Emerging Areas of Practice for Mental Health Social Workers: Education and Employment

Abstract

In recent times in Australia there has been a slow but steady trend among mental health services to employ generic mental health workers from a variety of professional backgrounds. These workers undertake the jobs that were traditionally assigned to social workers. Although many social workers compete successfully for these positions, a question that needs to be explored in the contemporary service and policy context is social work's distinct contribution to the field of mental health. The present paper argues that social work's distinct contribution may lie in the area of psychiatric recovery, especially those areas that link mental health with broader social issues, such as employment and education. The present paper will discuss the role of social work in two areas of recovery, namely supported employment and education. These are emerging areas of practice and social workers must take advantage of these opportunities.

Abstract

Keywords:

• Psychiatric Recovery
• Supported Employment
• Supported Education
• Welfare to Work Policy
• Mental Illness