De-colonising Social Work: Whiteness as risk in practice

In this context the facilitator is referring to Whiteness as a structure that positions Western and White cultural values, systems and norms as the benchmark for society and individuals.

Join Wiradyuri Wambuul woman Jessica Russ-Smith for this exploration and discussion of Whiteness as risk that impacts the efficacy and responsiveness of contemporary Social Work practice.

Are you ready to decolonise and call out Whiteness in Social Work practice and our professional relationships? Colonisation and the Whiteness of Social Work continues to dominate our profession and our action is needed to decolonise our social worker-to-social worker relationships.

This webinar will explore Whiteness in social work and how it impacts upon our interpersonal and professional relationships, to guide social action in decolonising social work practice. This learning experience will support you to develop your practice critically and challenge Whiteness within the profession and our own practice.

Reconceptualising Whiteness as a risk in our professional practice and relationships is an important action in decolonising our profession. One of the largest risk factors to decolonising is the inability to recognise Whiteness as a key element and process of ongoing colonialism.

Relationships are key to decolonising social work practice, including the manager and supervisor relationships. Too often, decolonising Social Work is framed as only a structural issue, rather than also being an important practice and relational issue. Social work managers and supervisors have important responsibilities and can hold considerable power in shaping relationships between social workers and within direct practice.

Who should attend? Social Workers looking to deepen their knowledge and practice around decolonising their professional relationships and the social work profession more broadly. It is suitable for Social Work managers and Social Workers who provide supervision across all areas of practice, including private practice.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Consider Whiteness as a risk in social work practice, including its role in colonialism of the profession
• Identify Whiteness in their own professional relationships and its impact on social work service delivery
• Develop critically reflective practice as an individual, social work manager, leader and/or clinical supervisor
• Evaluate and implement strategies for creating decolonising spaces in contemporary social work

AASW Credentials: All credentials

This webinar content is relevant to all practice fields of social work. Hours can be attributed to all AASW credentials. *Please note, this CPD does not attribute to FPS hours.

Can't attend live? Your registration includes a copy of the presentation slides and 2 weeks' free access to the event recording.

Presenter

Jessica Russ is a Wiradyuri Wambuul woman, Senior Lecturer and Academic Developer of the Indigenous Curriculum at Australian Catholic University and AASW Board Director. She is a PhD Scholar in the School of Indigenous Australian Studies at Charles Sturt University and a Social Worker. Jessica has taught within Bachelor and Masters Social Work programs at UNSW and ACU and a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs within the School of Indigenous Australian Studies at CSU. Jess’ research and teaching relates to Indigenous sovereignty, embodying sovereignty, decolonisation, decolonising social work and education, decolonising curriculum and higher education, Indigenous social work, ethics, activism, working with Aboriginal children and young people, Positive Behaviour Support Plans and experiences of Indigenous researchers. Jessica is a former Branch President of the ACT Branch Management Committee.