- School of Human Services and Social Work
Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University
Parklands Drive, Southport, Queensland 4215, Australia - +61 (0)7 55529345
Patricia Fronek
Griffith University, School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Faculty Member
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Australian and New Zealand Social Work and Welfare Education and Research (ANZSWWER), (Formerly AASWWE), Department MemberGriffith University, School of Human Services & Social Work, Faculty MemberGriffith University, Law Futures Centre, Department Member add
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Adoption, Surrogacy, Commercial Surrogacy, Intercountry Adoption, Trafficking, Social Work, Transnational Adoption, Ethics, and 11 moreSocial Work Education, Critical Social Work, Actor Network Theory, Interprofessional Development, Rehabilitation, Repruductive Technology, India, Health, Disability, Thailand, and Human Services & Social Work edit
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Patricia Fronek, BSocWk; PhD; ACSW; is Associate Professor in Social Work at Griffith University, School of Health Sc... morePatricia Fronek, BSocWk; PhD; ACSW; is Associate Professor in Social Work at Griffith University, School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Gold Coast Campus, Australia; Law Futures Centre, Disrupting Violence Beacon; past President, Australian and New Zealand Social Work and Welfare Education and Identity Protection (CHIP)
Associate Professor Patricia Fronek is a researcher, educator and social worker with thirty years experience in the field. I am deeply committed to social work values including social justice, respect for people – valuing the worth and self-determination of all people, and professional integrity. My research areas include intercountry adoption, surrogacy, pandemics, international social work and social work practice across fields. I am passionate about social work’s value to society and research informed public policy as opposed to policy informed by ideology, personal opinions or political influence.
Child Identity Protection (CHIP) https://www.child-identity.org/index.php/en/
The Verona Principles on Surrogacy https://www.iss-ssi.org/index.php/en/what-we-do-en/surrogacy edit
This is the first comprehensive book that provides accessible, international knowledge for practitioners, students and academics about social work in health emergencies and spans fields of practice across world regions with particular... more
This is the first comprehensive book that provides accessible, international knowledge for practitioners, students and academics about social work in health emergencies and spans fields of practice across world regions with particular reference to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Divided into three sections:
• Regional, Historical and Social Work Perspectives takes a journey through world regions during the first six months of the pandemic as it unfolded, explores the lessons found in the history of pandemics and situates public health social work practice in the values of the profession. Situating the diversity of challenges and opportunities in context, in turn, influences current and future social work practice.
• Social Work Practice, Issues and Responses explores social work practice innovations and responses across eleven key practice fields. International authors feature social work responses during the COVID-19 health emergency from different regions of the world.
• Preparing for the Future analyses broader concepts, innovations and the implications for future practices as social work enters a new era of service delivery. The 20 chapters explore the convergence of pandemic, politics and planet which is critiqued within a framework of the profession’s ethics and values of human dignity, human rights and social justice. Social work’s place in public health is firmly situated and built on the premise that the value social work brings to the table deserves recognition and should be documented to inform the development of the profession and future practice and how social work must carry lessons forward to prepare for the next pandemic.
PLUS 2 bonus chapters from eminent scientists
The book is relevant to a wide range of audiences, including practitioners, educators and students in social work, human services, international development and public health, as well as policy makers and researchers.
Divided into three sections:
• Regional, Historical and Social Work Perspectives takes a journey through world regions during the first six months of the pandemic as it unfolded, explores the lessons found in the history of pandemics and situates public health social work practice in the values of the profession. Situating the diversity of challenges and opportunities in context, in turn, influences current and future social work practice.
• Social Work Practice, Issues and Responses explores social work practice innovations and responses across eleven key practice fields. International authors feature social work responses during the COVID-19 health emergency from different regions of the world.
• Preparing for the Future analyses broader concepts, innovations and the implications for future practices as social work enters a new era of service delivery. The 20 chapters explore the convergence of pandemic, politics and planet which is critiqued within a framework of the profession’s ethics and values of human dignity, human rights and social justice. Social work’s place in public health is firmly situated and built on the premise that the value social work brings to the table deserves recognition and should be documented to inform the development of the profession and future practice and how social work must carry lessons forward to prepare for the next pandemic.
PLUS 2 bonus chapters from eminent scientists
The book is relevant to a wide range of audiences, including practitioners, educators and students in social work, human services, international development and public health, as well as policy makers and researchers.
Research Interests:
A lot has happened in the world since December 2019 and there is still a long way to go. Although the science has been rapid and responsive, there is still much to understand about COVID-19. Pandemic conditions have elicited the best and... more
A lot has happened in the world since December 2019 and there is still a long way to go. Although the science has been rapid and responsive, there is still much to understand about COVID-19. Pandemic conditions have elicited the best and worst of human behaviour while throwing a spotlight on inadequate governance, greed, inequality and inequities. The next pandemic is not far away and so we need to learn from COVID-19. This chapter brings us June 2021 with key events and the current state of global affairs and looks to the future and the lessons we need to remember.
Research Interests:
This chapter looks to social work, the future and the next pandemic. Just as COVID-19 was not the only health emergency this century, the next one will follow, perhaps sooner than we expect given the neglect of the planet and worsening... more
This chapter looks to social work, the future and the next pandemic. Just as COVID-19 was not the only health emergency this century, the next one will follow, perhaps sooner than we expect given the neglect of the planet and worsening ecological and social conditions globally. Social workers must learn lessons from this and past pandemics and recognise the expertise we offer. This chapter addresses preparedness and response at multiple levels, social work’s expertise, capacities for self-examination and, importantly, leadership that will take us into the future.
Research Interests:
Chapter 1 introduces social work in health emergencies and discusses key public health concepts in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the science and the language of public health and being able to communicate these... more
Chapter 1 introduces social work in health emergencies and discusses key public health concepts in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the science and the language of public health and being able to communicate these understandings at all ecological levels are key to practising public health social work. In this chapter, Jonathan Dickens offers insights into the impact of COVID-19 in different welfare regimes and a model of state responses, the implications of which play out alongside pandemic politics and offer clarity to the compelling global story of practice and innovation depicted in this book.
Research Interests:
Willing, I. Fronek, P. and Skrbiš, Z. (2020). Cosmopolitanism, Transnationalism and Racialised Belongings: A Study of Transnationally Adoptive Parents. In Multicultural Australia. In J. Wills, T. Hübinette & I. Willing, Adoption and... more
Willing, I. Fronek, P. and Skrbiš, Z. (2020). Cosmopolitanism, Transnationalism and Racialised Belongings: A Study of Transnationally Adoptive Parents. In Multicultural Australia. In J. Wills, T. Hübinette & I. Willing, Adoption and Multiculturalism: Europe, the Americas and the Pacific (p. 44-68). Minnesota: University of Michigan Press
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (2018). Assessment of prospective adoptive parents. In C. Jeannin (Ed.), Towards a greater capacity: Learning from intercoutnry adoption breakdowns (pp. 110 - 113). Geneva: International Social Service.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (2018). Evaluación de los potenciales padres adoptivos. In C. Jeannin (Ed.), Fortaleciando las competencias: Arender de las fracasos en la adoption international. Ginebra, Suiza: Servicio Social Internacional.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (2017). Social work in a brave new world. In A. L. Palaez & E. R. Diez (Eds.), Social work research and practice: Contributions to a science of social work (pp. 33 - 50). Spain: Thomas Reuters Aranzadi “I'm thinking of a queer... more
Fronek, P. (2017). Social work in a brave new world. In A. L. Palaez & E. R. Diez (Eds.), Social work research and practice: Contributions to a science of social work (pp. 33 - 50). Spain: Thomas Reuters Aranzadi
“I'm thinking of a queer feeling I sometimes get, a feeling that I've got something important to say and the power to say it—only I don't know what it is, and I can't make any use of the power.” Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Huxley’s fictional tale of a “Brave New World” provokes an interesting reflection on contemporary social work. Huxley’s characters were suppressed and oppressed by their political, social and technological environment. Efforts to quell the masses and eliminate independent thought required the compulsory use of the drug, soma. Soma ensured Huxley’s characters were anaesthetised leaving them unable to find their voice, enact their power or even really care about it. Given the environments in which many social workers find themselves, it seems reasonable to consider how empowered social workers feel to protest against injustice and breaches of human rights. In some countries social workers are constrained by neoliberal agendas and are increasingly limited in the help they can provide. In others, social workers are oppressed by governments and face imprisonment if they speak out. Government and non-government agencies have guidelines about what can be publicly discussed and the use of social media is often prohibited, and where whistle blower laws exist they are often inadequate.
“I'm thinking of a queer feeling I sometimes get, a feeling that I've got something important to say and the power to say it—only I don't know what it is, and I can't make any use of the power.” Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Huxley’s fictional tale of a “Brave New World” provokes an interesting reflection on contemporary social work. Huxley’s characters were suppressed and oppressed by their political, social and technological environment. Efforts to quell the masses and eliminate independent thought required the compulsory use of the drug, soma. Soma ensured Huxley’s characters were anaesthetised leaving them unable to find their voice, enact their power or even really care about it. Given the environments in which many social workers find themselves, it seems reasonable to consider how empowered social workers feel to protest against injustice and breaches of human rights. In some countries social workers are constrained by neoliberal agendas and are increasingly limited in the help they can provide. In others, social workers are oppressed by governments and face imprisonment if they speak out. Government and non-government agencies have guidelines about what can be publicly discussed and the use of social media is often prohibited, and where whistle blower laws exist they are often inadequate.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (2017). Évaluation des parents adoptifs potentiels. In C. Jeannin (Ed.), Vers une plus grande compétence: Apprendre des échecs de l’adoption internationale (pp. 110 - 113). Genève, Suisse: Service Social International.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (2016). Adoption. In ACRT, UNICEF Australia, & NCYLC (Eds.), CRC25 Australian Child Rights Progress Report: A report on 25 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Australia (pp. 20-21). Australia: Australian... more
Fronek, P. (2016). Adoption. In ACRT, UNICEF Australia, & NCYLC (Eds.), CRC25 Australian Child Rights Progress Report: A report on 25 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Australia (pp. 20-21). Australia: Australian Child Rights Taskforce, UNICEF Australia,National Children's and Youth Law Centre.
Research Interests:
http://www.cambridgescholars.com/the-intercountry-adoption-debate Fronek, P., Cuthbert, D., & Willing, I. (2015). Intercountry adoption: Privilege, rights and social justice. In R. L. Ballard, N. H. Goodno, R. F. Cochran & J. A.... more
http://www.cambridgescholars.com/the-intercountry-adoption-debate
Fronek, P., Cuthbert, D., & Willing, I. (2015). Intercountry adoption: Privilege, rights and social justice. In R. L. Ballard, N. H. Goodno, R. F. Cochran & J. A. Milbrandt (Eds.), The intercountry adoption debate: Dialogues across disciplines (pp. 348-365): Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
For a review by Mirah Riben, The Huffington Post see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mirah-riben/the-intercountry-adoption_b_8174088.html?ir=Australia
Fronek, P., Cuthbert, D., & Willing, I. (2015). Intercountry adoption: Privilege, rights and social justice. In R. L. Ballard, N. H. Goodno, R. F. Cochran & J. A. Milbrandt (Eds.), The intercountry adoption debate: Dialogues across disciplines (pp. 348-365): Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
For a review by Mirah Riben, The Huffington Post see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mirah-riben/the-intercountry-adoption_b_8174088.html?ir=Australia
Research Interests:
http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fpl/index.html Cuthbert, D., & Fronek, P. (2014). Perfecting adoption? Reflections on the rise of commercial offshore surrogacy and family formation in Australia. In A. Hayes & D. Higgins (Eds.),... more
http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fpl/index.html
Cuthbert, D., & Fronek, P. (2014). Perfecting adoption? Reflections on the rise of commercial offshore surrogacy and family formation in Australia. In A. Hayes & D. Higgins (Eds.), Families, policy and the law: Selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia (pp. 55-66). Melbourne, Australia: Australian Institute of Family Studies. http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fpl/index.html
Cuthbert, D., & Fronek, P. (2014). Perfecting adoption? Reflections on the rise of commercial offshore surrogacy and family formation in Australia. In A. Hayes & D. Higgins (Eds.), Families, policy and the law: Selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia (pp. 55-66). Melbourne, Australia: Australian Institute of Family Studies. http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fpl/index.html
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand, had two major earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, with thousands of aftershocks relatively close to each other. Disasters affect peoples’ lives in many ways resulting in changes to family and social... more
Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand, had two major
earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, with thousands of
aftershocks relatively close to each other. Disasters
affect peoples’ lives in many ways resulting in changes to
family and social relationships, employment, education,
and other roles in life. Often these impacts are hidden
while people struggle to cope with the immediate task of
survival and surface later, after the initial reactions have
subsided. This study uses in-depth interviews conducted
between 2018 and 2020 to explore the longer-term
impact of the earthquakes on the mental health and
wellbeing of a randomised sub-sample of 60 clients out
of the 858 who attended for counselling at the Canterbury
Charity Hospital Trust (CCHT). Self-report measures on
the 36-Item Short Form health survey (SF-36v2) and
the Demoralization Scale (DS-II) were completed to
ascertain the participants’ current social, physical, and
mental health functioning. A comparison of the CCHT SF-
36v2 scores with age-specific respondents in the New
Zealand 2006/07 national health survey showed that in
terms of mental wellbeing the participants in this study
had significantly poorer health than the national sample.
The ongoing aftershocks and secondary stressors were
also causing continual disruptions in their lives. Overall,
these findings show that many years later the participants
in this study were still recovering from the psychological
impact of the earthquakes. This indicates the need for the
development of longer-term mental health care strategies
that can be better integrated into future disaster planning.
earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, with thousands of
aftershocks relatively close to each other. Disasters
affect peoples’ lives in many ways resulting in changes to
family and social relationships, employment, education,
and other roles in life. Often these impacts are hidden
while people struggle to cope with the immediate task of
survival and surface later, after the initial reactions have
subsided. This study uses in-depth interviews conducted
between 2018 and 2020 to explore the longer-term
impact of the earthquakes on the mental health and
wellbeing of a randomised sub-sample of 60 clients out
of the 858 who attended for counselling at the Canterbury
Charity Hospital Trust (CCHT). Self-report measures on
the 36-Item Short Form health survey (SF-36v2) and
the Demoralization Scale (DS-II) were completed to
ascertain the participants’ current social, physical, and
mental health functioning. A comparison of the CCHT SF-
36v2 scores with age-specific respondents in the New
Zealand 2006/07 national health survey showed that in
terms of mental wellbeing the participants in this study
had significantly poorer health than the national sample.
The ongoing aftershocks and secondary stressors were
also causing continual disruptions in their lives. Overall,
these findings show that many years later the participants
in this study were still recovering from the psychological
impact of the earthquakes. This indicates the need for the
development of longer-term mental health care strategies
that can be better integrated into future disaster planning.
Research Interests:
Background It is widely understood that children who enter foster care are likely to have had previous traumatic experiences which can affect many aspects of their lives, including their ability to thrive at school. In order to better... more
Background
It is widely understood that children who enter foster care are likely to have had previous traumatic experiences which can affect many aspects of their lives, including their ability to thrive at school. In order to better support the educational needs of children who are fostered, deeper insight needs to be gained into the relationships between children in foster care, foster parents, and schools. As a contribution to this under-researched area, this study focuses attention on the viewpoints of foster parents in relation to their foster children’s school experiences, in a Polish context.
Purpose
This research sought to explore the perceptions of foster parents on the education of their foster children and investigate how they understood these experiences.
Methods
A qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was undertaken to analyse foster parents’ lived experiences of their foster children’s education. A purposive sample of 62 foster parents participated across seven focus groups. An in-depth, interpretive analysis was conducted.
Findings
Overall, analysis of the rich data set identified four main themes, which crossed all focus groups: Experiences of discrimination; Advocating for the child, Feelings of futility, and Connecting positively.
Conclusions
The study highlights more widely how foster parents can feel routinely excluded from their foster children’s education and suggests that feelings of discrimination may be common experiences. It also draws attention to the opportunities for meaningful connectivity between school professionals, foster parents and children. Implications for practice, which may be of use in other settings internationally, are offered.
It is widely understood that children who enter foster care are likely to have had previous traumatic experiences which can affect many aspects of their lives, including their ability to thrive at school. In order to better support the educational needs of children who are fostered, deeper insight needs to be gained into the relationships between children in foster care, foster parents, and schools. As a contribution to this under-researched area, this study focuses attention on the viewpoints of foster parents in relation to their foster children’s school experiences, in a Polish context.
Purpose
This research sought to explore the perceptions of foster parents on the education of their foster children and investigate how they understood these experiences.
Methods
A qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was undertaken to analyse foster parents’ lived experiences of their foster children’s education. A purposive sample of 62 foster parents participated across seven focus groups. An in-depth, interpretive analysis was conducted.
Findings
Overall, analysis of the rich data set identified four main themes, which crossed all focus groups: Experiences of discrimination; Advocating for the child, Feelings of futility, and Connecting positively.
Conclusions
The study highlights more widely how foster parents can feel routinely excluded from their foster children’s education and suggests that feelings of discrimination may be common experiences. It also draws attention to the opportunities for meaningful connectivity between school professionals, foster parents and children. Implications for practice, which may be of use in other settings internationally, are offered.
Research Interests:
Fathers with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities (ID) are under-represented in research. This article explores the lived childhood experiences of fathers with ID using interpretive phenomenology to understand the meanings ascribed... more
Fathers with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities (ID) are under-represented in research. This article explores the lived childhood experiences of fathers with ID using interpretive phenomenology to understand the meanings ascribed to these experiences and how this has shaped their understanding of self. Rich data was collected through in-depth interviewing of fathers in Poland. The analysis yielded thirteen constituent themes and four superordinate themes: traumatic experiences; resilience; the positive impact of significant others; and becoming a better parent. Many fathers focused on traumatic experiences associated with problematic parental practices (abuse, neglect, parental substance misuse) and discrimination in schools. Participants made meaning of adverse experiences especially resilience, strengths and a determination to be a better parent, which helped them cope with adverse situations. This study provides insights into the impact of lived childhood experiences of these fathers, which in many ways shapes their own parental practices.
Research Interests:
Intercountry adoption (ICA) is a contested practice represented by competing discourses of humanitarianism, exploitation, poverty and wealth. Multiple factors have contributed to decreasing numbers of adoption globally including... more
Intercountry adoption (ICA) is a contested practice represented by competing discourses of humanitarianism, exploitation, poverty and wealth. Multiple factors have contributed to decreasing numbers of adoption globally including documented incidents of fraud which have accumulated over the last two decades. There is little recompense for families subjected to the fraudulent removal of their children, the children, and adoptive parents who are also defrauded. This article reports on the troubled progression of fraudulent ICA, presents a case of fraud and novel restitution in Samoa and concludes that restitution pathways should also facilitate contact and reunification of children with their families.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P., Briggs, L., Rondon-Jackson, R., Hay, K., Maidment, J., & Medina-Martinez, K. (2021). Responding to COVID-19 in social work field education in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. International Social Work,... more
Fronek, P., Briggs, L., Rondon-Jackson, R., Hay, K., Maidment, J., & Medina-Martinez, K. (2021). Responding to COVID-19 in social work field education in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. International Social Work, 00208728211048934. doi:10.1177/00208728211048934
This descriptive article reports immediate responses to COVID-19 by social work field education faculty in four universities in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Moving swiftly to online innovations, tele-supervision, teaching remote practice methods, and establishing alternative placements allowed students to meet required competencies while supporting students during the immediate crisis. Collaboration between field education faculty teams, professional bodies and agencies and clear communication with students and supervisors enabled all stakeholders to be open to flexible placement options. To conclude, COVID-19 brought opportunities to reflect on responses and explore new possibilities for field education in a post-COVID-19 world.
This descriptive article reports immediate responses to COVID-19 by social work field education faculty in four universities in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Moving swiftly to online innovations, tele-supervision, teaching remote practice methods, and establishing alternative placements allowed students to meet required competencies while supporting students during the immediate crisis. Collaboration between field education faculty teams, professional bodies and agencies and clear communication with students and supervisors enabled all stakeholders to be open to flexible placement options. To conclude, COVID-19 brought opportunities to reflect on responses and explore new possibilities for field education in a post-COVID-19 world.
Research Interests:
Willing, I. Fronek, P. and Skrbiš, Z. (2020). Cosmopolitanism, Transnationalism and Racialised Belongings: A Study of Transnationally Adoptive Parents in Multicultural Australia. In J. Wills, T. Hübinette & I. Willing, Adoption and... more
Willing, I. Fronek, P. and Skrbiš, Z. (2020). Cosmopolitanism, Transnationalism and Racialised Belongings: A Study of Transnationally Adoptive Parents in Multicultural Australia. In J. Wills, T. Hübinette & I. Willing, Adoption and Multiculturalism: Europe, the Americas and the Pacific (p. 44-68). Minnesota: University of Michigan Press
Research Interests:
Fronek, P., & Briggs, L. (2020). Demoralization in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: Whereto the future for young Australians? Qualitative Social Work, . doi:10.1177/1473325020973332 COVID-19 is changing lives. Less attention has been... more
Fronek, P., & Briggs, L. (2020). Demoralization in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: Whereto the future for young Australians? Qualitative Social Work, . doi:10.1177/1473325020973332
COVID-19 is changing lives. Less attention has been paid to the future of young people by governments since the onset of the pandemic. We suggest that young people are vulnerable to demoralization, a state of hopelessness and helplessness, during and post-COVID-19. This reflection drawn from journaling and ongoing reflexive conversation from December 2019 to April 2020 offers a critical perspective on the circumstances of young Australians that encompasses consideration of the structural factors that impact on health, life chances, equality and social justice as well as the personal aspects of reflection.
COVID-19 is changing lives. Less attention has been paid to the future of young people by governments since the onset of the pandemic. We suggest that young people are vulnerable to demoralization, a state of hopelessness and helplessness, during and post-COVID-19. This reflection drawn from journaling and ongoing reflexive conversation from December 2019 to April 2020 offers a critical perspective on the circumstances of young Australians that encompasses consideration of the structural factors that impact on health, life chances, equality and social justice as well as the personal aspects of reflection.
Research Interests:
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented economic, health and social impacts as it has swept the globe. Intercountry adoption and international surrogacy are practices immediately affected, furthering vulnerabilities of children... more
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented economic, health and social impacts as it has swept the globe. Intercountry adoption and international surrogacy are practices immediately affected, furthering vulnerabilities of children and vulnerable adults. This short report calls attention to heightened risks, raises awareness for practitioners in these fields and asserts the need for caution.
