Rising unemployment, shrinking public welfare: Canadian and Australian comparisons. implications for social work in the 1990s

Abstract

Economic restructuring and rising unemployment are creating a new context for social work practice. No longer can it be assumed that adequately paid employment will provide a foundation for rehabilitation and successful practice. The issues raised for social work are explored by examining the welfare policy and practice implications of the application of market ideology and increasing joblessness in Canada in the 1980s drawing parallels with economic and social welfare changes in Australia. The paper examines why social work has been slow to respond, why it should be responding and what is to be done.