Greening Australian social work practice and education

Abstract

Australia's environment is unique and diverse. It is renowned for its extraordinary wildlife and spectacular landscapes. But Australia's environment is also at great risk. Australian social workers have long considered environmental issues in their practice and within social work education. This chapter provides an overview of Australian social work's responses to environmental issues in social work education and practice. It explores the environmental context in which social work is practised in Australia, and the key themes that Australian social work practitioners and academics. The chapter focuses on including practice in relation to climate change-induced disasters, place-based green social work, the relationship between gender and environmental issues, and the role of eco-social transitions, eco-spiritual perspectives, ecological living in social work practice and education, and social work education and the environment. It concludes with a number of recommendations for Australian social work to further embrace green social work practice and education.