Fronek, P., & Rotabi, K. S. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intercountry adoption and international commercial surrogacy. International Social Work, 0020872820940008. doi:10.1177/0020872820940008
Fronek, P., & Rotabi, K. S. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intercountry adoption and international commercial surrogacy. International Social Work, 0020872820940008. doi:10.1177/0020872820940008
Research Interests:
Harms, L., Boddy, J., Hickey, L., Hay, K., Alexander, M., Briggs, L., Cooper, L., Alston, M., Fronek, P. Howards, A., Adamson, C., & Hazeleger, T. (2020). Post-disaster social work research: A scoping review of the evidence for practice.... more
Harms, L., Boddy, J., Hickey, L., Hay, K., Alexander, M., Briggs, L., Cooper, L., Alston, M., Fronek, P. Howards, A., Adamson, C., & Hazeleger, T. (2020). Post-disaster social work research: A scoping review of the evidence for practice. International Social Work, 0020872820904135. doi:10.1177/0020872820904135
The aim of this study was to understand the extent, range and nature of social work research activity after natural disasters and to identify the implications for future research and practice. A Scoping review methodology framework was used search of three databases: Web of Science, ProQuest and Informit was conducted to identify relevant studies between 2000 and 2018. Selection of studies was based on empirical research about social work and natural disasters and/or authored by social workers. Study selection found a total of 38 relevant articles. Charting the data was conducted and the following areas of focus were summarised: (1) interventions relating to psychosocial care, aid work and community work; (2) the effects of disasters on people and mediators of these effects; (3) social work education and challenges in disaster relief; and (4) measuring mental health outcomes of people who have experienced a disaster event. This scoping review has established that there is a range of social work literature focused on natural disasters that primarily examines social work interventions, the effects of disasters and social work education. Future social work research and practice needs to focus on the types and timing of interventions that promote positive recovery following natural disasters.
The aim of this study was to understand the extent, range and nature of social work research activity after natural disasters and to identify the implications for future research and practice. A Scoping review methodology framework was used search of three databases: Web of Science, ProQuest and Informit was conducted to identify relevant studies between 2000 and 2018. Selection of studies was based on empirical research about social work and natural disasters and/or authored by social workers. Study selection found a total of 38 relevant articles. Charting the data was conducted and the following areas of focus were summarised: (1) interventions relating to psychosocial care, aid work and community work; (2) the effects of disasters on people and mediators of these effects; (3) social work education and challenges in disaster relief; and (4) measuring mental health outcomes of people who have experienced a disaster event. This scoping review has established that there is a range of social work literature focused on natural disasters that primarily examines social work interventions, the effects of disasters and social work education. Future social work research and practice needs to focus on the types and timing of interventions that promote positive recovery following natural disasters.
Research Interests:
Social Work and Disasters
Supervised student-led health clinics provide students with opportunities to develop practice skills with ?real? people by delivering clinical services to underserved communities. Clinics provide opportunities for interprofessional... more
Supervised student-led health clinics provide students with opportunities to develop practice skills with ?real? people by delivering clinical services to underserved communities. Clinics provide opportunities for interprofessional learning and the development of clinical, communication, leadership, and teamwork skills. A systematic review was reported in accordance with guidelines recommended in PRISMA to explore the perceptions and experiences of social work students within student-led health clinics. The review found very few studies either addressed the experiences of social work students specifically or reported them, and that social work students were not always included in student-led health clinics. Benefits of participation for students from a range of disciplines related to interprofessional experiences, work with marginalized communities/real world experiences, personal benefit and skill development. Of concern is the lack of research attention to the social work student experience which may point to a gap in social work education and social work?s apparent absence in some multidisciplinary student-led health clinics.
Research Interests:
Propelled by a commitment to the rights of children, Cambodia is moving forward with family-based alternative care initiatives that build on existing efforts to strengthen the child protection system. This short human rights in action... more
Propelled by a commitment to the rights of children, Cambodia is moving forward with family-based alternative care initiatives that build on existing efforts to strengthen the child protection system. This short human rights in action article take a critical approach to the translation of policy to practice and highlights risks involved with haste, outcomes measured in numbers and unrealistic timeframes, and rapidly transforming practice with nascent investment in a country’s capacity to assess and respond to the real needs of children and families within their communities. The importance of continuing collaboration between government and civil society, building workforce capacity and gatekeeping initiatives is discussed as essential to address challenges while strengthening responses to vulnerable children and families. We conclude that less haste and more capacity building are important to mitigate against risk and make eight recommendations supported by collaborations between government and civil society to strengthen the system.
Research Interests:
Fronek P. (2018) Current perspectives on the ethics of selling international surrogacy support services. Medicolegal and Bioethics 8: 11-20.... more
Fronek P. (2018) Current perspectives on the ethics of selling international surrogacy support services. Medicolegal and Bioethics 8: 11-20. https://www.dovepress.com/current-perspectives-on-the-ethics-of-selling-international-surrogacy--peer-reviewed-article-MB
This review presents current knowledge on selling surrogacy support services in developing countries. Rather than focusing on dichotomous positions, ethical issues that are present and unresolved are discussed by following the journey of surrogate mothers and highlighting the position of children whose well-being is generally assumed in surrogacy arrangements. Ethical concerns about conflicts of interest, fundamental freedoms, autonomy, informed consent, self-determination, privacy, and protecting children are shared across countries. International commercial surrogacy is predicated on profit made by service providers and intermediaries where producing a healthy, desired child for the consumer of services is the goal. As such, business models conflict with the well-being of women and children. Selling international surrogacy support services presents complex and multi-layered problems that must be understood in the context of a growing body of knowledge to ensure ethical deliberations are not based on fallacious premise or assumed propositions. International surrogacy is not a level playing field. Would-be parents and practitioners need the information and the opportunity to grapple with ethical issues when considering surrogacy arrangements, or enabling or profiting from it.
This review presents current knowledge on selling surrogacy support services in developing countries. Rather than focusing on dichotomous positions, ethical issues that are present and unresolved are discussed by following the journey of surrogate mothers and highlighting the position of children whose well-being is generally assumed in surrogacy arrangements. Ethical concerns about conflicts of interest, fundamental freedoms, autonomy, informed consent, self-determination, privacy, and protecting children are shared across countries. International commercial surrogacy is predicated on profit made by service providers and intermediaries where producing a healthy, desired child for the consumer of services is the goal. As such, business models conflict with the well-being of women and children. Selling international surrogacy support services presents complex and multi-layered problems that must be understood in the context of a growing body of knowledge to ensure ethical deliberations are not based on fallacious premise or assumed propositions. International surrogacy is not a level playing field. Would-be parents and practitioners need the information and the opportunity to grapple with ethical issues when considering surrogacy arrangements, or enabling or profiting from it.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P., & Briggs, L. (2017). Faking participant identity: Vested interests and purposeful interference. Research Ethics, 1-5. doi:10.1177/1747016117740177 Misrepresentation and mischief in the research process can impact on ethical... more
Fronek, P., & Briggs, L. (2017). Faking participant identity: Vested interests and purposeful interference. Research Ethics, 1-5. doi:10.1177/1747016117740177
Misrepresentation and mischief in the research process can impact on ethical conduct, the validity of findings and deliberately change the outcome. This short report presents a scenario about deliberate interference in adoption research by one organisation seeking accreditation to deliver adoption services. Unbeknown to the researchers, fake participants completed an online survey designed to capture the post-adoption needs of adult international adoptees living in Australia. Interference was unexpected as it was naively assumed that all stakeholders involved in adoption would be concerned with meeting post-adoption needs. A definition of politically motivated fake participants, implications for the research process, predicting such interference and strategies to address the problem are discussed.
Misrepresentation and mischief in the research process can impact on ethical conduct, the validity of findings and deliberately change the outcome. This short report presents a scenario about deliberate interference in adoption research by one organisation seeking accreditation to deliver adoption services. Unbeknown to the researchers, fake participants completed an online survey designed to capture the post-adoption needs of adult international adoptees living in Australia. Interference was unexpected as it was naively assumed that all stakeholders involved in adoption would be concerned with meeting post-adoption needs. A definition of politically motivated fake participants, implications for the research process, predicting such interference and strategies to address the problem are discussed.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P., & Kendall, M. B. (2016). The impact of Professional Boundaries for Health Professionals (PBHP) training on knowledge, comfort, experience, and ethical decision-making: a longitudinal randomized controlled trial. Disability and... more
Fronek, P., & Kendall, M. B. (2016). The impact of Professional Boundaries for Health Professionals (PBHP) training on knowledge, comfort, experience, and ethical decision-making: a longitudinal randomized controlled trial. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-8. doi:10.1080/09638288.2016.1236152
Purpose: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of Professional Boundaries for Health Professionals (PBHP) training program on the knowledge, comfort, experience, and ethical decision-making of multidisciplinary practitioners facing client?practitioner boundary dilemmas.Methods: In all, 36 rehabilitation practitioners from an Australian state-wide spinal cord injuries service were assigned to experimental and control groups. The Boundaries in Practice (BIP) Scale measured outcomes at four points: pre, post, 3 months, and 1 year. The control group received the training after 3 months. Nonparametric Friedman?s two-way analysis of variance was used to examine the trajectories over time.Results: Analysis was conducted using the data of 10 experimental and 13 control group participants who responded at four data collection points. The experimental group showed significant improvement in knowledge (?2?=?10.673, p?=?0.014) and comfort (?2?=?9.727, p?=?0.021) managing professional boundaries post-training. The control group showed no significant change in knowledge or comfort. No significant change was seen in experience across either experimental (?2?=?3.609, p?=?0.307) or control group (?2?=?7.800, p?=?0.050). Ethical decision-making improved in the control group (?2?=?13.188, p?=?0.004) following training, however remained unchanged in the experimental group.Conclusions: The findings do not definitively support this training approach. Ethical decision-making may improve more substantially within the practice context and organizational culture change. Multifaceted approaches are indicated.Implications for RehabilitationEthical dilemmas related to boundaries between clients and practitioners are a frequent occurrence in the rehabilitation setting.In a relatively small sample, the current randomized trial provided inconclusive evidence on the benefit of a 1-day needs-oriented training program to improve knowledge, comfort, and ethical decision-making.Randomized trials of education and training for rehabilitation practitioners are fraught with challenges in the clinical environment of the rehabilitation setting.Multifaceted training approaches, management support and training as well as changes to policy and organizational context in the rehabilitation setting may be needed to more holistically address the issues surrounding professional boundaries in the rehabilitation setting.
Purpose: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of Professional Boundaries for Health Professionals (PBHP) training program on the knowledge, comfort, experience, and ethical decision-making of multidisciplinary practitioners facing client?practitioner boundary dilemmas.Methods: In all, 36 rehabilitation practitioners from an Australian state-wide spinal cord injuries service were assigned to experimental and control groups. The Boundaries in Practice (BIP) Scale measured outcomes at four points: pre, post, 3 months, and 1 year. The control group received the training after 3 months. Nonparametric Friedman?s two-way analysis of variance was used to examine the trajectories over time.Results: Analysis was conducted using the data of 10 experimental and 13 control group participants who responded at four data collection points. The experimental group showed significant improvement in knowledge (?2?=?10.673, p?=?0.014) and comfort (?2?=?9.727, p?=?0.021) managing professional boundaries post-training. The control group showed no significant change in knowledge or comfort. No significant change was seen in experience across either experimental (?2?=?3.609, p?=?0.307) or control group (?2?=?7.800, p?=?0.050). Ethical decision-making improved in the control group (?2?=?13.188, p?=?0.004) following training, however remained unchanged in the experimental group.Conclusions: The findings do not definitively support this training approach. Ethical decision-making may improve more substantially within the practice context and organizational culture change. Multifaceted approaches are indicated.Implications for RehabilitationEthical dilemmas related to boundaries between clients and practitioners are a frequent occurrence in the rehabilitation setting.In a relatively small sample, the current randomized trial provided inconclusive evidence on the benefit of a 1-day needs-oriented training program to improve knowledge, comfort, and ethical decision-making.Randomized trials of education and training for rehabilitation practitioners are fraught with challenges in the clinical environment of the rehabilitation setting.Multifaceted training approaches, management support and training as well as changes to policy and organizational context in the rehabilitation setting may be needed to more holistically address the issues surrounding professional boundaries in the rehabilitation setting.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P., Tilbury, C., & Osmond, J. (2015). Past and present wrongs in Australian out-of-home care: Establishing standards. Australian Journal of Adoption, 8(2), 0-20. Retrieved from... more
Fronek, P., Tilbury, C., & Osmond, J. (2015). Past and present wrongs in Australian out-of-home care: Establishing standards. Australian Journal of Adoption, 8(2), 0-20. Retrieved from http://www.nla.gov.au/openpublish/index.php/aja/article/view/4097
Three Australian apologies have been made for past practices in out-of-home care and adoption that perpetuated a series of rights violations and false assurances. Commitments to not repeating past practices that caused profound and long-term, negative effects on the wellbeing of children and adults were given. Regarding these wrongs as past, ignores the reality that history does repeat when there is a failure to remain cognizant of them. In this paper, the basis of these apologies and current practices are discussed and standards for assessing the extent to which past wrongs are present in contemporary child protection systems are proposed.
Three Australian apologies have been made for past practices in out-of-home care and adoption that perpetuated a series of rights violations and false assurances. Commitments to not repeating past practices that caused profound and long-term, negative effects on the wellbeing of children and adults were given. Regarding these wrongs as past, ignores the reality that history does repeat when there is a failure to remain cognizant of them. In this paper, the basis of these apologies and current practices are discussed and standards for assessing the extent to which past wrongs are present in contemporary child protection systems are proposed.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (2015). An update on surrogacy from Australia's roundtables. National Bulletin, 25(2), 18-19.
Research Interests:
Social Work and Surrogacy
http://isw.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/03/23/0020872814564706.abstract Rotabi, K. S., Bromfield, N. F., & Fronek, P. (2015). International private law to regulate commercial global surrogacy practices: Just what are social work’s... more
http://isw.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/03/23/0020872814564706.abstract
Rotabi, K. S., Bromfield, N. F., & Fronek, P. (2015). International private law to regulate commercial global surrogacy practices: Just what are social work’s practical policy recommendations? International Social Work. doi: 10.1177/0020872814564706
Rotabi, K. S., Bromfield, N. F., & Fronek, P. (2015). International private law to regulate commercial global surrogacy practices: Just what are social work’s practical policy recommendations? International Social Work. doi: 10.1177/0020872814564706
Research Interests:
http://socialwork.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.001.0001/acrefore-9780199975839-e-1165?rskey=5kAMqG&result=1 Australian research on intercountry adoption in Australia is reported with particular reference to social... more
http://socialwork.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.001.0001/acrefore-9780199975839-e-1165?rskey=5kAMqG&result=1
Australian research on intercountry adoption in Australia is reported with particular reference to social work, divergent and competing interests of various stakeholders, and the highly political and contested nature of its practice in Australia. The practice of intercountry adoption in Australia is examined from its diffusion into Australia in the 1970s to contemporary times. Government approved Australian intercountry adoption programs began operation in the 1970s and although always small in number, the recent decline is consistent with global trends. Intercountry adoption in Australia is regulated by state and federal governments and social workers are integral to its practice. Controversies surrounding intercountry adoption in Australia have historically been linked to pressure from lobbyists and the support of some politicians. In 2014, Australia was at a crucial juncture with changes to how intercountry adoption is structured under review by the federal government.
Australian research on intercountry adoption in Australia is reported with particular reference to social work, divergent and competing interests of various stakeholders, and the highly political and contested nature of its practice in Australia. The practice of intercountry adoption in Australia is examined from its diffusion into Australia in the 1970s to contemporary times. Government approved Australian intercountry adoption programs began operation in the 1970s and although always small in number, the recent decline is consistent with global trends. Intercountry adoption in Australia is regulated by state and federal governments and social workers are integral to its practice. Controversies surrounding intercountry adoption in Australia have historically been linked to pressure from lobbyists and the support of some politicians. In 2014, Australia was at a crucial juncture with changes to how intercountry adoption is structured under review by the federal government.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P., Crawshaw, M., Blyth, E., & Elvin, A. (2014). International surrogacy: A report from the roundtable. National Bulletin (Australian Association of Social Workers), Winter, 30-31. - Forthcoming
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (2014). The Australian welfare state: Who benefits now? [Book review]. Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education, 16(1), 100-102.
Research Interests:
http://www.basw.co.uk/resource/?id=3176 Crawshaw, M., Fronek, P., Blyth, E., & Elvin, A. (2014). What are children's 'best interests' in international surrogacy. Professional Social Work. British Association of Social Workers.
Research Interests:
http://bjsw.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/2/737.abstract Biomedicine, bioethics and the law dominate policy and practice in controversial methods of creating families through assisted reproductive technologies including cross-border... more
http://bjsw.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/2/737.abstract
Biomedicine, bioethics and the law dominate policy and practice in controversial methods of creating families through assisted reproductive technologies including cross-border reproductive care and surrogacy. This commentary discusses the ascendancy of ‘the right-to-parent’ lobby in global free markets where individualism, neo-liberal and neo-feminist perspectives, consumerism and porous state borders thrive and legislative frameworks only regulate risky practices well after they are established. It argues the need for social work to be a critical voice in ethical debates, a key contributor to national and international social policy and practice, and a leader in global child welfare matters.
Biomedicine, bioethics and the law dominate policy and practice in controversial methods of creating families through assisted reproductive technologies including cross-border reproductive care and surrogacy. This commentary discusses the ascendancy of ‘the right-to-parent’ lobby in global free markets where individualism, neo-liberal and neo-feminist perspectives, consumerism and porous state borders thrive and legislative frameworks only regulate risky practices well after they are established. It argues the need for social work to be a critical voice in ethical debates, a key contributor to national and international social policy and practice, and a leader in global child welfare matters.
Research Interests:
(Available via Informit data base - http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=697192441582945;res=IELHSS) A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific... more
(Available via Informit data base - http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=697192441582945;res=IELHSS)
A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific leadership courses are not commonly included in Australian social work curriculums. It is argued that there is a difference between ‘teaching’ leadership and ‘teaching about’ leadership. Using a critically reflective approach to social work leadership assists students to develop a professional identity that includes future possibilities for leadership in a way that is personally meaningful. This paper reflects on leadership from the perspectives of social work students and educators. A thematic analysis conducted on student reflections completed over one semester and teacher reflections on the findings are presented. A postmodern narrative approach informed the analysis from which three themes, self-transformation, caring for self, and value-based leadership, are discussed. The paper concludes that a critically reflective approach to leadership education in the human services is important to the integration of theoretical knowledge, skill development and individualised contexts.
A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific leadership courses are not commonly included in Australian social work curriculums. It is argued that there is a difference between ‘teaching’ leadership and ‘teaching about’ leadership. Using a critically reflective approach to social work leadership assists students to develop a professional identity that includes future possibilities for leadership in a way that is personally meaningful. This paper reflects on leadership from the perspectives of social work students and educators. A thematic analysis conducted on student reflections completed over one semester and teacher reflections on the findings are presented. A postmodern narrative approach informed the analysis from which three themes, self-transformation, caring for self, and value-based leadership, are discussed. The paper concludes that a critically reflective approach to leadership education in the human services is important to the integration of theoretical knowledge, skill development and individualised contexts.
Research Interests:
"2012 marked historic events in the practice of adoption in Australia. Government focus was on the formulation of apologies to those people affected by past forced adoption practices. A critical reflection on these and other Australian... more
"2012 marked historic events in the practice of adoption in Australia. Government focus was on the formulation of apologies to those people affected by past forced adoption
practices. A critical reflection on these and other Australian apologies, highlight assumptions that differentiate past domestic adoption practices from past and contemporary practice in intercountry adoption. The importance of social work, founded
in the values of social justice and human rights, to ensuring the same practice standards apply to all people who give birth to children regardless of where they live is highlighted.
Expanding knowledge on intercountry adoption indicates that Australia should prepare for another apology.
"
practices. A critical reflection on these and other Australian apologies, highlight assumptions that differentiate past domestic adoption practices from past and contemporary practice in intercountry adoption. The importance of social work, founded
in the values of social justice and human rights, to ensuring the same practice standards apply to all people who give birth to children regardless of where they live is highlighted.
Expanding knowledge on intercountry adoption indicates that Australia should prepare for another apology.
"
Research Interests:
The Vietnam War played a significant role in the institutionalisation of intercountry adoption (ICA) in Australia. The fall of Saigon provided the leverage needed for proponents of ICA to engage the governments of western countries in... more
The Vietnam War played a significant role in the institutionalisation of intercountry adoption (ICA) in Australia. The fall of Saigon provided the leverage needed for proponents of ICA to engage the governments of western countries in ensuring previously arranged adoptions were completed. The humanitarian discourse that surrounded the airlift of children from Saigon, Operation Babylift, precipitated private and government sponsored mass evacuation of orphans, who were adopted despite the lack of substantive evidence of their orphan status with no attempts at supported reunification. Though adoption from Vietnam to Australia was short-lived it opened the doors for other government sanctioned adoption programs within two years.
Research Interests:
Transnational adoption requires adoptive parents to negotiate complexities concerning difference and belonging within the family. Transnational adoption is mediated through societal and governmental prescriptions of suitability that... more
Transnational adoption requires adoptive parents to negotiate complexities concerning
difference and belonging within the family. Transnational adoption is mediated
through societal and governmental prescriptions of suitability that include willingness
and competency to raise children to maintain connections to their birth heritages. Tensions
in the formation of parental identities are located in different racial, ethnic, cultural
and class-based backgrounds to the children they adopt. This contrasts against
dominant models of family where constructions of belonging are based on biological
ties. A qualitative study of thirty-five Australian adoptive parents explored reflections
on adoption processes and how the complex task of performing suitability was negotiated.
Theoretical understandings were developed using a grounded theory approach.
Contemporary social theory with a focus on race, cosmopolitanism and families further
developed emergent theoretical understandings during analysis. Tensions in identity
formation are discussed. The paper concludes that issues of race in identity formation
are marginalised.
difference and belonging within the family. Transnational adoption is mediated
through societal and governmental prescriptions of suitability that include willingness
and competency to raise children to maintain connections to their birth heritages. Tensions
in the formation of parental identities are located in different racial, ethnic, cultural
and class-based backgrounds to the children they adopt. This contrasts against
dominant models of family where constructions of belonging are based on biological
ties. A qualitative study of thirty-five Australian adoptive parents explored reflections
on adoption processes and how the complex task of performing suitability was negotiated.
Theoretical understandings were developed using a grounded theory approach.
Contemporary social theory with a focus on race, cosmopolitanism and families further
developed emergent theoretical understandings during analysis. Tensions in identity
formation are discussed. The paper concludes that issues of race in identity formation
are marginalised.
