Including Disability in the Social Work Core Curriculum: A Compelling Argument

ABSTRACT

In light of an impending review of the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (2012), alongside imminent service system changes associated with the rollout in Australia of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), this article argues for urgent inclusion of disability in the Australian social work core curriculum. Although increased disability content has been debated previously, the implications of the NDIS policies for changes to the mainstream services system in Australia offer compelling reasons for revision. Recommended is a comprehensive review of how disability is presented in curriculum and development of new guidelines for essential core curriculum content.

KEYWORDS:

• Disability
• Content
• Social Work
• Curriculum