generation of social work authors”.
As subject coordinator for ‘Legal and ethical context of practice’ in the Master of Social Work course, David has a wealth of experience in sharing his expertise on the legal and practice issues which social workers encounter across the many fields of social work practice. Rachel has current practice and research experience in the field of elder abuse and a passion for supporting clients to balance their right to self-determination within the law.
Together, David and Rachel have created a chapter which provides key definitions and epidemiology on elder abuse and ageism, whilst exploring influences of international human rights law, Australian legislation, and the move from substitute decision-making to supported decision-making. The role for legal measures such as enduring power of attorney, guardianship orders, and administration orders are highlighted, and future areas for law reform are identified in the chapter. Case examples and approaches to social work assessment and intervention provide thought-provoking guidance to social work students and practitioners.