Research Interests:
The only existing international framework for inter-country adoption (ICA) is a legal one. Current legal and welfare approaches have limitations in that ICA tends to be conceptualised in individualistic terms, while strategies that... more
The only existing international framework for inter-country adoption (ICA) is a legal one. Current legal and welfare approaches have limitations in that ICA tends to be conceptualised in individualistic terms, while strategies that prevent ICA by strengthening communities and addressing structural inequalities in the first instance are neglected and divorced from ICA practice. A vision and an overarching framework based on a socioecological approach that informs other arenas, such as health promotion, are proposed. The article concludes that the development of collaborative, intersectoral approaches, the reorientation of public and private resources and international leadership from academics, legislators, policy makers, practitioners and communities are necessary for a paradigm shift for this century.
Research Interests:
Available via Informit data base - http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=697192441582945;res=IELHSS """A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific... more
Available via Informit data base - http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=697192441582945;res=IELHSS
"""A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific leadership courses are not commonly included in Australian social work curriculums. It is argued that there is a difference between ‘teaching’ leadership and ‘teaching about’ leadership. Using a critically reflective approach to social work leadership assists students to develop a professional identity that includes future possibilities for leadership in a way that is personally meaningful. This paper reflects on leadership from the perspectives of social work students and educators. A thematic analysis conducted on student reflections completed over one semester and teacher reflections on the findings are presented. A postmodern narrative approach informed the analysis from which three themes, self-transformation, caring for self, and value-based leadership, are discussed. The paper concludes that a critically reflective approach to leadership education in the human services is important to the integration of theoretical knowledge, skill development and individualised contexts.
Reflection. Education. Social Work. Leadership"""
"""A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific leadership courses are not commonly included in Australian social work curriculums. It is argued that there is a difference between ‘teaching’ leadership and ‘teaching about’ leadership. Using a critically reflective approach to social work leadership assists students to develop a professional identity that includes future possibilities for leadership in a way that is personally meaningful. This paper reflects on leadership from the perspectives of social work students and educators. A thematic analysis conducted on student reflections completed over one semester and teacher reflections on the findings are presented. A postmodern narrative approach informed the analysis from which three themes, self-transformation, caring for self, and value-based leadership, are discussed. The paper concludes that a critically reflective approach to leadership education in the human services is important to the integration of theoretical knowledge, skill development and individualised contexts.
Reflection. Education. Social Work. Leadership"""
Research Interests:
Discipline specific and multidisciplinary training programs have been developed to provide practitioners working in health and disability fields with various combinations of knowledge, skills, attitudes and practitioner comfort important... more
Discipline specific and multidisciplinary training programs have been developed to provide practitioners working in health and disability fields with various combinations of knowledge, skills, attitudes and practitioner comfort important for such discussions. There is little, however, which demonstrates the long term effectiveness of such training programs. The current study is a 2-year follow-up to a randomized controlled trial that examined the effectiveness of a sexuality training program for rehabilitation practitioners working within spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Using both questionnaire based and qualitative data, findings suggest that training can have long-lasting effects on practitioner knowledge, comfort and attitudes in addressing sexuality issues with clients. Training that is developed around the individualized needs of practitioners and the settings within which they work may be particularly effective. Future research is needed to explore the applicability of this type of training to other rehabilitation and healthcare settings.
Spinal cord injury. Education. Interprofessional. Sex.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/r548832260j26306/
Spinal cord injury. Education. Interprofessional. Sex.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/r548832260j26306/
Research Interests:
Korean-Australian intercountry adoption has been practiced for 30 years. This longevity provides unique opportunities to develop critical perspectives on a complex, global practice. This paper presents understandings drawn from a study... more
Korean-Australian intercountry adoption has been practiced for 30 years. This longevity provides unique opportunities to develop critical perspectives on a complex, global practice. This paper presents understandings drawn from a study that explores Korean intercountry adoption using Actor Network Theory. It argues that the practice of intercountry adoption in Australia has been shaped by adoption-driven influences and characterised by controversy and competing discourses. It concludes that contemporary understandings necessitate a global, contextual, and critical view that is inclusive of emerging voices and alternate discourses. The challenge for practitioners and policy makers is to ensure the complex nature of the phenomenon is understood by all stakeholders. This will involve remaining child-focused, promoting multilevel interventions, incorporating research findings, and resisting wholly positive discourse that promotes singular perspectives. An awareness of how the internet is used to forge networks and promote discourses is crucial in ensuring multiple perspectives are considered in this contentious practice field.
Research Interests:
Boundary violations that threaten professional-client relationships are rarely discussed at the coalface. There is an assumption that healthcare practitioners have the skills necessary to manage professional boundary dilemmas with... more
Boundary violations that threaten professional-client relationships are rarely discussed at the coalface. There is an assumption that healthcare practitioners have the skills necessary to manage professional boundary dilemmas with clients. The issue, if addressed, is usually confined to discipline specific education and training. A one-day Professional Boundaries for Health Professionals (PBHP) training program was developed in response to real life practice dilemmas experienced by health practitioners across the continuum of care. The program was delivered to 109 participants throughout the state of Queensland, Australia, from government and non-government organizations. Participants were doctors, nurses, allied health (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists, dietitians, speech therapists), therapy assistants and personal care staff from a diverse range of hospital and community settings. Evaluations of PBHP suggest that the interprofessional learning context was valued with specific advantages identified in the use of adult learning approaches, the teaching of ethical decision making principles, the value of supervision and peer support and the opportunities provided for critical reflection. The effectiveness of training for healthcare practitioners in this area is discussed as a meaningful way of developing skills and engendering collaborative relationships between professional (e.g., occupational therapist, social worker) and paraprofessional (e.g., therapy assistant, personal care worker) groups. A combination of intensive training in professional boundaries and opportunities for ongoing professional development are important for all health practitioners.
Professional Boundaries, training, interprofessional, rehabilitation
Professional Boundaries, training, interprofessional, rehabilitation
Research Interests:
Mackay-Sim, A., Féron, F., Cochrane, J., Bassingthwaighte, L., Bayliss, C., Davies, W., Fronek, P., Gray, C., Kerr, G., Licina, P., Nowitzke, A., Perry, C., Silburn, P.A.S., Urquhart, S. & Geraghty, T. (2008). Autologous olfactory... more
Mackay-Sim, A., Féron, F., Cochrane, J., Bassingthwaighte, L., Bayliss, C., Davies, W., Fronek, P., Gray, C., Kerr, G., Licina, P., Nowitzke, A., Perry, C., Silburn, P.A.S., Urquhart, S. & Geraghty, T. (2008). Autologous olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation in human paraplegia: A 3 year clinical trial. Brain, 131: 2376-86 .doi: 10.1093/brain/awn173.
Olfactory ensheathing cells show promise in preclinical animal models as a cell transplantation therapy for repair of the injured spinal cord. This is a report of a clinical trial of autologous transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells into the spinal cord in six patients with complete, thoracic paraplegia. We previously reported on the methods of surgery and transplantation and the safety aspects of the trial 1 year after transplantation. Here we address the overall design of the trial and the safety of the procedure, assessed during a period of 3 years following the transplantation surgery. All patients were assessed at entry into the trial and regularly during the period of the trial. Clinical assessments included medical, psychosocial, radiological and neurological, as well as specialized tests of neurological and functional deficits (standard American Spinal Injury Association and Functional Independence Measure assessments). Quantitative test included neurophysiological tests of sensory and motor function below the level of injury. The trial was a Phase I/IIa design whose main aim was to test the feasibility and safety of transplantation of autologous olfactory ensheathing cells into the injured spinal cord in human paraplegia. The design included a control group who did not receive surgery, otherwise closely matched to the transplant recipient group. This group acted as a control for the assessors, who were blind to the treatment status of the patients. The control group also provided the opportunity for preliminary assessment of the efficacy of the transplantation. There were no adverse findings 3 years after autologous transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells into spinal cords injured at least 2 years prior to transplantation. The magnetic resonance images (MRIs) at 3 years showed no change from preoperative MRIs or intervening MRIs at 1 and 2 years, with no evidence of any tumour of introduced cells and no development of post-traumatic syringomyelia or other adverse radiological findings. There were no significant functional changes in any patients and no neuropathic pain. In one transplant recipient, there was an improvement over 3 segments in light touch and pin prick sensitivity bilaterally, anteriorly and posteriorly. We conclude that transplantation of autologous olfactory ensheathing cells into the injured spinal cord is feasible and is safe up to 3 years of post-implantation...
Olfactory ensheathing cells show promise in preclinical animal models as a cell transplantation therapy for repair of the injured spinal cord. This is a report of a clinical trial of autologous transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells into the spinal cord in six patients with complete, thoracic paraplegia. We previously reported on the methods of surgery and transplantation and the safety aspects of the trial 1 year after transplantation. Here we address the overall design of the trial and the safety of the procedure, assessed during a period of 3 years following the transplantation surgery. All patients were assessed at entry into the trial and regularly during the period of the trial. Clinical assessments included medical, psychosocial, radiological and neurological, as well as specialized tests of neurological and functional deficits (standard American Spinal Injury Association and Functional Independence Measure assessments). Quantitative test included neurophysiological tests of sensory and motor function below the level of injury. The trial was a Phase I/IIa design whose main aim was to test the feasibility and safety of transplantation of autologous olfactory ensheathing cells into the injured spinal cord in human paraplegia. The design included a control group who did not receive surgery, otherwise closely matched to the transplant recipient group. This group acted as a control for the assessors, who were blind to the treatment status of the patients. The control group also provided the opportunity for preliminary assessment of the efficacy of the transplantation. There were no adverse findings 3 years after autologous transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells into spinal cords injured at least 2 years prior to transplantation. The magnetic resonance images (MRIs) at 3 years showed no change from preoperative MRIs or intervening MRIs at 1 and 2 years, with no evidence of any tumour of introduced cells and no development of post-traumatic syringomyelia or other adverse radiological findings. There were no significant functional changes in any patients and no neuropathic pain. In one transplant recipient, there was an improvement over 3 segments in light touch and pin prick sensitivity bilaterally, anteriorly and posteriorly. We conclude that transplantation of autologous olfactory ensheathing cells into the injured spinal cord is feasible and is safe up to 3 years of post-implantation...
Research Interests:
The family conference is a common occurrence in many medical and community settings, yet there is limited literature concerning its practice particularly in relation to rehabilitation. The function and process of conferences are often... more
The family conference is a common occurrence in many medical and community settings, yet there is limited literature concerning its practice particularly in relation to rehabilitation. The function and process of conferences are often based on practice wisdom and tradition and are informed by the particular medical condition or disability the conference attempts to address. There are mixed reports concerning the level of participation and satisfaction of participants, that is, the client, family members and professionals, in conferences, and few related to the capacity of conferences to meet intended goals. The purpose of this paper is to review the current literature concerning family conferences and discuss its application to one practice setting. In one spinal injuries unit, a quality review that drew on available evidence concerning the purpose and functions of family conferences has prompted a number of practice improvements in two stages. Most recently the “family conference” has been renamed “RAP” (Rehabilitation and Planning) Conference that more properly reflects its purpose and functions. Preparatory and education strategies have been developed for participating professionals and improved client preparation has been supported through the provision of complementary information provision methods.
Rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, family conference
Rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, family conference
Research Interests:
Social workers and psychologists can play an important role within the wider interdisciplinary team by ensuring contemporary research findings are translated into daily practice. Despite shifts in knowledge found in contemporary... more
Social workers and psychologists can play an important role within the wider interdisciplinary team by ensuring contemporary research findings are translated into daily practice. Despite shifts in knowledge found in contemporary literature, new understandings are not always translated into daily practice. Health care professionals tend to anticipate more negative consequences of psychosocial adjustment to SCI than is necessarily experienced by individuals themselves. This has implications for effective clinical interventions. This practice issues paper aims to present current research finding which debunk seemingly persistent myths surrounding adjustment to SCI, and to consider strategies for bridging the research/practice divide.
Adjustment, spinal cord injury, practice
Adjustment, spinal cord injury, practice
Research Interests:
Policy and social work practice currently lack a theoretical framework that adequately explains the emergence, diffusion and continuance of the intercountry adoption (ICA) phenomenon. Using South Korea as a case study and the application... more
Policy and social work practice currently lack a theoretical framework that adequately explains the emergence, diffusion and continuance of the intercountry adoption (ICA) phenomenon. Using South Korea as a case study and the application of actor network theory to the ICA phenomenon, this paper introduces a theoretical approach that allows an examination of the complex interrelationships between the global and local influences of a country's engagement in ICA. This theoretical approach provides a different way of understanding the phenomenon, which, in turn, can better inform policies and practice that affect children and families across the globe.
http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/handle/10072/53991
intercountry adoption, transnational adoption
http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/handle/10072/53991
intercountry adoption, transnational adoption
Research Interests:
While there is evidence to support consideration of client sexuality needs in the provision of rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the interdisciplinary team rarely receives training in this area. The current... more
While there is evidence to support consideration of client sexuality needs in the provision of rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the interdisciplinary team rarely receives training in this area. The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a consumer-driven sexuality training program in improving staff knowledge, comfort (general and personal) and attitudes. Using a local needs assessment to identify training needs and the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions and Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model as a training framework, a sexuality training program was developed in one Australian SCI service. A randomized controlled trial was conducted and significant improvement was found in all domains for the treatment group – Knowledge(χ2 = 46.141, p < 0.001),Comfort (χ2 = 23.338, p < 0.001), Approach(χ2 = 23.925, p < 0.001) and Attitude (χ2 = 15.235, p < 0.001) compared to the control group. Changes were found to be maintained at three month follow-up – Knowledge (Z = −5.116, p < 0.001), Comfort (Z = −3.953, p < 0.001), Approach (Z = −4.103, p < 0.001) and Attitudes (Z = −2.655, p < 0.001). These results support the use of an individualized needs-based sexuality training program in fostering staff knowledge, comfort and attitudinal change in an interdisciplinary SCI rehabilitation service.
Rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, interprofessional, training, sex
Rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, interprofessional, training, sex
Research Interests:
A lot has happened in the world since December 2019 and there is still a long way to go. Although the science has been rapid and responsive, there is still much to understand about COVID-19. Pandemic conditions have elicited the best and... more
A lot has happened in the world since December 2019 and there is still a long way to go. Although the science has been rapid and responsive, there is still much to understand about COVID-19. Pandemic conditions have elicited the best and worst of human behaviour while throwing a spotlight on inadequate governance, greed, inequality and inequities. The next pandemic is not far away and so we need to learn from COVID-19. This chapter brings us June 2021 with key events and the current state of global affairs and looks to the future and the lessons we need to remember.
Research Interests:
This chapter looks to social work, the future and the next pandemic. Just as COVID-19 was not the only health emergency this century, the next one will follow, perhaps sooner than we expect given the neglect of the planet and worsening... more
This chapter looks to social work, the future and the next pandemic. Just as COVID-19 was not the only health emergency this century, the next one will follow, perhaps sooner than we expect given the neglect of the planet and worsening ecological and social conditions globally. Social workers must learn lessons from this and past pandemics and recognise the expertise we offer. This chapter addresses preparedness and response at multiple levels, social work’s expertise, capacities for self-examination and, importantly, leadership that will take us into the future.
Research Interests:
This is the first comprehensive book that provides accessible, international knowledge for practitioners, students and academics about social work in health emergencies and spans fields of practice across world regions with particular... more
This is the first comprehensive book that provides accessible, international knowledge for practitioners, students and academics about social work in health emergencies and spans fields of practice across world regions with particular reference to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Divided into three sections:
• Regional, Historical and Social Work Perspectives takes a journey through world regions during the first six months of the pandemic as it unfolded, explores the lessons found in the history of pandemics and situates public health social work practice in the values of the profession. Situating the diversity of challenges and opportunities in context, in turn, influences current and future social work practice.
• Social Work Practice, Issues and Responses explores social work practice innovations and responses across eleven key practice fields. International authors feature social work responses during the COVID-19 health emergency from different regions of the world.
• Preparing for the Future analyses broader concepts, innovations and the implications for future practices as social work enters a new era of service delivery. The 20 chapters explore the convergence of pandemic, politics and planet which is critiqued within a framework of the profession’s ethics and values of human dignity, human rights and social justice. Social work’s place in public health is firmly situated and built on the premise that the value social work brings to the table deserves recognition and should be documented to inform the development of the profession and future practice and how social work must carry lessons forward to prepare for the next pandemic.
PLUS 2 bonus chapters from eminent scientists
The book is relevant to a wide range of audiences, including practitioners, educators and students in social work, human services, international development and public health, as well as policy makers and researchers.
Divided into three sections:
• Regional, Historical and Social Work Perspectives takes a journey through world regions during the first six months of the pandemic as it unfolded, explores the lessons found in the history of pandemics and situates public health social work practice in the values of the profession. Situating the diversity of challenges and opportunities in context, in turn, influences current and future social work practice.
• Social Work Practice, Issues and Responses explores social work practice innovations and responses across eleven key practice fields. International authors feature social work responses during the COVID-19 health emergency from different regions of the world.
• Preparing for the Future analyses broader concepts, innovations and the implications for future practices as social work enters a new era of service delivery. The 20 chapters explore the convergence of pandemic, politics and planet which is critiqued within a framework of the profession’s ethics and values of human dignity, human rights and social justice. Social work’s place in public health is firmly situated and built on the premise that the value social work brings to the table deserves recognition and should be documented to inform the development of the profession and future practice and how social work must carry lessons forward to prepare for the next pandemic.
PLUS 2 bonus chapters from eminent scientists
The book is relevant to a wide range of audiences, including practitioners, educators and students in social work, human services, international development and public health, as well as policy makers and researchers.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P., & Rotabi, K. S. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intercountry adoption and international commercial surrogacy. International Social Work, 63(5), 665-670. doi:10.1177/0020872820940008 The COVID-19 pandemic has... more
Fronek, P., & Rotabi, K. S. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intercountry adoption and international commercial surrogacy. International Social Work, 63(5), 665-670. doi:10.1177/0020872820940008
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented economic, health and social impacts as it has swept the globe. Intercountry adoption and international surrogacy are practices immediately affected, furthering vulnerabilities of children and vulnerable adults. This short report calls attention to heightened risks, raises awareness for practitioners in these fields and asserts the need for caution.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented economic, health and social impacts as it has swept the globe. Intercountry adoption and international surrogacy are practices immediately affected, furthering vulnerabilities of children and vulnerable adults. This short report calls attention to heightened risks, raises awareness for practitioners in these fields and asserts the need for caution.
Research Interests:
Harms, L., Boddy, J., Hickey, L., Hay, K., Alexander, M., Briggs, L., . . . Hazeleger, T. (2020). Post-disaster social work research: A scoping review of the evidence for practice. International Social Work, 0020872820904135.... more
Harms, L., Boddy, J., Hickey, L., Hay, K., Alexander, M., Briggs, L., . . . Hazeleger, T. (2020). Post-disaster social work research: A scoping review of the evidence for practice. International Social Work, 0020872820904135. doi:10.1177/0020872820904135
The aim of this study was to understand the extent, range and nature of social work research activity after natural disasters and to identify the implications for future research and practice. A Scoping review methodology framework was used search of three databases: Web of Science, ProQuest and Informit was conducted to identify relevant studies between 2000 and 2018. Selection of studies was based on empirical research about social work and natural disasters and/or authored by social workers. Study selection found a total of 38 relevant articles. Charting the data was conducted and the following areas of focus were summarised: (1) interventions relating to psychosocial care, aid work and community work; (2) the effects of disasters on people and mediators of these effects; (3) social work education and challenges in disaster relief; and (4) measuring mental health outcomes of people who have experienced a disaster event. This scoping review has established that there is a range of social work literature focused on natural disasters that primarily examines social work interventions, the effects of disasters and social work education. Future social work research and practice needs to focus on the types and timing of interventions that promote positive recovery following natural disasters.
The aim of this study was to understand the extent, range and nature of social work research activity after natural disasters and to identify the implications for future research and practice. A Scoping review methodology framework was used search of three databases: Web of Science, ProQuest and Informit was conducted to identify relevant studies between 2000 and 2018. Selection of studies was based on empirical research about social work and natural disasters and/or authored by social workers. Study selection found a total of 38 relevant articles. Charting the data was conducted and the following areas of focus were summarised: (1) interventions relating to psychosocial care, aid work and community work; (2) the effects of disasters on people and mediators of these effects; (3) social work education and challenges in disaster relief; and (4) measuring mental health outcomes of people who have experienced a disaster event. This scoping review has established that there is a range of social work literature focused on natural disasters that primarily examines social work interventions, the effects of disasters and social work education. Future social work research and practice needs to focus on the types and timing of interventions that promote positive recovery following natural disasters.
Research Interests:
Gustafsson, R., & Fronek, P. (2021). Intercountry Adoption and Suicide in Australia: A Scoping Review. Department of Social Services (DSS).... more
Gustafsson, R., & Fronek, P. (2021). Intercountry Adoption and Suicide in Australia: A Scoping Review. Department of Social Services (DSS). https://www.dss.gov.au/families-and-children-programs-services-intercountry-adoption/intercountry-adoption-and-suicide-in-australia-a-scoping-review
Research Interests:
Intercountry adoption (ICA) is a contested practice represented by competing discourses of humanitarianism, exploitation, poverty and wealth. Multiple factors have contributed to decreasing numbers of adoption globally including... more
Intercountry adoption (ICA) is a contested practice represented by competing discourses of humanitarianism, exploitation, poverty and wealth. Multiple factors have contributed to decreasing numbers of adoption globally including documented incidents of fraud which have accumulated over the last two decades. There is little recompense for families subjected to the fraudulent removal of their children, the children, and adoptive parents who are also defrauded. This article reports on the troubled progression of fraudulent ICA, presents a case of fraud and novel restitution in Samoa and concludes that restitution pathways should also facilitate contact and reunification of children with their families.
Research Interests:
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented economic, health and social impacts as it has swept the globe. Intercountry adoption and international surrogacy are practices immediately affected, furthering vulnerabilities of children... more
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented economic, health and social impacts as it has swept the globe. Intercountry adoption and international surrogacy are practices immediately affected, furthering vulnerabilities of children and vulnerable adults. This short report calls attention to heightened risks, raises awareness for practitioners in these fields and asserts the need for caution.
