Social Work Research in the Field of Disability in Australia: A Scoping Review^*

* Accepted under the editorship of Associate Professor Grahame Simpson.

ABSTRACT

Although in Australia disability is receiving unprecedented attention with the rollout of major reforms, the body of research on disability to inform policy and practice has been found “not fit for purpose”. This scoping review of empirical research papers published by Australian social work authors between 2007 and 2015 investigated the quantity, nature, and scope of social work research on disability in Australia. We found a steady growth, an annual average of 13.8 papers, and a total of 124. Social work disability research makes a distinctive contribution; it is contextualised in service systems or policy, has a greater focus on community and civic participation and social relationships, and concentrates on adults, with either intellectual disability or traumatic brain injury. These research strengths provide foundations for building the profession’s research capacity and informing its practice and contribution to the multidisciplinary field of disability.

IMPLICATIONS

• Service system reform is increasing engagement of social workers with people with disabilities, yet disability has a low profile in the profession.

• Social work disability research has strengths in understanding service systems, social relationships, and strategies for social and civic participation, particularly with adults with cognitive disabilities.

• Increased attention to disability in qualifying and higher degree programs will better prepare students for complex practice and develop the distinctive contribution of social work research in this interdisciplinary field.

在澳大利亚，随着一些重要改革的出台，残障者受到前所未有的关注。但用以参谋政策、咨询实践而针对残障者身体的研究却“并不如人意”。本文根据澳大利亚社会工作者发表于2007至2015年的实证性文章，对社会工作之研究残障问题的数量、性质和范围做了分析。分析发现，研究数量有稳步增长；每年约13.8篇；总数为124篇。社会工作对残障的研究贡献十分明显；它与政策服务体系结合紧密，偏重于社区和公民参与及社会关系，焦点在或智障或大脑创伤的成年人。这些研究上的优长为营建该行业的研究能力、参谋实践、贡献残障多学科事业打下了基础。

KEYWORDS:

• Social Work Research
• Disability
• Research Impact
• Evidence-based Practice

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Dr Lauren Vogel and Dr Lisa Chaffey who provided research assistance with this paper.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Christine Bigby http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7001-8976

Notes

* Accepted under the editorship of Associate Professor Grahame Simpson.