New research led by Dr Natasha Long is shedding light on how social workers are perceived in Australia.
“Social workers are employed across a wide range of health and human services, including mental health, family violence, and child and family support,” Dr Long explains. “They work with individuals, families and communities experiencing major life challenges.”
Despite their essential role, Dr Long says the profession is often misunderstood.
“This can make it harder for social workers to develop a strong professional identity, and it can contribute to job dissatisfaction and issues with retaining staff.”
The study, published in Australian Social Work, explores how social workers perceive their own public image.
“It highlighted that social workers do experience misunderstandings about their role, often shaped by how the profession is portrayed in the media,” she says.
“The majority of respondents (86%) indicated they perceived there is stigma associated with being a social worker. However, most respondents (95%) still said they’re proud to be part of the profession.”
Many participants also believed that introducing professional registration could help improve public understanding and strengthen the image of social work in Australia.
Dr Long says that educators, professional associations and social workers themselves all have a role to play in addressing misconceptions.
“It’s important that we understand how social work is viewed in Australia, so we can better support students entering the profession and help them build sustainable, fulfilling careers so they can positively impact the lives of people they work with.”