Fronek, P., & Rotabi, K. S. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intercountry adoption and international commercial surrogacy. International Social Work, 0020872820940008. doi:10.1177/0020872820940008
Fronek, P., & Rotabi, K. S. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intercountry adoption and international commercial surrogacy. International Social Work, 0020872820940008. doi:10.1177/0020872820940008
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (2017). Évaluation des parents adoptifs potentiels. In C. Jeannin (Ed.), Vers une plus grande compétence: Apprendre des échecs de l’adoption internationale (pp. 110 - 113). Genève, Suisse: Service Social International.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P., & Briggs, L. (2017). Faking participant identity: Vested interests and purposeful interference. Research Ethics, 1-5. doi:10.1177/1747016117740177 Misrepresentation and mischief in the research process can impact on ethical... more
Fronek, P., & Briggs, L. (2017). Faking participant identity: Vested interests and purposeful interference. Research Ethics, 1-5. doi:10.1177/1747016117740177
Misrepresentation and mischief in the research process can impact on ethical conduct, the validity of findings and deliberately change the outcome. This short report presents a scenario about deliberate interference in adoption research by one organisation seeking accreditation to deliver adoption services. Unbeknown to the researchers, fake participants completed an online survey designed to capture the post-adoption needs of adult international adoptees living in Australia. Interference was unexpected as it was naively assumed that all stakeholders involved in adoption would be concerned with meeting post-adoption needs. A definition of politically motivated fake participants, implications for the research process, predicting such interference and strategies to address the problem are discussed.
Misrepresentation and mischief in the research process can impact on ethical conduct, the validity of findings and deliberately change the outcome. This short report presents a scenario about deliberate interference in adoption research by one organisation seeking accreditation to deliver adoption services. Unbeknown to the researchers, fake participants completed an online survey designed to capture the post-adoption needs of adult international adoptees living in Australia. Interference was unexpected as it was naively assumed that all stakeholders involved in adoption would be concerned with meeting post-adoption needs. A definition of politically motivated fake participants, implications for the research process, predicting such interference and strategies to address the problem are discussed.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (2016). Adoption. In ACRT, UNICEF Australia, & NCYLC (Eds.), CRC25 Australian Child Rights Progress Report: A report on 25 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Australia (pp. 20-21). Australia: Australian... more
Fronek, P. (2016). Adoption. In ACRT, UNICEF Australia, & NCYLC (Eds.), CRC25 Australian Child Rights Progress Report: A report on 25 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Australia (pp. 20-21). Australia: Australian Child Rights Taskforce, UNICEF Australia,National Children's and Youth Law Centre.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P., Tilbury, C., & Osmond, J. (2015). Past and present wrongs in Australian out-of-home care: Establishing standards. Australian Journal of Adoption, 8(2), 0-20. Retrieved from... more
Fronek, P., Tilbury, C., & Osmond, J. (2015). Past and present wrongs in Australian out-of-home care: Establishing standards. Australian Journal of Adoption, 8(2), 0-20. Retrieved from http://www.nla.gov.au/openpublish/index.php/aja/article/view/4097
Three Australian apologies have been made for past practices in out-of-home care and adoption that perpetuated a series of rights violations and false assurances. Commitments to not repeating past practices that caused profound and long-term, negative effects on the wellbeing of children and adults were given. Regarding these wrongs as past, ignores the reality that history does repeat when there is a failure to remain cognizant of them. In this paper, the basis of these apologies and current practices are discussed and standards for assessing the extent to which past wrongs are present in contemporary child protection systems are proposed.
Three Australian apologies have been made for past practices in out-of-home care and adoption that perpetuated a series of rights violations and false assurances. Commitments to not repeating past practices that caused profound and long-term, negative effects on the wellbeing of children and adults were given. Regarding these wrongs as past, ignores the reality that history does repeat when there is a failure to remain cognizant of them. In this paper, the basis of these apologies and current practices are discussed and standards for assessing the extent to which past wrongs are present in contemporary child protection systems are proposed.
Research Interests:
http://socialwork.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.001.0001/acrefore-9780199975839-e-1165?rskey=5kAMqG&result=1 Australian research on intercountry adoption in Australia is reported with particular reference to social... more
http://socialwork.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.001.0001/acrefore-9780199975839-e-1165?rskey=5kAMqG&result=1
Australian research on intercountry adoption in Australia is reported with particular reference to social work, divergent and competing interests of various stakeholders, and the highly political and contested nature of its practice in Australia. The practice of intercountry adoption in Australia is examined from its diffusion into Australia in the 1970s to contemporary times. Government approved Australian intercountry adoption programs began operation in the 1970s and although always small in number, the recent decline is consistent with global trends. Intercountry adoption in Australia is regulated by state and federal governments and social workers are integral to its practice. Controversies surrounding intercountry adoption in Australia have historically been linked to pressure from lobbyists and the support of some politicians. In 2014, Australia was at a crucial juncture with changes to how intercountry adoption is structured under review by the federal government.
Australian research on intercountry adoption in Australia is reported with particular reference to social work, divergent and competing interests of various stakeholders, and the highly political and contested nature of its practice in Australia. The practice of intercountry adoption in Australia is examined from its diffusion into Australia in the 1970s to contemporary times. Government approved Australian intercountry adoption programs began operation in the 1970s and although always small in number, the recent decline is consistent with global trends. Intercountry adoption in Australia is regulated by state and federal governments and social workers are integral to its practice. Controversies surrounding intercountry adoption in Australia have historically been linked to pressure from lobbyists and the support of some politicians. In 2014, Australia was at a crucial juncture with changes to how intercountry adoption is structured under review by the federal government.
Research Interests:
http://www.cambridgescholars.com/the-intercountry-adoption-debate Fronek, P., Cuthbert, D., & Willing, I. (2015). Intercountry adoption: Privilege, rights and social justice. In R. L. Ballard, N. H. Goodno, R. F. Cochran & J. A.... more
http://www.cambridgescholars.com/the-intercountry-adoption-debate
Fronek, P., Cuthbert, D., & Willing, I. (2015). Intercountry adoption: Privilege, rights and social justice. In R. L. Ballard, N. H. Goodno, R. F. Cochran & J. A. Milbrandt (Eds.), The intercountry adoption debate: Dialogues across disciplines (pp. 348-365): Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
For a review by Mirah Riben, The Huffington Post see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mirah-riben/the-intercountry-adoption_b_8174088.html?ir=Australia
Fronek, P., Cuthbert, D., & Willing, I. (2015). Intercountry adoption: Privilege, rights and social justice. In R. L. Ballard, N. H. Goodno, R. F. Cochran & J. A. Milbrandt (Eds.), The intercountry adoption debate: Dialogues across disciplines (pp. 348-365): Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
For a review by Mirah Riben, The Huffington Post see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mirah-riben/the-intercountry-adoption_b_8174088.html?ir=Australia
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (2012). Foreword. In J. L. Gibbons & K. S. Rotabi (Eds.), Intercountry adoption: policies, practices and outcomes (pp. xxv-xxvi), UK: Ashgate.... more
Fronek, P. (2012). Foreword. In J. L. Gibbons & K. S. Rotabi (Eds.), Intercountry adoption: policies, practices and outcomes (pp. xxv-xxvi), UK: Ashgate.
https://www.ashgate.com/default.aspx?page=637&calcTitle=1&title_id=9962&edition_id=10272.
https://www.ashgate.com/default.aspx?page=637&calcTitle=1&title_id=9962&edition_id=10272.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (2009). Intercountry adoption in Australia: A natural evolution or purposeful action. In C. Sparkes and D. Cuthbert (Eds.), Other people’s children: Adoption in Australia (pp. 36-54), Melbourne, Australia: Australian Scholarly... more
Fronek, P. (2009). Intercountry adoption in Australia: A natural evolution or purposeful action. In C. Sparkes and D. Cuthbert (Eds.), Other people’s children: Adoption in Australia (pp. 36-54), Melbourne, Australia: Australian Scholarly Publishing.
http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/handle/10072/32739
http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/handle/10072/32739
Research Interests:
http://bjsw.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/10/29/bjsw.bcs171.abstract Transnational adoption requires adoptive parents to negotiate complexities concerning difference and belonging within the family. Transnational adoption is... more
http://bjsw.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/10/29/bjsw.bcs171.abstract
Transnational adoption requires adoptive parents to negotiate complexities concerning difference and belonging within the family. Transnational adoption is mediated through societal and governmental prescriptions of suitability that include willingness and competency to raise children to maintain connections to their birth heritages. Tensions in the formation of parental identities are located in different racial, ethnic, cultural and class-based backgrounds to the children they adopt. This contrasts against dominant models of family where constructions of belonging are based on biological ties. A qualitative study of thirty-five Australian adoptive parents explored reflections on adoption processes and how the complex task of performing suitability was negotiated. Theoretical understandings were developed using a grounded theory approach. Contemporary social theory with a focus on race, cosmopolitanism and families further developed emergent theoretical understandings during analysis. Tensions in identity formation are discussed. The paper concludes that issues of race in identity formation are marginalised.
Transnational adoption requires adoptive parents to negotiate complexities concerning difference and belonging within the family. Transnational adoption is mediated through societal and governmental prescriptions of suitability that include willingness and competency to raise children to maintain connections to their birth heritages. Tensions in the formation of parental identities are located in different racial, ethnic, cultural and class-based backgrounds to the children they adopt. This contrasts against dominant models of family where constructions of belonging are based on biological ties. A qualitative study of thirty-five Australian adoptive parents explored reflections on adoption processes and how the complex task of performing suitability was negotiated. Theoretical understandings were developed using a grounded theory approach. Contemporary social theory with a focus on race, cosmopolitanism and families further developed emergent theoretical understandings during analysis. Tensions in identity formation are discussed. The paper concludes that issues of race in identity formation are marginalised.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14443058.2012.727845#.Uwa3nWKSySo The Vietnam War played a significant role in the institutionalisation of intercountry adoption (ICA) in Australia. The fall of Saigon provided the leverage... more
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14443058.2012.727845#.Uwa3nWKSySo
The Vietnam War played a significant role in the institutionalisation of intercountry adoption (ICA) in Australia. The fall of Saigon provided the leverage needed for proponents of ICA to engage the governments of Western countries in ensuring previously arranged adoptions were completed. The humanitarian discourse that surrounded the airlift of children from Saigon, Operation Babylift, precipitated private- and government-sponsored mass evacuation of “orphans” who were adopted despite the lack of substantive evidence of their orphan status with no attempts at supported reunification. Though adoption from Vietnam to Australia was short-lived, it opened the doors for other government-sanctioned adoption programs within two years.
The Vietnam War played a significant role in the institutionalisation of intercountry adoption (ICA) in Australia. The fall of Saigon provided the leverage needed for proponents of ICA to engage the governments of Western countries in ensuring previously arranged adoptions were completed. The humanitarian discourse that surrounded the airlift of children from Saigon, Operation Babylift, precipitated private- and government-sponsored mass evacuation of “orphans” who were adopted despite the lack of substantive evidence of their orphan status with no attempts at supported reunification. Though adoption from Vietnam to Australia was short-lived, it opened the doors for other government-sanctioned adoption programs within two years.
Research Interests:
For full text - http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/handle/10072/46105 . For journal http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8525737&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S1474746412000140 This review surveys... more
For full text - http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/handle/10072/46105 . For journal
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8525737&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S1474746412000140
This review surveys sociological literature on intercountry adoption from 1997 to 2010. The analysis finds a preponderance of literature from the United States, reflecting its place as a major receiving country, and a focus on adoption experience organised by reference to the adoption triad: adoptive parents, adoptees, birth families. Reflecting the power imbalances in intercountry adoption, the voices and views of adoptive parents dominate the literature. There is an emerging literature generated by researchers who are intercountry adoptees, while birth families remain almost invisible in this literature. A further gap identified by this review is work which examines intercountry adoption as a global social practice and work which critically examines policy.
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8525737&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S1474746412000140
This review surveys sociological literature on intercountry adoption from 1997 to 2010. The analysis finds a preponderance of literature from the United States, reflecting its place as a major receiving country, and a focus on adoption experience organised by reference to the adoption triad: adoptive parents, adoptees, birth families. Reflecting the power imbalances in intercountry adoption, the voices and views of adoptive parents dominate the literature. There is an emerging literature generated by researchers who are intercountry adoptees, while birth families remain almost invisible in this literature. A further gap identified by this review is work which examines intercountry adoption as a global social practice and work which critically examines policy.
Research Interests:
For full text http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/handle/10072/46122. For journal http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8525734&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S1474746412000103 Disasters are prevalent with... more
For full text http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/handle/10072/46122. For journal
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8525734&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S1474746412000103
Disasters are prevalent with devastating effects on vulnerable populations that include the elderly, disabled, women and children. Historical responses to vulnerable children and families post-disaster raise questions concerning further harms to children rescued by adoption in the aftermath of devastation. This article offers critical and historical perspectives on child removal for adoption in the context of disaster and the psychosocial care of children affected by disaster. It brings into question whether removal, especially permanent removal for adoption, is in their interests. This article concludes that efforts are needed by the international community to ensure that past abuses do not recur.
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8525734&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S1474746412000103
Disasters are prevalent with devastating effects on vulnerable populations that include the elderly, disabled, women and children. Historical responses to vulnerable children and families post-disaster raise questions concerning further harms to children rescued by adoption in the aftermath of devastation. This article offers critical and historical perspectives on child removal for adoption in the context of disaster and the psychosocial care of children affected by disaster. It brings into question whether removal, especially permanent removal for adoption, is in their interests. This article concludes that efforts are needed by the international community to ensure that past abuses do not recur.
Research Interests:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-2397.2011.00799.x/abstract The only existing international framework for inter-country adoption (ICA) is a legal one. Current legal and welfare approaches have limitations in that ICA... more
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-2397.2011.00799.x/abstract
The only existing international framework for inter-country adoption (ICA) is a legal one. Current legal and welfare approaches have limitations in that ICA tends to be conceptualised in individualistic terms, while strategies that prevent ICA by strengthening communities and addressing structural inequalities in the first instance are neglected and divorced from ICA practice. A vision and an overarching framework based on a socioecological approach that informs other arenas, such as health promotion, are proposed. The article concludes that the development of collaborative, intersectoral approaches, the reorientation of public and private resources and international leadership from academics, legislators, policy makers, practitioners and communities are necessary for a paradigm shift for this century.
The only existing international framework for inter-country adoption (ICA) is a legal one. Current legal and welfare approaches have limitations in that ICA tends to be conceptualised in individualistic terms, while strategies that prevent ICA by strengthening communities and addressing structural inequalities in the first instance are neglected and divorced from ICA practice. A vision and an overarching framework based on a socioecological approach that informs other arenas, such as health promotion, are proposed. The article concludes that the development of collaborative, intersectoral approaches, the reorientation of public and private resources and international leadership from academics, legislators, policy makers, practitioners and communities are necessary for a paradigm shift for this century.
For full text http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/handle/10072/35371 For journal http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0312407X.2010.512957#.Uwa_EWKSySo Korean–Australian intercountry adoption has been practiced for 30 years. This... more
For full text http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/handle/10072/35371 For journal http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0312407X.2010.512957#.Uwa_EWKSySo
Korean–Australian intercountry adoption has been practiced for 30 years. This longevity provides unique opportunities to develop critical perspectives on a complex, global practice. This paper presents understandings drawn from a study that explores Korean intercountry adoption using Actor Network Theory. It argues that the practice of intercountry adoption in Australia has been shaped by adoption-driven influences and characterised by controversy and competing discourses. It concludes that contemporary understandings necessitate a global, contextual, and critical view that is inclusive of emerging voices and alternate discourses. The challenge for practitioners and policy makers is to ensure the complex nature of the phenomenon is understood by all stakeholders. This will involve remaining child-focused, promoting multilevel interventions, incorporating research findings, and resisting wholly positive discourse that promotes singular perspectives. An awareness of how the internet is used to forge networks and promote discourses is crucial in ensuring multiple perspectives are considered in this contentious practice field.
Korean–Australian intercountry adoption has been practiced for 30 years. This longevity provides unique opportunities to develop critical perspectives on a complex, global practice. This paper presents understandings drawn from a study that explores Korean intercountry adoption using Actor Network Theory. It argues that the practice of intercountry adoption in Australia has been shaped by adoption-driven influences and characterised by controversy and competing discourses. It concludes that contemporary understandings necessitate a global, contextual, and critical view that is inclusive of emerging voices and alternate discourses. The challenge for practitioners and policy makers is to ensure the complex nature of the phenomenon is understood by all stakeholders. This will involve remaining child-focused, promoting multilevel interventions, incorporating research findings, and resisting wholly positive discourse that promotes singular perspectives. An awareness of how the internet is used to forge networks and promote discourses is crucial in ensuring multiple perspectives are considered in this contentious practice field.
Research Interests:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21650993.2006.9755989#.UwbFvmKSySo Policy and social work practice currently lack a theoretical framework that adequately explains the emergence, diffusion, and continuance of the intercountry... more
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21650993.2006.9755989#.UwbFvmKSySo
Policy and social work practice currently lack a theoretical framework that adequately explains the emergence, diffusion, and continuance of the intercountry adoption (ICA) phenomenon. Using South Korea as a case study and the application of actor network theory to the ICA phenomenon, this paper introduces a theoretical approach that allows an examination of the complex interrelationships between the global and local influences of a country's engagement in ICA. This theoretical approach provides a different way of understanding the phenomenon, which, in turn, can better inform policies and practice that affect children and families across the globe.
Policy and social work practice currently lack a theoretical framework that adequately explains the emergence, diffusion, and continuance of the intercountry adoption (ICA) phenomenon. Using South Korea as a case study and the application of actor network theory to the ICA phenomenon, this paper introduces a theoretical approach that allows an examination of the complex interrelationships between the global and local influences of a country's engagement in ICA. This theoretical approach provides a different way of understanding the phenomenon, which, in turn, can better inform policies and practice that affect children and families across the globe.
Research Interests:
Bartnikowska, U., Ćwirynkało, K., & Fronek, P. (2022). What do foster parents think about their foster children’s education? Educational Research, 64(4), 440-456. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131881.2022.2136099 ABSTRACT Background It is... more
Bartnikowska, U., Ćwirynkało, K., & Fronek, P. (2022). What do foster parents think about their foster children’s education? Educational Research, 64(4), 440-456. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131881.2022.2136099
ABSTRACT Background It is widely understood that children who enter foster care are likely to have had previous traumatic experiences which can affect many aspects of their lives, including their ability to thrive at school. In order to better support the educational needs of children who are fostered, deeper insight needs to be gained into the relationships between children in foster care, foster parents, and schools. As a contribution to this under-researched area, this study focuses attention on the viewpoints of foster parents in relation to their foster children?s school experiences, in a Polish context.Purpose This research sought to explore the perceptions of foster parents on the education of their foster children and investigate how they understood these experiences.Methods A qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was undertaken to analyse foster parents? lived experiences of their foster children?s education. A purposive sample of 62 foster parents participated across seven focus groups. An in-depth, interpretive analysis was conducted.Findings Overall, analysis of the rich data set identified four main themes, which crossed all focus groups: Experiences of discrimination; Advocating for the child, Feelings of futility, and Connecting positively.Conclusions The study highlights more widely how foster parents can feel routinely excluded from their foster children?s education and suggests that feelings of discrimination may be common experiences. It also draws attention to the opportunities for meaningful connectivity between school professionals, foster parents and children. Implications for practice, which may be of use in other settings internationally, are offered.
ABSTRACT Background It is widely understood that children who enter foster care are likely to have had previous traumatic experiences which can affect many aspects of their lives, including their ability to thrive at school. In order to better support the educational needs of children who are fostered, deeper insight needs to be gained into the relationships between children in foster care, foster parents, and schools. As a contribution to this under-researched area, this study focuses attention on the viewpoints of foster parents in relation to their foster children?s school experiences, in a Polish context.Purpose This research sought to explore the perceptions of foster parents on the education of their foster children and investigate how they understood these experiences.Methods A qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was undertaken to analyse foster parents? lived experiences of their foster children?s education. A purposive sample of 62 foster parents participated across seven focus groups. An in-depth, interpretive analysis was conducted.Findings Overall, analysis of the rich data set identified four main themes, which crossed all focus groups: Experiences of discrimination; Advocating for the child, Feelings of futility, and Connecting positively.Conclusions The study highlights more widely how foster parents can feel routinely excluded from their foster children?s education and suggests that feelings of discrimination may be common experiences. It also draws attention to the opportunities for meaningful connectivity between school professionals, foster parents and children. Implications for practice, which may be of use in other settings internationally, are offered.
Research Interests:
Fathers with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities (ID) are under-represented in research. This article explores the lived childhood experiences of fathers with ID using interpretive phenomenology to understand the meanings ascribed... more
Fathers with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities (ID) are under-represented in research. This article explores the lived childhood experiences of fathers with ID using interpretive phenomenology to understand the meanings ascribed to these experiences and how this has shaped their understanding of self. Rich data was collected through in-depth interviewing of fathers in Poland. The analysis yielded thirteen constituent themes and four superordinate themes: traumatic experiences; resilience; the positive impact of significant others; and becoming a better parent. Many fathers focused on traumatic experiences associated with problematic parental practices (abuse, neglect, parental substance misuse) and discrimination in schools. Participants made meaning of adverse experiences especially resilience, strengths and a determination to be a better parent, which helped them cope with adverse situations. This study provides insights into the impact of lived childhood experiences of these fathers, which in many ways shapes their own parental practices.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P., Briggs, L., Kim, M. H., Han, H. B., Val, Q., Kim, S., & McAuliffe, D. (2017). Moral distress as experienced by hospital social workers in South Korea and Australia. Social Work in Health Care, 1-19.... more
Fronek, P., Briggs, L., Kim, M. H., Han, H. B., Val, Q., Kim, S., & McAuliffe, D. (2017). Moral distress as experienced by hospital social workers in South Korea and Australia. Social Work in Health Care, 1-19. doi:10.1080/00981389.2017.1347596
This exploratory, qualitative research explored the ethical problems faced by hospital social workers in South Korea and Australia, and what and who influenced their decision making using a focus group design. Although dilemmas of boundaries, confidentiality, self-determination, and other complex scenarios found in practice were identified, moral distress, a consequence of the unresolvable conflicts, dominated participants' narratives. This was particularly the case for the Korean social workers in this sample. A thematic analysis of the data yielded three main themes: "Under pressure", "It?s very uncomfortable"; "Failing our patients"; and "Coping and codes".
This exploratory, qualitative research explored the ethical problems faced by hospital social workers in South Korea and Australia, and what and who influenced their decision making using a focus group design. Although dilemmas of boundaries, confidentiality, self-determination, and other complex scenarios found in practice were identified, moral distress, a consequence of the unresolvable conflicts, dominated participants' narratives. This was particularly the case for the Korean social workers in this sample. A thematic analysis of the data yielded three main themes: "Under pressure", "It?s very uncomfortable"; "Failing our patients"; and "Coping and codes".
