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Abstract
A recent comprehensive survey of the state of social work research in the United States of America found that little or no practice relevant research was being undertaken. The same conclusion would fit Australia. This paper represents an attempt to enquire how this state of affairs has arisen and why it continues. It is argued that the institutional structures for connecting social work education and social work practice have never been robust and have been weakening. One result has been confusion about the purpose and content of practice. Another has been the failure to develop appropriate research skills and a critical community for supporting and evaluating research. Solutions require cooperative activity. Some promising institutionalised developments are canvassed.