Research Interests:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1023510925729 The training needs of rehabilitation professionals in the area of sexuality and sexual function, particularly following spinal cord injury (SCI) has received little attention... more
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1023510925729
The training needs of rehabilitation professionals in the area of sexuality and sexual function, particularly following spinal cord injury (SCI) has received little attention in the literature. Specifically, there is negligible theoretical discussion related to staff training needs, as well as a paucity of standardised scales to measure these needs. A conceptual model was developed encompassing staff knowledge, comfort, and attitudes towards sexuality following SCI. Using this model, a scale was developed, evaluated, and refined. Factor analysis supported the construct validity of the scale in measuring the existing conceptual model outlined but highlighted the existence of a separate construct related to personal approaches from clients. The subsequently named Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS) demonstrated high levels of internal consistency across the four conceptual domains. The KCAASS has utility for rehabilitation facilities interested in identifying and targeting training initiatives related to addressing client sexuality needs following SCI.
The training needs of rehabilitation professionals in the area of sexuality and sexual function, particularly following spinal cord injury (SCI) has received little attention in the literature. Specifically, there is negligible theoretical discussion related to staff training needs, as well as a paucity of standardised scales to measure these needs. A conceptual model was developed encompassing staff knowledge, comfort, and attitudes towards sexuality following SCI. Using this model, a scale was developed, evaluated, and refined. Factor analysis supported the construct validity of the scale in measuring the existing conceptual model outlined but highlighted the existence of a separate construct related to personal approaches from clients. The subsequently named Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS) demonstrated high levels of internal consistency across the four conceptual domains. The KCAASS has utility for rehabilitation facilities interested in identifying and targeting training initiatives related to addressing client sexuality needs following SCI.
Research Interests:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FB%3ASEDI.0000010067.27044.7e Historically, the management of sexuality issues in spinal cord injury rehabilitation has received scant attention as a staff training issue. This has occurred... more
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FB%3ASEDI.0000010067.27044.7e
Historically, the management of sexuality issues in spinal cord injury rehabilitation has received scant attention as a staff training issue. This has occurred despite evidence in the literature identifying significant barriers to the provision of sexuality rehabilitation. This paper reports on a needs assessment conducted within an Australian spinal cord injury rehabilitation service to identify the training needs of staff in relation to client sexuality. Using the Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes Towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS), a previously developed theoretical model and questionnaire, 90 multidisciplinary staff were surveyed. A combination of open and closed questioning techniques were used. While the findings suggest some differences between disciplines, the training needs of the interdisciplinary team were surprisingly similar. Knowledge is required in the areas of counselling, professional boundary setting, fertility and assistive devices while specific training is needed to promote staff comfort in dealing with personal approaches from clients.
Historically, the management of sexuality issues in spinal cord injury rehabilitation has received scant attention as a staff training issue. This has occurred despite evidence in the literature identifying significant barriers to the provision of sexuality rehabilitation. This paper reports on a needs assessment conducted within an Australian spinal cord injury rehabilitation service to identify the training needs of staff in relation to client sexuality. Using the Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes Towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS), a previously developed theoretical model and questionnaire, 90 multidisciplinary staff were surveyed. A combination of open and closed questioning techniques were used. While the findings suggest some differences between disciplines, the training needs of the interdisciplinary team were surprisingly similar. Knowledge is required in the areas of counselling, professional boundary setting, fertility and assistive devices while specific training is needed to promote staff comfort in dealing with personal approaches from clients.
Research Interests:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11195-005-4669-0 While there is evidence to support consideration of client sexuality needs in the provision of rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the... more
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11195-005-4669-0
While there is evidence to support consideration of client sexuality needs in the provision of rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the interdisciplinary team rarely receives training in this area. The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a consumer-driven sexuality training program in improving staff knowledge, comfort (general and personal) and attitudes. Using a local needs assessment to identify training needs and the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions and Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model as a training framework, a sexuality training program was developed in one Australian SCI service. A randomized controlled trial was conducted and significant improvement was found in all domains for the treatment group – Knowledge(χ2= 46.141, p< 0.001), Comfort (χ2= 23.338, p< 0.001), Approach(χ2= 23.925, p< 0.001) and Attitude (χ2= 15.235, p< 0.001) compared to the control group. Changes were found to be maintained at three month follow-up – Knowledge (Z=−5.116, p< 0.001), Comfort (Z=−3.953, p< 0.001), Approach (Z=−4.103, p< 0.001) and Attitudes (Z=−2.655, p< 0.001). These results support the use of an individualized needs-based sexuality training program in fostering staff knowledge, comfort and attitudinal change in an interdisciplinary SCI rehabilitation service.
While there is evidence to support consideration of client sexuality needs in the provision of rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the interdisciplinary team rarely receives training in this area. The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a consumer-driven sexuality training program in improving staff knowledge, comfort (general and personal) and attitudes. Using a local needs assessment to identify training needs and the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions and Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model as a training framework, a sexuality training program was developed in one Australian SCI service. A randomized controlled trial was conducted and significant improvement was found in all domains for the treatment group – Knowledge(χ2= 46.141, p< 0.001), Comfort (χ2= 23.338, p< 0.001), Approach(χ2= 23.925, p< 0.001) and Attitude (χ2= 15.235, p< 0.001) compared to the control group. Changes were found to be maintained at three month follow-up – Knowledge (Z=−5.116, p< 0.001), Comfort (Z=−3.953, p< 0.001), Approach (Z=−4.103, p< 0.001) and Attitudes (Z=−2.655, p< 0.001). These results support the use of an individualized needs-based sexuality training program in fostering staff knowledge, comfort and attitudinal change in an interdisciplinary SCI rehabilitation service.
Research Interests:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11195-010-9177-1 Discipline specific and multidisciplinary training programs have been developed to provide practitioners working in health and disability fields with various combinations of... more
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11195-010-9177-1
Discipline specific and multidisciplinary training programs have been developed to provide practitioners working in health and disability fields with various combinations of knowledge, skills, attitudes and practitioner comfort important for such discussions. There is little, however, which demonstrates the long term effectiveness of such training programs. The current study is a 2-year follow-up to a randomized controlled trial that examined the effectiveness of a sexuality training program for rehabilitation practitioners working within spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Using both questionnaire-based and qualitative data, findings suggest that training can have long-lasting effects on practitioner knowledge, comfort and attitudes in addressing sexuality issues with clients. Training that is developed around the individualized needs of practitioners and the settings within which they work may be particularly effective. Future research is needed to explore the applicability of this type of training to other rehabilitation and healthcare settings.
Discipline specific and multidisciplinary training programs have been developed to provide practitioners working in health and disability fields with various combinations of knowledge, skills, attitudes and practitioner comfort important for such discussions. There is little, however, which demonstrates the long term effectiveness of such training programs. The current study is a 2-year follow-up to a randomized controlled trial that examined the effectiveness of a sexuality training program for rehabilitation practitioners working within spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Using both questionnaire-based and qualitative data, findings suggest that training can have long-lasting effects on practitioner knowledge, comfort and attitudes in addressing sexuality issues with clients. Training that is developed around the individualized needs of practitioners and the settings within which they work may be particularly effective. Future research is needed to explore the applicability of this type of training to other rehabilitation and healthcare settings.
Research Interests:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11195-005-4669-0 While there is evidence to support consideration of client sexuality needs in the provision of rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the... more
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11195-005-4669-0
While there is evidence to support consideration of client sexuality needs in the provision of rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the interdisciplinary team rarely receives training in this area. The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a consumer-driven sexuality training program in improving staff knowledge, comfort (general and personal) and attitudes. Using a local needs assessment to identify training needs and the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions and Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model as a training framework, a sexuality training program was developed in one Australian SCI service. A randomized controlled trial was conducted and significant improvement was found in all domains for the treatment group – Knowledge(χ2= 46.141, p< 0.001), Comfort (χ2= 23.338, p< 0.001), Approach(χ2= 23.925, p< 0.001) and Attitude (χ2= 15.235, p< 0.001) compared to the control group. Changes were found to be maintained at three month follow-up – Knowledge (Z=−5.116, p< 0.001), Comfort (Z=−3.953, p< 0.001), Approach (Z=−4.103, p< 0.001) and Attitudes (Z=−2.655, p< 0.001). These results support the use of an individualized needs-based sexuality training program in fostering staff knowledge, comfort and attitudinal change in an interdisciplinary SCI rehabilitation service.
While there is evidence to support consideration of client sexuality needs in the provision of rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the interdisciplinary team rarely receives training in this area. The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a consumer-driven sexuality training program in improving staff knowledge, comfort (general and personal) and attitudes. Using a local needs assessment to identify training needs and the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions and Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model as a training framework, a sexuality training program was developed in one Australian SCI service. A randomized controlled trial was conducted and significant improvement was found in all domains for the treatment group – Knowledge(χ2= 46.141, p< 0.001), Comfort (χ2= 23.338, p< 0.001), Approach(χ2= 23.925, p< 0.001) and Attitude (χ2= 15.235, p< 0.001) compared to the control group. Changes were found to be maintained at three month follow-up – Knowledge (Z=−5.116, p< 0.001), Comfort (Z=−3.953, p< 0.001), Approach (Z=−4.103, p< 0.001) and Attitudes (Z=−2.655, p< 0.001). These results support the use of an individualized needs-based sexuality training program in fostering staff knowledge, comfort and attitudinal change in an interdisciplinary SCI rehabilitation service.
Research Interests:
http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/131/9/2376.full Mackay-Sim, A., Féron, F., Cochrane, J., Bassingthwaighte, L., Bayliss, C., Davies, W., Fronek, P., Gray, C., Kerr, G., Licina, P., Nowitzke, A., Perry, C., Silburn, P.A.S.,... more
http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/131/9/2376.full
Mackay-Sim, A., Féron, F., Cochrane, J., Bassingthwaighte, L., Bayliss, C., Davies, W., Fronek, P., Gray, C., Kerr, G., Licina, P., Nowitzke, A., Perry, C., Silburn, P.A.S., Urquhart, S., & Geraghty, T. (2008). Autologous olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation in human paraplegia: a 3 year clinical trial. Brain, 131: 2376-86.
http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/131/9/2376.full
Olfactory ensheathing cells show promise in preclinical animal models as a cell transplantation therapy for repair of the injured spinal cord. This is a report of a clinical trial of autologous transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells into the spinal cord in six patients with complete, thoracic paraplegia. We previously reported on the methods of surgery and transplantation and the safety aspects of the trial 1 year after transplantation. Here we address the overall design of the trial and the safety of the procedure, assessed during a period of 3 years following the transplantation surgery. All patients were assessed at entry into the trial and regularly during the period of the trial. Clinical assessments included medical, psychosocial, radiological and neurological, as well as specialized tests of neurological and functional deficits (standard American Spinal Injury Association and Functional Independence Measure assessments). Quantitative test included neurophysiological tests of sensory and motor function below the level of injury. The trial was a Phase I/IIa design whose main aim was to test the feasibility and safety of transplantation of autologous olfactory ensheathing cells into the injured spinal cord in human paraplegia. The design included a control group who did not receive surgery, otherwise closely matched to the transplant recipient group. This group acted as a control for the assessors, who were blind to the treatment status of the patients. The control group also provided the opportunity for preliminary assessment of the efficacy of the transplantation. There were no adverse findings 3 years after autologous transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells into spinal cords injured at least 2 years prior to transplantation. The magnetic resonance images (MRIs) at 3 years showed no change from preoperative MRIs or intervening MRIs at 1 and 2 years, with no evidence of any tumour of introduced cells and no development of post-traumatic syringomyelia or other adverse radiological findings. There were no significant functional changes in any patients and no neuropathic pain. In one transplant recipient, there was an improvement over 3 segments in light touch and pin prick sensitivity bilaterally, anteriorly and posteriorly. We conclude that transplantation of autologous olfactory ensheathing cells into the injured spinal cord is feasible and is safe up to 3 years of post-implantation, however, this conclusion should be considered preliminary because of the small number of trial patients.
Mackay-Sim, A., Féron, F., Cochrane, J., Bassingthwaighte, L., Bayliss, C., Davies, W., Fronek, P., Gray, C., Kerr, G., Licina, P., Nowitzke, A., Perry, C., Silburn, P.A.S., Urquhart, S., & Geraghty, T. (2008). Autologous olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation in human paraplegia: a 3 year clinical trial. Brain, 131: 2376-86.
http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/131/9/2376.full
Olfactory ensheathing cells show promise in preclinical animal models as a cell transplantation therapy for repair of the injured spinal cord. This is a report of a clinical trial of autologous transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells into the spinal cord in six patients with complete, thoracic paraplegia. We previously reported on the methods of surgery and transplantation and the safety aspects of the trial 1 year after transplantation. Here we address the overall design of the trial and the safety of the procedure, assessed during a period of 3 years following the transplantation surgery. All patients were assessed at entry into the trial and regularly during the period of the trial. Clinical assessments included medical, psychosocial, radiological and neurological, as well as specialized tests of neurological and functional deficits (standard American Spinal Injury Association and Functional Independence Measure assessments). Quantitative test included neurophysiological tests of sensory and motor function below the level of injury. The trial was a Phase I/IIa design whose main aim was to test the feasibility and safety of transplantation of autologous olfactory ensheathing cells into the injured spinal cord in human paraplegia. The design included a control group who did not receive surgery, otherwise closely matched to the transplant recipient group. This group acted as a control for the assessors, who were blind to the treatment status of the patients. The control group also provided the opportunity for preliminary assessment of the efficacy of the transplantation. There were no adverse findings 3 years after autologous transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells into spinal cords injured at least 2 years prior to transplantation. The magnetic resonance images (MRIs) at 3 years showed no change from preoperative MRIs or intervening MRIs at 1 and 2 years, with no evidence of any tumour of introduced cells and no development of post-traumatic syringomyelia or other adverse radiological findings. There were no significant functional changes in any patients and no neuropathic pain. In one transplant recipient, there was an improvement over 3 segments in light touch and pin prick sensitivity bilaterally, anteriorly and posteriorly. We conclude that transplantation of autologous olfactory ensheathing cells into the injured spinal cord is feasible and is safe up to 3 years of post-implantation, however, this conclusion should be considered preliminary because of the small number of trial patients.
Research Interests:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1447-0748.2005.00235.x/abstract Family conferences are regularly conducted in a number of settings. However, the published literature offers limited insight into the conference environment as... more
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1447-0748.2005.00235.x/abstract
Family conferences are regularly conducted in a number of settings. However, the published literature offers limited insight into the conference environment as created by the interdisciplinary team. The level of client participation in this process remains unclear. A participatory observation study was conducted with an accidental sample in a spinal injuries rehabilitation setting. Language and behaviours exhibited by family conference members provided data for analysis. The findings indicate that individuals with a disability were participatory members in the family conference and were able to express their point of view even if it differed from the view of the professional team. However, the finding that family members were less engaged in the process suggests that they have different needs to the person with a disability and these needs might have to be met in a different way. It is important that professionals develop an awareness of their own language and behaviours and the potential impact of these factors on the individual and the family in family conference processes.
Family conferences are regularly conducted in a number of settings. However, the published literature offers limited insight into the conference environment as created by the interdisciplinary team. The level of client participation in this process remains unclear. A participatory observation study was conducted with an accidental sample in a spinal injuries rehabilitation setting. Language and behaviours exhibited by family conference members provided data for analysis. The findings indicate that individuals with a disability were participatory members in the family conference and were able to express their point of view even if it differed from the view of the professional team. However, the finding that family members were less engaged in the process suggests that they have different needs to the person with a disability and these needs might have to be met in a different way. It is important that professionals develop an awareness of their own language and behaviours and the potential impact of these factors on the individual and the family in family conference processes.
Research Interests:
The family conference is a common occurrence in many medical and community settings, yet there is limited literature concerning its practice particularly in relation to rehabilitation. The function and process of conferences are often... more
The family conference is a common occurrence in many medical and community settings, yet there is limited literature concerning its practice particularly in relation to rehabilitation. The function and process of conferences are often based on practice wisdom and tradition and are informed by the particular medical condition or disability the conference attempts to address. There are mixed reports concerning the level of participation and satisfaction of participants, that is, the client, family members and professionals, in conferences, and few related to the capacity of conferences to meet intended goals. The purpose of this paper is to review the current literature concerning family conferences and discuss its application to one practice setting. In one spinal injuries unit, a quality review that drew on available evidence concerning the purpose and functions of family conferences has prompted a number of practice improvements in two stages. Most recently the “family conference” has been renamed “RAP” (Rehabilitation and Planning) Conference that more properly reflects its purpose and functions. Preparatory and education strategies have been developed for participating professionals and improved client preparation has been supported through the provision of complementary information provision methods.
Research Interests:
The inclusion of psychosocial assessment models in human experimental research protocol is a new area and has recently been applied to persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Qualitative analysis of six psychosocial assessment interviews,... more
The inclusion of psychosocial assessment models in human experimental research protocol is a new area and has recently been applied to persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Qualitative analysis of six psychosocial assessment interviews, conducted for the purpose of screening potential human participants for experimental surgery, reveals six distinct themes of positive adjustment: Personal Strengths, Life Meaning, Positive Attitude, Engagement in Life, Support of Significant Others, and a Level of Resources that Does Not Inhibit Life Activity. The importance of psychosocial assessment in determining an individual's adjustment to disability makes visible the particular internal and external conditions that ensure harm to research participants is minimized.
For news on research outcomes http://app.griffith.edu.au/news/2014/10/23/stem-cell-work-hailed-as-paraplegic-walks-again/?src=hp
Research Interests:
Social workers and psychologists can play an important role within the wider interdisciplinary team by ensuring contemporary research findings are translated into daily practice. Despite shifts in knowledge found in contemporary... more
Social workers and psychologists can play an important role within the wider interdisciplinary team by ensuring contemporary research findings are translated into daily practice. Despite shifts in knowledge found in contemporary literature, new understandings are not always translated into daily practice. Health care professionals tend to anticipate more negative consequences of psychosocial adjustment to SCI than is necessarily experienced by individuals themselves. This has implications for effective clinical interventions. This practice issues paper aims to present current research finding which debunk seemingly persistent myths surrounding adjustment to SCI, and to consider strategies for bridging the research/practice divide.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P., & Kendall, M. B. (2016). The impact of Professional Boundaries for Health Professionals (PBHP) training on knowledge, comfort, experience, and ethical decision-making: a longitudinal randomized controlled trial. Disability and... more
Fronek, P., & Kendall, M. B. (2016). The impact of Professional Boundaries for Health Professionals (PBHP) training on knowledge, comfort, experience, and ethical decision-making: a longitudinal randomized controlled trial. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-8. doi:10.1080/09638288.2016.1236152
Purpose: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of Professional Boundaries for Health Professionals (PBHP) training program on the knowledge, comfort, experience, and ethical decision-making of multidisciplinary practitioners facing client?practitioner boundary dilemmas.Methods: In all, 36 rehabilitation practitioners from an Australian state-wide spinal cord injuries service were assigned to experimental and control groups. The Boundaries in Practice (BIP) Scale measured outcomes at four points: pre, post, 3 months, and 1 year. The control group received the training after 3 months. Nonparametric Friedman?s two-way analysis of variance was used to examine the trajectories over time.Results: Analysis was conducted using the data of 10 experimental and 13 control group participants who responded at four data collection points. The experimental group showed significant improvement in knowledge (?2?=?10.673, p?=?0.014) and comfort (?2?=?9.727, p?=?0.021) managing professional boundaries post-training. The control group showed no significant change in knowledge or comfort. No significant change was seen in experience across either experimental (?2?=?3.609, p?=?0.307) or control group (?2?=?7.800, p?=?0.050). Ethical decision-making improved in the control group (?2?=?13.188, p?=?0.004) following training, however remained unchanged in the experimental group.Conclusions: The findings do not definitively support this training approach. Ethical decision-making may improve more substantially within the practice context and organizational culture change. Multifaceted approaches are indicated.Implications for RehabilitationEthical dilemmas related to boundaries between clients and practitioners are a frequent occurrence in the rehabilitation setting.In a relatively small sample, the current randomized trial provided inconclusive evidence on the benefit of a 1-day needs-oriented training program to improve knowledge, comfort, and ethical decision-making.Randomized trials of education and training for rehabilitation practitioners are fraught with challenges in the clinical environment of the rehabilitation setting.Multifaceted training approaches, management support and training as well as changes to policy and organizational context in the rehabilitation setting may be needed to more holistically address the issues surrounding professional boundaries in the rehabilitation setting.
Purpose: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of Professional Boundaries for Health Professionals (PBHP) training program on the knowledge, comfort, experience, and ethical decision-making of multidisciplinary practitioners facing client?practitioner boundary dilemmas.Methods: In all, 36 rehabilitation practitioners from an Australian state-wide spinal cord injuries service were assigned to experimental and control groups. The Boundaries in Practice (BIP) Scale measured outcomes at four points: pre, post, 3 months, and 1 year. The control group received the training after 3 months. Nonparametric Friedman?s two-way analysis of variance was used to examine the trajectories over time.Results: Analysis was conducted using the data of 10 experimental and 13 control group participants who responded at four data collection points. The experimental group showed significant improvement in knowledge (?2?=?10.673, p?=?0.014) and comfort (?2?=?9.727, p?=?0.021) managing professional boundaries post-training. The control group showed no significant change in knowledge or comfort. No significant change was seen in experience across either experimental (?2?=?3.609, p?=?0.307) or control group (?2?=?7.800, p?=?0.050). Ethical decision-making improved in the control group (?2?=?13.188, p?=?0.004) following training, however remained unchanged in the experimental group.Conclusions: The findings do not definitively support this training approach. Ethical decision-making may improve more substantially within the practice context and organizational culture change. Multifaceted approaches are indicated.Implications for RehabilitationEthical dilemmas related to boundaries between clients and practitioners are a frequent occurrence in the rehabilitation setting.In a relatively small sample, the current randomized trial provided inconclusive evidence on the benefit of a 1-day needs-oriented training program to improve knowledge, comfort, and ethical decision-making.Randomized trials of education and training for rehabilitation practitioners are fraught with challenges in the clinical environment of the rehabilitation setting.Multifaceted training approaches, management support and training as well as changes to policy and organizational context in the rehabilitation setting may be needed to more holistically address the issues surrounding professional boundaries in the rehabilitation setting.
Research Interests:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10508422.2011.622186#.Uwa7XmKSySo This article reports on the Boundaries in Practice (BIP) Scale developed to measure knowledge, comfort, ethical decision making, and experience. Few instruments... more
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10508422.2011.622186#.Uwa7XmKSySo
This article reports on the Boundaries in Practice (BIP) Scale developed to measure knowledge, comfort, ethical decision making, and experience. Few instruments used in studies conducted on professional/ client boundaries have been validated. The BIP demonstrated sound face, content and construct validity, and adequate internal consistency reliability. The BIP Scale provides the first reliable and valid means of investigating multiple boundary domains across health disciplines and teams. The sensitivity and complexity of boundary issues and the serious consequences of breaches highlight the importance of a valid and reliable measure in building empirical knowledge in this field.
This article reports on the Boundaries in Practice (BIP) Scale developed to measure knowledge, comfort, ethical decision making, and experience. Few instruments used in studies conducted on professional/ client boundaries have been validated. The BIP demonstrated sound face, content and construct validity, and adequate internal consistency reliability. The BIP Scale provides the first reliable and valid means of investigating multiple boundary domains across health disciplines and teams. The sensitivity and complexity of boundary issues and the serious consequences of breaches highlight the importance of a valid and reliable measure in building empirical knowledge in this field.
Research Interests:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14623940902786172#.UwbACmKSySo Professional boundaries between practitioners and clients are essential to the delivery of ethical and professional health services yet often prove difficult to... more
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14623940902786172#.UwbACmKSySo
Professional boundaries between practitioners and clients are essential to the delivery of ethical and professional health services yet often prove difficult to address. A research agenda was initiated comprising a literature review, needs assessment, the development, implementation and evaluation of a Professional Boundaries for Health Practitioner (PBHP) training course. This agenda led the authors to critically reflect on the barriers of rumours, dismissiveness and time that were identified to the provision of training in this field. From these reflections, an interprofessional training framework was developed. This paper focuses on the importance of two facets of reflective practice in this process. These were (1) the importance of the integration of reflection and critical thinking skills in practitioner training; (2) critical reflection undertaken by the authors in identifying barriers to practitioner participation in work based training and determining the scope and nature of training that enhances ethical practices and meets practitioner needs.
Professional boundaries between practitioners and clients are essential to the delivery of ethical and professional health services yet often prove difficult to address. A research agenda was initiated comprising a literature review, needs assessment, the development, implementation and evaluation of a Professional Boundaries for Health Practitioner (PBHP) training course. This agenda led the authors to critically reflect on the barriers of rumours, dismissiveness and time that were identified to the provision of training in this field. From these reflections, an interprofessional training framework was developed. This paper focuses on the importance of two facets of reflective practice in this process. These were (1) the importance of the integration of reflection and critical thinking skills in practitioner training; (2) critical reflection undertaken by the authors in identifying barriers to practitioner participation in work based training and determining the scope and nature of training that enhances ethical practices and meets practitioner needs.
Research Interests:
Briggs, L., & Fronek, P. (2023). Student placement in a university social work health clinic: Key learning experiences, challenges encountered and perceived benefits of interprofessional practice. Social Work Education, 1-14.... more
Briggs, L., & Fronek, P. (2023). Student placement in a university social work health clinic: Key learning experiences, challenges encountered and perceived benefits of interprofessional practice. Social Work Education, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2023.2187371
ABSTRACTThis paper reports on the findings from a mixed methods study exploring the key learning experiences, the challenges, and the increased knowledge of interprofessional practice for students undertaking placement in the Social Work Student Health Clinic at Griffith University. The theoretical framework of the study is based on adult learning theory, a model for experiential learning. After placement had finished 36 students completed the Interprofessional Socialisation and Valuing Scale (ISVS-21) and a post-placement questionnaire that included a placement rating scale and a free text section specifically designed to collect data on student perceptions about learning outcomes while in the clinic. The quantitative data was entered into SPSS for statistical analysis. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data identified four major themes (key learning and beneficial aspects, the challenges, impact on future career options, and interprofessional practice). The themes were transformed into quantitative variables for further analysis using SPSS. The key findings indicated that the students perceived their achievements through participation in health clinics as providing positive learning experiences across a range of opportunities, some of which have impacted on future career options and an increased understanding of interprofessional practices in health care.
ABSTRACTThis paper reports on the findings from a mixed methods study exploring the key learning experiences, the challenges, and the increased knowledge of interprofessional practice for students undertaking placement in the Social Work Student Health Clinic at Griffith University. The theoretical framework of the study is based on adult learning theory, a model for experiential learning. After placement had finished 36 students completed the Interprofessional Socialisation and Valuing Scale (ISVS-21) and a post-placement questionnaire that included a placement rating scale and a free text section specifically designed to collect data on student perceptions about learning outcomes while in the clinic. The quantitative data was entered into SPSS for statistical analysis. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data identified four major themes (key learning and beneficial aspects, the challenges, impact on future career options, and interprofessional practice). The themes were transformed into quantitative variables for further analysis using SPSS. The key findings indicated that the students perceived their achievements through participation in health clinics as providing positive learning experiences across a range of opportunities, some of which have impacted on future career options and an increased understanding of interprofessional practices in health care.
Research Interests:
Briggs, L., & Fronek, P. (2020). Student experiences and perceptions of participation in student-led health clinics: A systematic review. Journal of Social Work Education, 56(2), 238-259. doi:10.1080/10437797.2019.1656575 Supervised... more
Briggs, L., & Fronek, P. (2020). Student experiences and perceptions of participation in student-led health clinics: A systematic review. Journal of Social Work Education, 56(2), 238-259. doi:10.1080/10437797.2019.1656575
Supervised student-led health clinics provide students with opportunities to
develop practice skills with “real” people by delivering clinical services to
underserved communities. Clinics provide opportunities for interprofessional
learning and the development of clinical, communication, leadership,
and teamwork skills. A systematic review was reported in accordance with
guidelines recommended in PRISMA to explore the perceptions and experiences
of social work students within student-led health clinics. The review
found very few studies either addressed the experiences of social work
students specifically or reported them, and that social work students were
not always included in student-led health clinics. Benefits of participation
for students from a range of disciplines related to interprofessional experiences,
work with marginalized communities/real world experiences, personal
benefit and skill development. Of concern is the lack of research
attention to the social work student experience which may point to a gap
in social work education and social work’s apparent absence in some multidisciplinary
student-led health clinics.
Supervised student-led health clinics provide students with opportunities to
develop practice skills with “real” people by delivering clinical services to
underserved communities. Clinics provide opportunities for interprofessional
learning and the development of clinical, communication, leadership,
and teamwork skills. A systematic review was reported in accordance with
guidelines recommended in PRISMA to explore the perceptions and experiences
of social work students within student-led health clinics. The review
found very few studies either addressed the experiences of social work
students specifically or reported them, and that social work students were
not always included in student-led health clinics. Benefits of participation
for students from a range of disciplines related to interprofessional experiences,
work with marginalized communities/real world experiences, personal
benefit and skill development. Of concern is the lack of research
attention to the social work student experience which may point to a gap
in social work education and social work’s apparent absence in some multidisciplinary
student-led health clinics.
Research Interests:
http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=697192441582945;res=IELHSS Abstract: A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific leadership courses are not commonly... more
http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=697192441582945;res=IELHSS
Abstract: A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific leadership courses are not commonly included in Australian social work curriculums. It is argued that there is a difference between 'teaching' leadership and 'teaching about' leadership. Using a critically reflective approach to social work leadership assists students to develop a professional identity that includes future possibilities for leadership in a way that is personally meaningful. This paper reflects on leadership from the perspectives of social work students and educators. A thematic analysis conducted on student reflections completed over one semester and teacher reflections on the findings are presented. A postmodern narrative approach informed the analysis from which three themes, self-transformation, caring for self, and value-based leadership, are discussed. The paper concludes that a critically reflective approach to leadership education in the human services is important to the integration of theoretical knowledge, skill development and individualised contexts.
Abstract: A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific leadership courses are not commonly included in Australian social work curriculums. It is argued that there is a difference between 'teaching' leadership and 'teaching about' leadership. Using a critically reflective approach to social work leadership assists students to develop a professional identity that includes future possibilities for leadership in a way that is personally meaningful. This paper reflects on leadership from the perspectives of social work students and educators. A thematic analysis conducted on student reflections completed over one semester and teacher reflections on the findings are presented. A postmodern narrative approach informed the analysis from which three themes, self-transformation, caring for self, and value-based leadership, are discussed. The paper concludes that a critically reflective approach to leadership education in the human services is important to the integration of theoretical knowledge, skill development and individualised contexts.
Research Interests:
http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=697192441582945;res=IELHSS Abstract: A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific leadership courses are not commonly... more
http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=697192441582945;res=IELHSS
Abstract: A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific leadership courses are not commonly included in Australian social work curriculums. It is argued that there is a difference between 'teaching' leadership and 'teaching about' leadership. Using a critically reflective approach to social work leadership assists students to develop a professional identity that includes future possibilities for leadership in a way that is personally meaningful. This paper reflects on leadership from the perspectives of social work students and educators. A thematic analysis conducted on student reflections completed over one semester and teacher reflections on the findings are presented. A postmodern narrative approach informed the analysis from which three themes, self-transformation, caring for self, and value-based leadership, are discussed. The paper concludes that a critically reflective approach to leadership education in the human services is important to
Abstract: A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific leadership courses are not commonly included in Australian social work curriculums. It is argued that there is a difference between 'teaching' leadership and 'teaching about' leadership. Using a critically reflective approach to social work leadership assists students to develop a professional identity that includes future possibilities for leadership in a way that is personally meaningful. This paper reflects on leadership from the perspectives of social work students and educators. A thematic analysis conducted on student reflections completed over one semester and teacher reflections on the findings are presented. A postmodern narrative approach informed the analysis from which three themes, self-transformation, caring for self, and value-based leadership, are discussed. The paper concludes that a critically reflective approach to leadership education in the human services is important to
Research Interests:
Fronek, P., & Briggs, L. (2019). Incorporating Demoralization into Social Work Practice. Social Work, 64(2), 157-164. doi:10.1093/sw/swz001 This article explores the relevance of demoralization to social work research and practice.... more
Fronek, P., & Briggs, L. (2019). Incorporating Demoralization into Social Work Practice. Social Work, 64(2), 157-164. doi:10.1093/sw/swz001
This article explores the relevance of demoralization to social work research and practice. Demoralization connects to the very core of being human. It is present in social work client groups and is an important but neglected concept in social work. Demoralization occurs when life becomes so overwhelming that daily functioning is affected and people lose all hope, agency, and the capacity to overcome their circumstances. Although a demoralized state is not recognized as a mental illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it is often confused with psychiatric disorders and its presence can lead to clinical conditions and suicide. This article discusses demoralization and its place in social work practice, identification, and measurement, and appropriate psychosocial interventions are also explored. The article concludes that demoralization has particular relevance to contemporary social work and should be considered in social work practice and research.
This article explores the relevance of demoralization to social work research and practice. Demoralization connects to the very core of being human. It is present in social work client groups and is an important but neglected concept in social work. Demoralization occurs when life becomes so overwhelming that daily functioning is affected and people lose all hope, agency, and the capacity to overcome their circumstances. Although a demoralized state is not recognized as a mental illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it is often confused with psychiatric disorders and its presence can lead to clinical conditions and suicide. This article discusses demoralization and its place in social work practice, identification, and measurement, and appropriate psychosocial interventions are also explored. The article concludes that demoralization has particular relevance to contemporary social work and should be considered in social work practice and research.
Research Interests:
Mackay-Sim, A., Féron, F., Cochrane, J., Bassingthwaighte, L., Bayliss, C., Davies, W., Fronek, P., Gray, C., Kerr, G., Licina, P., Nowitzke, A., Perry, C., Silburn, P.A.S., Urquhart, S. & Geraghty, T. (2008). Autologous olfactory... more
Mackay-Sim, A., Féron, F., Cochrane, J., Bassingthwaighte, L., Bayliss, C., Davies, W., Fronek, P., Gray, C., Kerr, G., Licina, P., Nowitzke, A., Perry, C., Silburn, P.A.S., Urquhart, S. & Geraghty, T. (2008). Autologous olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation in human paraplegia: A 3 year clinical trial. Brain, 131: 2376-86 .doi: 10.1093/brain/awn173
http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/131/9/2376.full
The inclusion of psychosocial assessment models in human experimental research protocol is a new area and has recently been applied to persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Qualitative analysis of six psychosocial assessment interviews, conducted for the purpose of screening potential human participants for experimental surgery, reveals six distinct themes of positive adjustment: Personal Strengths, Life Meaning, Positive Attitude, Engagement in Life, Support of Significant Others, and a Level of Resources that Does Not Inhibit Life Activity. The importance of psychosocial assessment in determining an individual's adjustment to disability makes visible the particular internal and external conditions that ensure harm to research participants is minimized.
Adjustment, spinal cord injury, experimental surgery, ethics
http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/131/9/2376.full
The inclusion of psychosocial assessment models in human experimental research protocol is a new area and has recently been applied to persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Qualitative analysis of six psychosocial assessment interviews, conducted for the purpose of screening potential human participants for experimental surgery, reveals six distinct themes of positive adjustment: Personal Strengths, Life Meaning, Positive Attitude, Engagement in Life, Support of Significant Others, and a Level of Resources that Does Not Inhibit Life Activity. The importance of psychosocial assessment in determining an individual's adjustment to disability makes visible the particular internal and external conditions that ensure harm to research participants is minimized.
Adjustment, spinal cord injury, experimental surgery, ethics
Research Interests:
For news on research outcomes http://app.griffith.edu.au/news/2014/10/23/stem-cell-work-hailed-as-paraplegic-walks-again/?src=hp The inclusion of psychosocial assessment models in human experimental research protocol is a new area and... more
For news on research outcomes http://app.griffith.edu.au/news/2014/10/23/stem-cell-work-hailed-as-paraplegic-walks-again/?src=hp
The inclusion of psychosocial assessment models in human experimental research protocol is a new area and has recently been applied to persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Qualitative analysis of six psychosocial assessment interviews, conducted for the purpose of screening potential human participants for experimental surgery, reveals six distinct themes of positive adjustment: Personal Strengths, Life Meaning, Positive Attitude, Engagement in Life, Support of Significant Others, and a Level of Resources that Does Not Inhibit Life Activity. The importance of psychosocial assessment in determining an individual's adjustment to disability makes visible the particular internal and external conditions that ensure harm to research participants is minimized.
Adjustment, spinal cord injury, experimental surgery, ethics
The inclusion of psychosocial assessment models in human experimental research protocol is a new area and has recently been applied to persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Qualitative analysis of six psychosocial assessment interviews, conducted for the purpose of screening potential human participants for experimental surgery, reveals six distinct themes of positive adjustment: Personal Strengths, Life Meaning, Positive Attitude, Engagement in Life, Support of Significant Others, and a Level of Resources that Does Not Inhibit Life Activity. The importance of psychosocial assessment in determining an individual's adjustment to disability makes visible the particular internal and external conditions that ensure harm to research participants is minimized.
Adjustment, spinal cord injury, experimental surgery, ethics
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (2004). The development of a psychosocial screening model for human participants with spinal cord injury in experimental research, SCI Psychosocial Process (Journal of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury... more
Fronek, P. (2004). The development of a psychosocial screening model for human participants with spinal cord injury in experimental research, SCI Psychosocial Process (Journal of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers, AASCIPSW), 17(1), 1, 6-11.
There is little available in the literature with regard to the use of psychosocial assessment as a screening tool in experimental surgery with human research participants. A psychosocial assessment screening model has been developed to assess potential participants in a phase one clinical trial of spinal cord regeneration therapy. The purpose of this paper is to address the development of a theoretical model of psychosocial assessment used to screen potential participants medically suitable to participate in the clinical trial and to describe the unique challenges faced in the screening of human participatns in experimental surgery. The importance of the inclusion of psychosocial assessment in research protocol with human participants is highlighted.
psychosocial assessment, screening, experimental surgery, spinal cord injury, ethics
There is little available in the literature with regard to the use of psychosocial assessment as a screening tool in experimental surgery with human research participants. A psychosocial assessment screening model has been developed to assess potential participants in a phase one clinical trial of spinal cord regeneration therapy. The purpose of this paper is to address the development of a theoretical model of psychosocial assessment used to screen potential participants medically suitable to participate in the clinical trial and to describe the unique challenges faced in the screening of human participatns in experimental surgery. The importance of the inclusion of psychosocial assessment in research protocol with human participants is highlighted.
psychosocial assessment, screening, experimental surgery, spinal cord injury, ethics
Research Interests:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11195-010-9177-1 Discipline specific and multidisciplinary training programs have been developed to provide practitioners working in health and disability fields with various combinations of... more
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11195-010-9177-1
Discipline specific and multidisciplinary training programs have been developed to provide practitioners working in health and disability fields with various combinations of knowledge, skills, attitudes and practitioner comfort important for such discussions. There is little, however, which demonstrates the long term effectiveness of such training programs. The current study is a 2-year follow-up to a randomized controlled trial that examined the effectiveness of a sexuality training program for rehabilitation practitioners working within spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Using both questionnaire-based and qualitative data, findings suggest that training can have long-lasting effects on practitioner knowledge, comfort and attitudes in addressing sexuality issues with clients. Training that is developed around the individualized needs of practitioners and the settings within which they work may be particularly effective. Future research is needed to explore the applicability of this type of training to other rehabilitation and healthcare settings.
Discipline specific and multidisciplinary training programs have been developed to provide practitioners working in health and disability fields with various combinations of knowledge, skills, attitudes and practitioner comfort important for such discussions. There is little, however, which demonstrates the long term effectiveness of such training programs. The current study is a 2-year follow-up to a randomized controlled trial that examined the effectiveness of a sexuality training program for rehabilitation practitioners working within spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Using both questionnaire-based and qualitative data, findings suggest that training can have long-lasting effects on practitioner knowledge, comfort and attitudes in addressing sexuality issues with clients. Training that is developed around the individualized needs of practitioners and the settings within which they work may be particularly effective. Future research is needed to explore the applicability of this type of training to other rehabilitation and healthcare settings.
Research Interests:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11195-005-4669-0 While there is evidence to support consideration of client sexuality needs in the provision of rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the... more
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11195-005-4669-0
While there is evidence to support consideration of client sexuality needs in the provision of rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the interdisciplinary team rarely receives training in this area. The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a consumer-driven sexuality training program in improving staff knowledge, comfort (general and personal) and attitudes. Using a local needs assessment to identify training needs and the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions and Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model as a training framework, a sexuality training program was developed in one Australian SCI service. A randomized controlled trial was conducted and significant improvement was found in all domains for the treatment group – Knowledge(χ2= 46.141, p< 0.001), Comfort (χ2= 23.338, p< 0.001), Approach(χ2= 23.925, p< 0.001) and Attitude (χ2= 15.235, p< 0.001) compared to the control group. Changes were found to be maintained at three month follow-up – Knowledge (Z=−5.116, p< 0.001), Comfort (Z=−3.953, p< 0.001), Approach (Z=−4.103, p< 0.001) and Attitudes (Z=−2.655, p< 0.001). These results support the use of an individualized needs-based sexuality training program in fostering staff knowledge, comfort and attitudinal change in an interdisciplinary SCI rehabilitation service.
While there is evidence to support consideration of client sexuality needs in the provision of rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the interdisciplinary team rarely receives training in this area. The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a consumer-driven sexuality training program in improving staff knowledge, comfort (general and personal) and attitudes. Using a local needs assessment to identify training needs and the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions and Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model as a training framework, a sexuality training program was developed in one Australian SCI service. A randomized controlled trial was conducted and significant improvement was found in all domains for the treatment group – Knowledge(χ2= 46.141, p< 0.001), Comfort (χ2= 23.338, p< 0.001), Approach(χ2= 23.925, p< 0.001) and Attitude (χ2= 15.235, p< 0.001) compared to the control group. Changes were found to be maintained at three month follow-up – Knowledge (Z=−5.116, p< 0.001), Comfort (Z=−3.953, p< 0.001), Approach (Z=−4.103, p< 0.001) and Attitudes (Z=−2.655, p< 0.001). These results support the use of an individualized needs-based sexuality training program in fostering staff knowledge, comfort and attitudinal change in an interdisciplinary SCI rehabilitation service.
Research Interests:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FB%3ASEDI.0000010067.27044.7e Historically, the management of sexuality issues in spinal cord injury rehabilitation has received scant attention as a staff training issue. This has occurred... more
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FB%3ASEDI.0000010067.27044.7e
Historically, the management of sexuality issues in spinal cord injury rehabilitation has received scant attention as a staff training issue. This has occurred despite evidence in the literature identifying significant barriers to the provision of sexuality rehabilitation. This paper reports on a needs assessment conducted within an Australian spinal cord injury rehabilitation service to identify the training needs of staff in relation to client sexuality. Using the Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes Towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS), a previously developed theoretical model and questionnaire, 90 multidisciplinary staff were surveyed. A combination of open and closed questioning techniques were used. While the findings suggest some differences between disciplines, the training needs of the interdisciplinary team were surprisingly similar. Knowledge is required in the areas of counselling, professional boundary setting, fertility and assistive devices while specific training is needed to promote staff comfort in dealing with personal approaches from clients.
Historically, the management of sexuality issues in spinal cord injury rehabilitation has received scant attention as a staff training issue. This has occurred despite evidence in the literature identifying significant barriers to the provision of sexuality rehabilitation. This paper reports on a needs assessment conducted within an Australian spinal cord injury rehabilitation service to identify the training needs of staff in relation to client sexuality. Using the Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes Towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS), a previously developed theoretical model and questionnaire, 90 multidisciplinary staff were surveyed. A combination of open and closed questioning techniques were used. While the findings suggest some differences between disciplines, the training needs of the interdisciplinary team were surprisingly similar. Knowledge is required in the areas of counselling, professional boundary setting, fertility and assistive devices while specific training is needed to promote staff comfort in dealing with personal approaches from clients.
Research Interests:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1023510925729 The training needs of rehabilitation professionals in the area of sexuality and sexual function, particularly following spinal cord injury (SCI) has received little attention... more
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1023510925729
The training needs of rehabilitation professionals in the area of sexuality and sexual function, particularly following spinal cord injury (SCI) has received little attention in the literature. Specifically, there is negligible theoretical discussion related to staff training needs, as well as a paucity of standardised scales to measure these needs. A conceptual model was developed encompassing staff knowledge, comfort, and attitudes towards sexuality following SCI. Using this model, a scale was developed, evaluated, and refined. Factor analysis supported the construct validity of the scale in measuring the existing conceptual model outlined but highlighted the existence of a separate construct related to personal approaches from clients. The subsequently named Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS) demonstrated high levels of internal consistency across the four conceptual domains. The KCAASS has utility for rehabilitation facilities interested in identifying and targeting training initiatives related to addressing client sexuality needs following SCI.
The training needs of rehabilitation professionals in the area of sexuality and sexual function, particularly following spinal cord injury (SCI) has received little attention in the literature. Specifically, there is negligible theoretical discussion related to staff training needs, as well as a paucity of standardised scales to measure these needs. A conceptual model was developed encompassing staff knowledge, comfort, and attitudes towards sexuality following SCI. Using this model, a scale was developed, evaluated, and refined. Factor analysis supported the construct validity of the scale in measuring the existing conceptual model outlined but highlighted the existence of a separate construct related to personal approaches from clients. The subsequently named Knowledge, Comfort, Approach and Attitudes towards Sexuality Scale (KCAASS) demonstrated high levels of internal consistency across the four conceptual domains. The KCAASS has utility for rehabilitation facilities interested in identifying and targeting training initiatives related to addressing client sexuality needs following SCI.
Research Interests:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1447-0748.2005.00235.x/abstract Family conferences are regularly conducted in a number of settings. However, the published literature offers limited insight into the conference environment as... more
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1447-0748.2005.00235.x/abstract
Family conferences are regularly conducted in a number of settings. However, the published literature offers limited insight into the conference environment as created by the interdisciplinary team. The level of client participation in this process remains unclear. A participatory observation study was conducted with an accidental sample in a spinal injuries rehabilitation setting. Language and behaviours exhibited by family conference members provided data for analysis. The findings indicate that individuals with a disability were participatory members in the family conference and were able to express their point of view even if it differed from the view of the professional team. However, the finding that family members were less engaged in the process suggests that they have different needs to the person with a disability and these needs might have to be met in a different way. It is important that professionals develop an awareness of their own language and behaviours and the potential impact of these factors on the individual and the family in family conference processes.
Family conferences are regularly conducted in a number of settings. However, the published literature offers limited insight into the conference environment as created by the interdisciplinary team. The level of client participation in this process remains unclear. A participatory observation study was conducted with an accidental sample in a spinal injuries rehabilitation setting. Language and behaviours exhibited by family conference members provided data for analysis. The findings indicate that individuals with a disability were participatory members in the family conference and were able to express their point of view even if it differed from the view of the professional team. However, the finding that family members were less engaged in the process suggests that they have different needs to the person with a disability and these needs might have to be met in a different way. It is important that professionals develop an awareness of their own language and behaviours and the potential impact of these factors on the individual and the family in family conference processes.
Research Interests:
The family conference is a common occurrence in many medical and community settings, yet there is limited literature concerning its practice particularly in relation to rehabilitation. The function and process of conferences are often... more
The family conference is a common occurrence in many medical and community settings, yet there is limited literature concerning its practice particularly in relation to rehabilitation. The function and process of conferences are often based on practice wisdom and tradition and are informed by the particular medical condition or disability the conference attempts to address. There are mixed reports concerning the level of participation and satisfaction of participants, that is, the client, family members and professionals, in conferences, and few related to the capacity of conferences to meet intended goals. The purpose of this paper is to review the current literature concerning family conferences and discuss its application to one practice setting. In one spinal injuries unit, a quality review that drew on available evidence concerning the purpose and functions of family conferences has prompted a number of practice improvements in two stages. Most recently the “family conference” has been renamed “RAP” (Rehabilitation and Planning) Conference that more properly reflects its purpose and functions. Preparatory and education strategies have been developed for participating professionals and improved client preparation has been supported through the provision of complementary information provision methods.
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Social workers and psychologists can play an important role within the wider interdisciplinary team by ensuring contemporary research findings are translated into daily practice. Despite shifts in knowledge found in contemporary... more
Social workers and psychologists can play an important role within the wider interdisciplinary team by ensuring contemporary research findings are translated into daily practice. Despite shifts in knowledge found in contemporary literature, new understandings are not always translated into daily practice. Health care professionals tend to anticipate more negative consequences of psychosocial adjustment to SCI than is necessarily experienced by individuals themselves. This has implications for effective clinical interventions. This practice issues paper aims to present current research finding which debunk seemingly persistent myths surrounding adjustment to SCI, and to consider strategies for bridging the research/practice divide.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented economic, health and social impacts as it has swept the globe. Intercountry adoption and international surrogacy are practices immediately affected, furthering vulnerabilities of children... more
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented economic, health and social impacts as it has swept the globe. Intercountry adoption and international surrogacy are practices immediately affected, furthering vulnerabilities of children and vulnerable adults. This short report calls attention to heightened risks, raises awareness for practitioners in these fields and asserts the need for caution.
Fronek, P., & Rotabi, K. S. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intercountry adoption and international commercial surrogacy. International Social Work, 0020872820940008. doi:10.1177/0020872820940008
Fronek, P., & Rotabi, K. S. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intercountry adoption and international commercial surrogacy. International Social Work, 0020872820940008. doi:10.1177/0020872820940008
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Fronek P. (2018) Current perspectives on the ethics of selling international surrogacy support services. Medicolegal and Bioethics 8: 11-20.... more
Fronek P. (2018) Current perspectives on the ethics of selling international surrogacy support services. Medicolegal and Bioethics 8: 11-20. https://www.dovepress.com/current-perspectives-on-the-ethics-of-selling-international-surrogacy--peer-reviewed-article-MB
This review presents current knowledge on selling surrogacy support services in developing countries. Rather than focusing on dichotomous positions, ethical issues that are present and unresolved are discussed by following the journey of surrogate mothers and highlighting the position of children whose well-being is generally assumed in surrogacy arrangements. Ethical concerns about conflicts of interest, fundamental freedoms, autonomy, informed consent, self-determination, privacy, and protecting children are shared across countries. International commercial surrogacy is predicated on profit made by service providers and intermediaries where producing a healthy, desired child for the consumer of services is the goal. As such, business models conflict with the well-being of women and children. Selling international surrogacy support services presents complex and multi-layered problems that must be understood in the context of a growing body of knowledge to ensure ethical deliberations are not based on fallacious premise or assumed propositions. International surrogacy is not a level playing field. Would-be parents and practitioners need the information and the opportunity to grapple with ethical issues when considering surrogacy arrangements, or enabling or profiting from it.
This review presents current knowledge on selling surrogacy support services in developing countries. Rather than focusing on dichotomous positions, ethical issues that are present and unresolved are discussed by following the journey of surrogate mothers and highlighting the position of children whose well-being is generally assumed in surrogacy arrangements. Ethical concerns about conflicts of interest, fundamental freedoms, autonomy, informed consent, self-determination, privacy, and protecting children are shared across countries. International commercial surrogacy is predicated on profit made by service providers and intermediaries where producing a healthy, desired child for the consumer of services is the goal. As such, business models conflict with the well-being of women and children. Selling international surrogacy support services presents complex and multi-layered problems that must be understood in the context of a growing body of knowledge to ensure ethical deliberations are not based on fallacious premise or assumed propositions. International surrogacy is not a level playing field. Would-be parents and practitioners need the information and the opportunity to grapple with ethical issues when considering surrogacy arrangements, or enabling or profiting from it.
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Crawshaw, M., Fronek, P., Blyth, E., & Alvin, A. (2017). What are children’s ‘best interests’ in international surrogacy? A social work perspective from the UK. In M. Davies (Ed.), Babies for sale: Transnational surrogacy, human rights... more
Crawshaw, M., Fronek, P., Blyth, E., & Alvin, A. (2017). What are children’s ‘best interests’ in international surrogacy? A social work perspective from the UK. In M. Davies (Ed.), Babies for sale: Transnational surrogacy, human rights and the politics of reproduction (pp. 163 - 184). UK: Zed Books.
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Blyth, E., Crawshaw, M., & Fronek, P. (2015, August 3). reform of UK surrogacy laws: The need for evidence. BioNews. Retrieved from http://www.bionews.org.uk/page.asp?obj_id=553051&PPID=553260&sid=905
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Fronek, P. (2015). An update on surrogacy from Australia's roundtables. National Bulletin, 25(2), 18-19.
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Fronek, P., Crawshaw, M., Blyth, E., & Elvin, A. (2014). International surrogacy: A report from the roundtable. National Bulletin (Australian Association of Social Workers), Winter, 30-31. Forthcoming
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http://www.basw.co.uk/resource/?id=3176 Crawshaw, M., Fronek, P., Blyth, E., & Elvin, A. (2014). What are children's 'best interests' in international surrogacy. Professional Social Work. British Association of Social Workers.
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http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fpl/index.html Cuthbert, D., & Fronek, P. (2014). Perfecting adoption? Reflections on the rise of commercial offshore surrogacy and family formation in Australia. In A. Hayes & D. Higgins (Eds.),... more
http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fpl/index.html
Cuthbert, D., & Fronek, P. (2014). Perfecting adoption? Reflections on the rise of commercial offshore surrogacy and family formation in Australia. In A. Hayes & D. Higgins (Eds.), Families, policy and the law: Selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia (pp. 55-66). Melbourne, Australia: Australian Institute of Family Studies.. http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fpl/index.html
Cuthbert, D., & Fronek, P. (2014). Perfecting adoption? Reflections on the rise of commercial offshore surrogacy and family formation in Australia. In A. Hayes & D. Higgins (Eds.), Families, policy and the law: Selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia (pp. 55-66). Melbourne, Australia: Australian Institute of Family Studies.. http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fpl/index.html
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http://bjsw.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/2/737.abstract Biomedicine, bioethics and the law dominate policy and practice in controversial methods of creating families through assisted reproductive technologies including cross-border... more
http://bjsw.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/2/737.abstract
Biomedicine, bioethics and the law dominate policy and practice in controversial methods of creating families through assisted reproductive technologies including cross-border reproductive care and surrogacy. This commentary discusses the ascendancy of ‘the right-to-parent’ lobby in global free markets where individualism, neo-liberal and neo-feminist perspectives, consumerism and porous state borders thrive and legislative frameworks only regulate risky practices well after they are established. It argues the need for social work to be a critical voice in ethical debates, a key contributor to national and international social policy and practice, and a leader in global child welfare matters.
Biomedicine, bioethics and the law dominate policy and practice in controversial methods of creating families through assisted reproductive technologies including cross-border reproductive care and surrogacy. This commentary discusses the ascendancy of ‘the right-to-parent’ lobby in global free markets where individualism, neo-liberal and neo-feminist perspectives, consumerism and porous state borders thrive and legislative frameworks only regulate risky practices well after they are established. It argues the need for social work to be a critical voice in ethical debates, a key contributor to national and international social policy and practice, and a leader in global child welfare matters.
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Social Work and Surrogacy
Article usage statistics combine cumulative total PDF downloads and full-text HTML views from publication date (but no earlier than 25 Jun 2011, launch date of this website) to 15 Feb 2013. Article views are only counted from this site.... more
Article usage statistics combine cumulative total PDF downloads and full-text HTML views from publication date (but no earlier than 25 Jun 2011, launch date of this website) to 15 Feb 2013. Article views are only counted from this site. Although these data are updated every 24 hours, there may be a 48-hour delay before the most recent numbers are available.
... culturally specific work. This work is certainly a worthy contribution to knowledge and fills a gap in the intricate tapestry of knowledge concerning intercountry adoption and cultural belonging. Patricia Fronek PhD Griffith University
Reporting by Ashleigh Stevenson on ABC
Comment by Patricia Fronek
Comment by Patricia Fronek
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Adoption and Kinship care
Evenings with Sarah Howells Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) Queensland supports Same-sex adoption 08 August 2016 , 7:33 PM by Gabrielle Lyons The Palaszczuk Government is overturning discriminatory laws to make it legal for... more
Evenings with Sarah Howells Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC)
Queensland supports Same-sex adoption
08 August 2016 , 7:33 PM by Gabrielle Lyons
The Palaszczuk Government is overturning discriminatory laws to make it legal for same-sex couples to adopt children in Queensland.
Communities Minister Shannon Fentiman made the announcement at New Farm park in Brisbane over the weekend.
The announcement came after a wide-ranging review of the state's Adoption Act 2009.
The reforms will bring Queensland into line with New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia and Victoria in allowing adoption by same-sex couples and singles.
Sarah discussed this matter with Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Honourable Shannon Fentiman, followed by further discussion about adoption with Dr. Patricia Fronek from Griffith University's school of Human Services and Social Work.
Queensland supports Same-sex adoption
08 August 2016 , 7:33 PM by Gabrielle Lyons
The Palaszczuk Government is overturning discriminatory laws to make it legal for same-sex couples to adopt children in Queensland.
Communities Minister Shannon Fentiman made the announcement at New Farm park in Brisbane over the weekend.
The announcement came after a wide-ranging review of the state's Adoption Act 2009.
The reforms will bring Queensland into line with New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia and Victoria in allowing adoption by same-sex couples and singles.
Sarah discussed this matter with Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Honourable Shannon Fentiman, followed by further discussion about adoption with Dr. Patricia Fronek from Griffith University's school of Human Services and Social Work.
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Huffington Post
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Vandy Muong and Will Jackson - authors
Blyth, E., Crawshaw, M., & Fronek, P. (2015, August 3). reform of UK surrogacy laws: The need for evidence. BioNews. Retrieved from http://www.bionews.org.uk/page.asp?obj_id=553051&PPID=553260&sid=905
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Fronek, P. (2015, May 26). Your child is missing. Would you want their adoption to be easier? The Drum. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-26/fronek-your-child-is-missing-would-you-want-them-adopted/6497232?pfm=ms#comments
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Fronek, P. (2015, May 25). Your child is missing. Would you want their adoption to be easier? The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/your-child-is-missing-would-you-want-their-adoption-to-be-easier-42108
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Reporter Judith Ireland
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Report by Grace Jennings-Edquist
Perma link https://radio.adelaide.edu.au/australian-adoption-policy/
Komorek, C. (Interviewer). (2015). Australian adoption policy [Radio], Breakfast on Radio Adelaide. Adelaide.
Komorek, C. (Interviewer). (2015). Australian adoption policy [Radio], Breakfast on Radio Adelaide. Adelaide.
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Grass roots community work, a challenging and rewarding field, is not always given the attention it deserves. Joel Izlar talks to Podsocs about his work as a social worker, activist and researcher with grassroots organisations.... more
Grass roots community work, a challenging and rewarding field, is not always given the attention it deserves. Joel Izlar talks to Podsocs about his work as a social worker, activist and researcher with grassroots organisations.
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/grassroots-organisations/
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/grassroots-organisations/
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In this podcast, Julie Selwyn talks about a study conducted with colleagues on UK adoption disruptions involving severely abused children adopted from care. She paints a picture of complex cases and the need for child participation and... more
In this podcast, Julie Selwyn talks about a study conducted with colleagues on UK adoption disruptions involving severely abused children adopted from care. She paints a picture of complex cases and the need for child participation and preparation, ongoing therapeutic support for children and adoptive parents, support and training for foster parents, and the importance of open communication about a child’s history and other ongoing issues.
Fronek, P. (Host). (2013, March 3). Disruption beyond adoption: In conversation with Julie Selwyn [Episode 74]. Podsocs. Podcast retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/disruption-beyond-adoption/.
Fronek, P. (Host). (2013, March 3). Disruption beyond adoption: In conversation with Julie Selwyn [Episode 74]. Podsocs. Podcast retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/disruption-beyond-adoption/.
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Talking about sex. The question is - do we? Rosalyn Dischiavo throws some light on the subject in this podcast. Fronek, P. (Host). (2014, November 19). Talking about sex: In conversation with Rosalyn Dischiavo [Episode 73]. Podsocs.... more
Talking about sex. The question is - do we? Rosalyn Dischiavo throws some light on the subject in this podcast.
Fronek, P. (Host). (2014, November 19). Talking about sex: In conversation with Rosalyn Dischiavo [Episode 73]. Podsocs. Podcast retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/talking-about-sex/.
Fronek, P. (Host). (2014, November 19). Talking about sex: In conversation with Rosalyn Dischiavo [Episode 73]. Podsocs. Podcast retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/talking-about-sex/.
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This podcast is a presentation given by Kate Van Doore at the Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking held on October 9-11 2014 at the University of Nebraska http://humantrafficking.unl.edu/. Kate van Doore talks about the... more
This podcast is a presentation given by Kate Van Doore at the Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking held on October 9-11 2014 at the University of Nebraska http://humantrafficking.unl.edu/. Kate van Doore talks about the convergence of trafficking, orphanages and ‘orphans’ and how orphanhood and tourism are essential to a new business model.
Fronek, P. (Host). (2014, November 5). From orphanhood to trafficked: In conversation with Kate van Doore [Episode 72]. Podsocs. Podcast retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/from-orphanhood-to-trafficked/.
Fronek, P. (Host). (2014, November 5). From orphanhood to trafficked: In conversation with Kate van Doore [Episode 72]. Podsocs. Podcast retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/from-orphanhood-to-trafficked/.
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Podcast 71: http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/closet-activists-and-covert-workplace-activities/. Is radical social work dead or does it have a covert presence in modern social work practice? In this podcast, Lyndal Greenslade shines a light... more
Podcast 71: http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/closet-activists-and-covert-workplace-activities/. Is radical social work dead or does it have a covert presence in modern social work practice? In this podcast, Lyndal Greenslade shines a light on closet activism.
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Podcast 70. http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/domestic-violence-in-child-welfare/ The “Safe and Together’ model is about domestic violence in child welfare contexts. David Mandel talks about this model and his work with professionals in the... more
Podcast 70. http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/domestic-violence-in-child-welfare/ The “Safe and Together’ model is about domestic violence in child welfare contexts. David Mandel talks about this model and his work with professionals in the field.
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Podcast 69: http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/aboriginal-mental-health/ In this podcast, John van der Giezen discusses his work in Aboriginal mental health in Western Australia.
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Podcast 68: http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/aboriginal-health/ Richard Shipp, an Aboriginal Health practitioner, and Victoria Jones, Psycho-oncology Service Development Social Worker, discuss their experiences of working with Aboriginal... more
Podcast 68: http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/aboriginal-health/ Richard Shipp, an Aboriginal Health practitioner, and Victoria Jones, Psycho-oncology Service Development Social Worker, discuss their experiences of working with Aboriginal people and the success of particular projects.
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Podcast 67 (http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/social-work-robots-and-a-technological-future/) – The world is changing. Robots and technological advancements will be very important to social work in the next two decades. How we engage with... more
Podcast 67 (http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/social-work-robots-and-a-technological-future/) – The world is changing. Robots and technological advancements will be very important to social work in the next two decades. How we engage with technology and predict and manage the issues that will arise alongside technological advancement is important to social work. Equality, power and social justice will be on the agenda. Antonio López Peláez talks about his research on social work and robots.
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In this podcast (http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/long-term-follow-up-of-children-with-problem-behaviours/), Helen Masson talks about a novel approach to tracing research participants using social media. Helen also talks about the findings... more
In this podcast (http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/long-term-follow-up-of-children-with-problem-behaviours/), Helen Masson talks about a novel approach to tracing research participants using social media. Helen also talks about the findings of this research with adults who as children had sexually abused.
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/hospital-social-work/. Brokers, bouncers and glue are some of the self-described social work roles that Shelley Craig and Barbara Muskat identified in their research. Healthcare is changing rapidly and... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/hospital-social-work/. Brokers, bouncers and glue are some of the self-described social work roles that Shelley Craig and Barbara Muskat identified in their research. Healthcare is changing rapidly and social workers are vital to this system. But what do social workers actually do in hospital settings?
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/corporate-social-responsibility-and-social-enterprise/. What has business got to do with social work? Tim Palmer talks to Podsocs about the relationships companies have with society, people, communities and... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/corporate-social-responsibility-and-social-enterprise/. What has business got to do with social work? Tim Palmer talks to Podsocs about the relationships companies have with society, people, communities and the environment and opportunities for social work.
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/bodies-grief-and-social-work/. In some ways we are death obsessed yet we often hide away from the realities of death. John Drayton talks to us about his research in coronial social work with relatives of... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/bodies-grief-and-social-work/. In some ways we are death obsessed yet we often hide away from the realities of death. John Drayton talks to us about his research in coronial social work with relatives of deceased people and their relationships with the deceased.
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In this podcast, Trevor Jordan talks about post adoption support – who is affected, some of the issues that affect people, and the need for post adoption support services. http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/post-adoption-support/
Research Interests:
Social Work and Adoption
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/migrant-social-workers-crossing-borders/ Social workers are a relatively mobile profession. Many of us find ourselves working in other countries but how well prepared are we for the experience? Allen... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/migrant-social-workers-crossing-borders/
Social workers are a relatively mobile profession. Many of us find ourselves working in other countries but how well prepared are we for the experience? Allen Bartley talks about New Zealand research on migrant social workers.
Allen Bartley is a sociologist and senior lecturer in the School of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work at the University of Auckland. He migrated to New Zealand from the USA in 1992. His primary research interests include 1.5-generation migrants and transnationalism, ethnic politics in New Zealand and transgenerational ethnic identity. Current work includes a study of overseas-qualified social workers practicing in New Zealand, and the emergence of transnational professional spaces.""
Social workers are a relatively mobile profession. Many of us find ourselves working in other countries but how well prepared are we for the experience? Allen Bartley talks about New Zealand research on migrant social workers.
Allen Bartley is a sociologist and senior lecturer in the School of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work at the University of Auckland. He migrated to New Zealand from the USA in 1992. His primary research interests include 1.5-generation migrants and transnationalism, ethnic politics in New Zealand and transgenerational ethnic identity. Current work includes a study of overseas-qualified social workers practicing in New Zealand, and the emergence of transnational professional spaces.""
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/social-work-in-disasters/ There is no argument from the experts - climate change is here. Disasters are more intense and affect vulnerable and not so vulnerable populations everywhere. So what role do... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/social-work-in-disasters/
There is no argument from the experts - climate change is here. Disasters are more intense and affect vulnerable and not so vulnerable populations everywhere. So what role do social workers have in disasters? Desley Hargreaves brings her considerable experience in this work to the Podsocs conversation.
There is no argument from the experts - climate change is here. Disasters are more intense and affect vulnerable and not so vulnerable populations everywhere. So what role do social workers have in disasters? Desley Hargreaves brings her considerable experience in this work to the Podsocs conversation.
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/lesbian-asylum-seekers-in-the-uk/ Imagine seeking asylum in a foreign country. Got it. Pretty tough. Now imagine you had to prove your sexual orientation in a court of law. Lesbian asylum seekers in the UK... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/lesbian-asylum-seekers-in-the-uk/
Imagine seeking asylum in a foreign country. Got it. Pretty tough. Now imagine you had to prove your sexual orientation in a court of law. Lesbian asylum seekers in the UK have to do just that. Claire Bennett talks to us about her work with refugees and her research on lesbian asylum seekers in the UK
Imagine seeking asylum in a foreign country. Got it. Pretty tough. Now imagine you had to prove your sexual orientation in a court of law. Lesbian asylum seekers in the UK have to do just that. Claire Bennett talks to us about her work with refugees and her research on lesbian asylum seekers in the UK
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/talking-about-suicide/ Suicide affects individuals, families and communities throughout society. In this podcast, Samara McPhedran takes us on a journey of thinking about suicide in relation to young... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/talking-about-suicide/
Suicide affects individuals, families and communities throughout society. In this podcast, Samara McPhedran takes us on a journey of thinking about suicide in relation to young people, older people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and those people in specific jobs like farming.
Suicide affects individuals, families and communities throughout society. In this podcast, Samara McPhedran takes us on a journey of thinking about suicide in relation to young people, older people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and those people in specific jobs like farming.
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/neoliberalism/
Neoliberalism is a big topic but do we ever think about it, what it is and its relevance to all of us. Should we be paying more attention?
Neoliberalism is a big topic but do we ever think about it, what it is and its relevance to all of us. Should we be paying more attention?
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/the-thesis-whisperer/
Are you a PhD student? Thinking of writing a blog? Or just like or want to improve your writing? This is the podcast for you!
Are you a PhD student? Thinking of writing a blog? Or just like or want to improve your writing? This is the podcast for you!
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/finding-aboriginal-identity/ Finding Aboriginal identity: In conversation with Bindi Bennett. Identity for some Aboriginal young people is “like a shattered vase and you are always picking up the pieces”.... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/finding-aboriginal-identity/
Finding Aboriginal identity: In conversation with Bindi Bennett. Identity for some Aboriginal young people is “like a shattered vase and you are always picking up the pieces”. In this podcast, Bindi Bennett talks to us about the experiences of light skinned Aboriginal young people and their search for identity.
Finding Aboriginal identity: In conversation with Bindi Bennett. Identity for some Aboriginal young people is “like a shattered vase and you are always picking up the pieces”. In this podcast, Bindi Bennett talks to us about the experiences of light skinned Aboriginal young people and their search for identity.
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/moral-panic-and-claims-making/
What is moral panic and claims making? Gary Clapton fills us in and fixes a sceptical eye on how it plays out in child protection.
What is moral panic and claims making? Gary Clapton fills us in and fixes a sceptical eye on how it plays out in child protection.
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/children-s-institutions-in-bangladesh/ In this Podsocs podcast, Tuhinal Islam talks about his research on the well-being of children who live and have lived in 3 different children’s homes in Bangladesh – a... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/children-s-institutions-in-bangladesh/
In this Podsocs podcast, Tuhinal Islam talks about his research on the well-being of children who live and have lived in 3 different children’s homes in Bangladesh – a Madrasa, a government and a NGO institution. Hi research compared the experiences of children and the benefits and disadvantages of each system with a view to making improvements in residential childcare for those children who did not have alternative living arrangements or were deemed to be at risk.
In this Podsocs podcast, Tuhinal Islam talks about his research on the well-being of children who live and have lived in 3 different children’s homes in Bangladesh – a Madrasa, a government and a NGO institution. Hi research compared the experiences of children and the benefits and disadvantages of each system with a view to making improvements in residential childcare for those children who did not have alternative living arrangements or were deemed to be at risk.
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/what-is-the-future-of-social-work/ These are tough times. Several decades of neoliberal ideologies in politics and social policy has affected social work. Austerity measures are delivering further blows to... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/what-is-the-future-of-social-work/
These are tough times. Several decades of neoliberal ideologies in politics and social policy has affected social work. Austerity measures are delivering further blows to the delivery of welfare and higher education. Michael Reisch talks to us about the future of social work through a critical lens.
These are tough times. Several decades of neoliberal ideologies in politics and social policy has affected social work. Austerity measures are delivering further blows to the delivery of welfare and higher education. Michael Reisch talks to us about the future of social work through a critical lens.
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http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/young-women-in-prison/ Mixing adolescents and adults in prison? We usually think not. Sophie Goldingay provides a different view from her research about young female prisoners. Instead having ‘Aunties’... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/young-women-in-prison/
Mixing adolescents and adults in prison? We usually think not. Sophie Goldingay provides a different view from her research about young female prisoners. Instead having ‘Aunties’ around can help young people culturally, spiritually and behaviourally.
Mixing adolescents and adults in prison? We usually think not. Sophie Goldingay provides a different view from her research about young female prisoners. Instead having ‘Aunties’ around can help young people culturally, spiritually and behaviourally.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/working-with-young-people-who-offend/ Working with young people who offend and their families can be challenging. Jioji Ravulo talks in this podcast about his research and practice with marginalised youth... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/working-with-young-people-who-offend/
Working with young people who offend and their families can be challenging. Jioji Ravulo talks in this podcast about his research and practice with marginalised youth and their families. He highlights a model that emphasises strengths, inclusion, community and collaboration.
Working with young people who offend and their families can be challenging. Jioji Ravulo talks in this podcast about his research and practice with marginalised youth and their families. He highlights a model that emphasises strengths, inclusion, community and collaboration.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/children-and-the-internet/ What are the risks to children using the internet and where does social work fit in technological research and practice? In this podcast, Corinne May-Chahal broaches these issues... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/children-and-the-internet/
What are the risks to children using the internet and where does social work fit in technological research and practice? In this podcast, Corinne May-Chahal broaches these issues and ventures into the world of children on the internet.
What are the risks to children using the internet and where does social work fit in technological research and practice? In this podcast, Corinne May-Chahal broaches these issues and ventures into the world of children on the internet.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/forget-me-not/ Forget Me Not is a children’s non government organisation operating in Nepal and several other countries. The organisation values ethics, children’s rights and child-driven approaches. In... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/forget-me-not/
Forget Me Not is a children’s non government organisation operating in Nepal and several other countries. The organisation values ethics, children’s rights and child-driven approaches. In this podcast, Kate Van Doore identifies child trafficking as a major problem in Nepal where children are trafficked and sold for international adoption or prostitution. Kate reports on the work of Forget Me Not in family reunion and discusses the complexities surrounding the care of children.
Forget Me Not is a children’s non government organisation operating in Nepal and several other countries. The organisation values ethics, children’s rights and child-driven approaches. In this podcast, Kate Van Doore identifies child trafficking as a major problem in Nepal where children are trafficked and sold for international adoption or prostitution. Kate reports on the work of Forget Me Not in family reunion and discusses the complexities surrounding the care of children.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/the-human-consequences-of-the-iraq-war/ What does war have to do with social work? Richard Hil throws no punches when talking about his research on the human consequences of the Iraq War. Can social work be... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/the-human-consequences-of-the-iraq-war/
What does war have to do with social work? Richard Hil throws no punches when talking about his research on the human consequences of the Iraq War. Can social work be blind to world politics and its impact on people and maintain our commitment to human rights and social justice?
What does war have to do with social work? Richard Hil throws no punches when talking about his research on the human consequences of the Iraq War. Can social work be blind to world politics and its impact on people and maintain our commitment to human rights and social justice?
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/working-with-fathers-from-a-strengths-perspective/ Men often respond the way we expect them to, so it is essential we engage them in practice in a way that is respectful and open to their strengths. Though... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/working-with-fathers-from-a-strengths-perspective/
Men often respond the way we expect them to, so it is essential we engage them in practice in a way that is respectful and open to their strengths. Though fathers are so important in families, it is an area of practice often neglected. Andrew King speaks to us about working with men and the skills we need – relevance, faith building, and honesty and directness.
Men often respond the way we expect them to, so it is essential we engage them in practice in a way that is respectful and open to their strengths. Though fathers are so important in families, it is an area of practice often neglected. Andrew King speaks to us about working with men and the skills we need – relevance, faith building, and honesty and directness.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/social-work-and-health-inequalities/ As we approach World Social Day 2013, equality is on the global agenda. In today’s podcast, Julie Fish talks to us about social work’s role in addressing health... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/social-work-and-health-inequalities/
As we approach World Social Day 2013, equality is on the global agenda. In today’s podcast, Julie Fish talks to us about social work’s role in addressing health inequalities and the social determinants of health, and the importance of raising the profession’s profile in this area of practice.
As we approach World Social Day 2013, equality is on the global agenda. In today’s podcast, Julie Fish talks to us about social work’s role in addressing health inequalities and the social determinants of health, and the importance of raising the profession’s profile in this area of practice.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/mindfulness/ Mindfulness – what is it and how does it relate to social work? Micheal Shier talks to us about how mindfulness in reflective practice can assist social workers’ subjective well-being in... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/mindfulness/
Mindfulness – what is it and how does it relate to social work? Micheal Shier talks to us about how mindfulness in reflective practice can assist social workers’ subjective well-being in personal and professional realms.
Mindfulness – what is it and how does it relate to social work? Micheal Shier talks to us about how mindfulness in reflective practice can assist social workers’ subjective well-being in personal and professional realms.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/social-work-in-china/ The growth of social work is exploding in China supported by government. Social work itself is both old and new in China. Terry Leung discusses the growth of the social work profession... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/social-work-in-china/
The growth of social work is exploding in China supported by government. Social work itself is both old and new in China. Terry Leung discusses the growth of the social work profession in China through a Foucauldian governmentality lens and the benefits social work brings to China.
The growth of social work is exploding in China supported by government. Social work itself is both old and new in China. Terry Leung discusses the growth of the social work profession in China through a Foucauldian governmentality lens and the benefits social work brings to China.
Research Interests:
Social Work and China
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/involving-fathers/ Involving fathers in family work particularly in child protection can be challenging for practitioners. Joseph Fleming explores practitioners’ experiences of engaging fathers drawing from... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/involving-fathers/
Involving fathers in family work particularly in child protection can be challenging for practitioners. Joseph Fleming explores practitioners’ experiences of engaging fathers drawing from his qualitative research.
Involving fathers in family work particularly in child protection can be challenging for practitioners. Joseph Fleming explores practitioners’ experiences of engaging fathers drawing from his qualitative research.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/evidence-based-practice/ Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been part of social work practice for at least a decade. Debates and controversies about EBP and its role in social work practice features in the... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/evidence-based-practice/
Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been part of social work practice for at least a decade. Debates and controversies about EBP and its role in social work practice features in the academic literature. Debbie Plath defines EBP, discusses its relevance and outlines the process in this podcast.
Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been part of social work practice for at least a decade. Debates and controversies about EBP and its role in social work practice features in the academic literature. Debbie Plath defines EBP, discusses its relevance and outlines the process in this podcast.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/family-violence-post-disaster/ The increased intensity of disasters and their impact on individuals and communities are frequent in today’s world. Little is known about violence after disasters in the... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/family-violence-post-disaster/
The increased intensity of disasters and their impact on individuals and communities are frequent in today’s world. Little is known about violence after disasters in the Australian context, despite considerable academic research on this phenomenon in developing countries. Deb Parkinson and colleagues seek to fill that gap. In this podcast, Deb talks to us about family violence following disasters such as the Black Saturday bushfires that devastated parts of Australia and how recognising family violence may be a blind spot for the helping professions in developed countries.
The increased intensity of disasters and their impact on individuals and communities are frequent in today’s world. Little is known about violence after disasters in the Australian context, despite considerable academic research on this phenomenon in developing countries. Deb Parkinson and colleagues seek to fill that gap. In this podcast, Deb talks to us about family violence following disasters such as the Black Saturday bushfires that devastated parts of Australia and how recognising family violence may be a blind spot for the helping professions in developed countries.
Research Interests:
Fronek, P. (Host). (2013, January 13). Community development: In conversation with Ann Ingamells [Episode 39]. Podsocs. Podcast retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/community-development/. What do we mean when... more
Fronek, P. (Host). (2013, January 13). Community development: In conversation with Ann Ingamells [Episode 39]. Podsocs. Podcast retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/community-development/.
What do we mean when we talk about community development? Practitioners often mean different things when they talk about it. Ann Ingamells talks about her practice in community development and the accumulative and wide-ranging benefits for individuals and their communities in such work.
What do we mean when we talk about community development? Practitioners often mean different things when they talk about it. Ann Ingamells talks about her practice in community development and the accumulative and wide-ranging benefits for individuals and their communities in such work.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/health-inequalities/ So what are health inequalities? How do government policies influence whether we improve a nation’s health or make it worse? These and other questions are tackled by Dennis Raphael in... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/health-inequalities/
So what are health inequalities? How do government policies influence whether we improve a nation’s health or make it worse? These and other questions are tackled by Dennis Raphael in this Podsocs episode.
So what are health inequalities? How do government policies influence whether we improve a nation’s health or make it worse? These and other questions are tackled by Dennis Raphael in this Podsocs episode.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/the-right-to-information-for-donor-conceived-people/ Do donor conceived people have to the right to information? Damon Martin talks about the rights of donor conceived people and the similarities,... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/the-right-to-information-for-donor-conceived-people/
Do donor conceived people have to the right to information? Damon Martin talks about the rights of donor conceived people and the similarities, differences, and the lessons we can learn from adoption. Historically, both practices have been shrouded in secrecy and while adoption practices have significantly changed over the years embracing a new sense of openness, donor conception remains far from transparent.
Do donor conceived people have to the right to information? Damon Martin talks about the rights of donor conceived people and the similarities, differences, and the lessons we can learn from adoption. Historically, both practices have been shrouded in secrecy and while adoption practices have significantly changed over the years embracing a new sense of openness, donor conception remains far from transparent.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/strengths-based-practice/ Venkat Pulla presents on a much requested topic, strength-based practice. He poses some challenging ideas useful in generating discussion on how we practice strengths-based... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/strengths-based-practice/
Venkat Pulla presents on a much requested topic, strength-based practice. He poses some challenging ideas useful in generating discussion on how we practice strengths-based approaches. The importance of nurturing strengths and supporting hope in the people with whom we work is highlighted.
Venkat Pulla presents on a much requested topic, strength-based practice. He poses some challenging ideas useful in generating discussion on how we practice strengths-based approaches. The importance of nurturing strengths and supporting hope in the people with whom we work is highlighted.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/women-and-sexual-violence/ In this podcast, Di Macleod talks about sexual violence on women, the 6 principles of universal safe practice and trauma informed care. She addresses some of the contemporary... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/women-and-sexual-violence/
In this podcast, Di Macleod talks about sexual violence on women, the 6 principles of universal safe practice and trauma informed care. She addresses some of the contemporary challenges – the relationship between sexual violence and mental health; substance misuse; homelessness; drink spiking; and the major role social media plays in sexual violence.
In this podcast, Di Macleod talks about sexual violence on women, the 6 principles of universal safe practice and trauma informed care. She addresses some of the contemporary challenges – the relationship between sexual violence and mental health; substance misuse; homelessness; drink spiking; and the major role social media plays in sexual violence.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/participatory-research-in-south-african-schools/ South African education is plagued by inequality in what is essentially a two-tiered system. HIV, AIDSs and gender inequality are some of the issues... more
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/participatory-research-in-south-african-schools/
South African education is plagued by inequality in what is essentially a two-tiered system. HIV, AIDSs and gender inequality are some of the issues experienced by those people living in disadvantaged communities. Lesley’s research focuses on schools as the central institution in many communities. Participatory and inclusive research methodologies are useful in developing meaningful interventions that support children and their communities to find their own solutions.
South African education is plagued by inequality in what is essentially a two-tiered system. HIV, AIDSs and gender inequality are some of the issues experienced by those people living in disadvantaged communities. Lesley’s research focuses on schools as the central institution in many communities. Participatory and inclusive research methodologies are useful in developing meaningful interventions that support children and their communities to find their own solutions.
Research Interests:
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/green-social-work/
What is green social work? Lena Dominelli talks to us about green social work and the role social work can play in today’s world.
What is green social work? Lena Dominelli talks to us about green social work and the role social work can play in today’s world.
Research Interests:
Presented at Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development in Melbourne, Australia on the 12th July, 2014.
Research Interests:
The ‘politicalisation’ of intercountry adoption in Australia resulted in the emergence of government sanctioned intercountry adoption programs from the mid 1970s. It remained a political phenomenon driven by parent-activists culminating... more
The ‘politicalisation’ of intercountry adoption in Australia resulted in the emergence of government sanctioned intercountry adoption programs from the mid 1970s. It remained a political phenomenon driven by parent-activists culminating in a federal Inquiry in 2005. Today, some celebrities and some parent-activitists continue to pressure for parent-driven policy approaches, The Inquiry resulted in a restructuring of previously state-based responsibilities to greater federal and centralized responsibilities. The formation of NICAAG (National InterCountry Adoption Advisory Group) of adoptees, a birth mother, adoptive parents and an academic, together with government, is working towards ensuring Australian policy and practices with regard to intercountry adoptions are child-focused, ethical, evidence-based and resistant to harmful pressures. This includes a conceptual shift where children born overseas are also perceived as ‘at risk’ of intercountry adoption, that is, of illegal and unnecessary separation from their families and recognition that even in legal adoptions separations can be enforced through economic disadvantage and lack of alternatives. The combination of multiple perspectives within NICAG allows for a greater understanding of a complex phenomenon and co-operation with regards to policy determinations and information dissemination to all stakeholders from a national level. This paper reports on key benefits and challenges.
Preparing social work students for practice is challenging given the increasingly diverse backgrounds of students, many of whom may be first in family at university, from refugee and migrant backgrounds, may have a disability/ies, may be... more
Preparing social work students for practice is challenging given the increasingly diverse backgrounds of students, many of whom may be first in family at university, from refugee and migrant backgrounds, may have a disability/ies, may be older, likely to be working, and may be caring for children and/ or other family members. There is little research that helps understand university experiences in the context of individual student lives. Griffith University, committed to a social inclusion agenda for non-traditional students, has commenced a longitudinal study of five social work student cohorts across two campuses.
The study is prospective and longitudinal, collecting quantitative and qualitative data from students at three points of delivery. This paper reports on stage 1, the pilot, completed in 2011. A 52-item survey explored student experiences in relation to Self and Family; Balance, Health and Well-being; Future Plans; and Experiences of University. The results identified a range of barriers and facilitating factors. This study, the first of its kind, will inform educational strategies and support strategies for social work students from a range of backgrounds.
The study is prospective and longitudinal, collecting quantitative and qualitative data from students at three points of delivery. This paper reports on stage 1, the pilot, completed in 2011. A 52-item survey explored student experiences in relation to Self and Family; Balance, Health and Well-being; Future Plans; and Experiences of University. The results identified a range of barriers and facilitating factors. This study, the first of its kind, will inform educational strategies and support strategies for social work students from a range of backgrounds.
The intercountry adoption industry began on a large scale during the Korean War when humanitarian interventions became synonymous with ‘baby rescue’ from troubled world arenas. The momentum generated by proponents of adoption is... more
The intercountry adoption industry began on a large scale during the Korean War when humanitarian interventions became synonymous with ‘baby rescue’ from troubled world arenas. The momentum generated by proponents of adoption is increasingly linked to the reinforcement of the structural disadvantage experienced by families in sending countries. The presence of adoption agencies in sending countries prohibits alternatives to international adoption such as capacity development work with communities. As the number of children adopted internationally declines, the pressure placed on governments by proponent actors to find new sources of adoptable children increases.
Research conducted on the intercountry adoption phenomenon has highlighted the dominance of rescue discourse and its propelling influence on contemporary child adoption. Rescue discourse is wholly positive and is particularly evident in accounts concerning the adoption of children post-disaster. A recent example was the evacuation of children from Haiti after the earthquake by American adoption agencies. These actions can be compared to Operation Babylift, the much criticised airlift of children during the fall of Saigon in 1975. This thesis proposes that rescue discourse supersedes contemporary best practice in psychosocial first aid post disaster and that removing children immediately for adoption is not in the best interests of children, is ethically questionable and potentially harmful.
Research conducted on the intercountry adoption phenomenon has highlighted the dominance of rescue discourse and its propelling influence on contemporary child adoption. Rescue discourse is wholly positive and is particularly evident in accounts concerning the adoption of children post-disaster. A recent example was the evacuation of children from Haiti after the earthquake by American adoption agencies. These actions can be compared to Operation Babylift, the much criticised airlift of children during the fall of Saigon in 1975. This thesis proposes that rescue discourse supersedes contemporary best practice in psychosocial first aid post disaster and that removing children immediately for adoption is not in the best interests of children, is ethically questionable and potentially harmful.
Relationships with academic staff are central to the personal, intellectual and professional development and education of higher degree by research candidates. Research candidates may be young or , increasingly, mature adults from... more
Relationships with academic staff are central to the personal, intellectual and professional development and education of higher degree by research candidates. Research candidates may be young or , increasingly, mature adults from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, who come to their research degrees with a wide range of professional attainments. Postgraduate research supervision entails long and continuous relationships and multiple roles with students employed as teaching/ research staff, graduate students who are also staff candidates, and supervisor and candidates in multiple roles including as supervisor/ student, co-researchers and co-authors.
These factors present subtle professional boundaries. There is little research on the prevalence and type of dilemmas academics must negotiate in negotiating these. The focus in the literature has tended to be on sexual boundary violations which are frequently managed within a disciplinary/misconduct framework which leaves the larger question of professional boundaries unaddressed. Further, with good justification, much of the research literature on this issue has focused on the perspective and experience of students, leaving the perceptions of academic staff in this regard unexplored. Despite a substantial body of work concerning boundaries and ethical decision making in other professional domains, such as health care, little work has been conducted on the perceptions of academics regarding appropriate relationships with their students.
This paper presents findings from a pilot study conducted at Monash and Griffith Universities. The research was designed to gather baseline data on academics’ perceptions of the professional boundaries between academic staff and postgraduate research students and the dilemmas these might present.
These factors present subtle professional boundaries. There is little research on the prevalence and type of dilemmas academics must negotiate in negotiating these. The focus in the literature has tended to be on sexual boundary violations which are frequently managed within a disciplinary/misconduct framework which leaves the larger question of professional boundaries unaddressed. Further, with good justification, much of the research literature on this issue has focused on the perspective and experience of students, leaving the perceptions of academic staff in this regard unexplored. Despite a substantial body of work concerning boundaries and ethical decision making in other professional domains, such as health care, little work has been conducted on the perceptions of academics regarding appropriate relationships with their students.
This paper presents findings from a pilot study conducted at Monash and Griffith Universities. The research was designed to gather baseline data on academics’ perceptions of the professional boundaries between academic staff and postgraduate research students and the dilemmas these might present.
This workshops addresses the challenges of evidence based practice for social workers in the health sector; its relevance to social work; its benefits and challenges; and the ‘how it works’ in demanding, multidisciplinary environments.
Course Content Health practitioners are faced on a daily basis with complex and emotionally charged clinical situations. It is sometimes difficult to maintain healthy practitioner/client relationships in these circumstances. These... more
Course Content
Health practitioners are faced on a daily basis with complex and emotionally charged clinical situations. It is sometimes difficult to maintain healthy practitioner/client relationships in these circumstances. These relationships have the potential to move on a continuum from healthy to over-involved or under-involved. This movement poses risks for both client and practitioner. There is an assumption that practitioners have the skills to manage these situations when in reality the subject often receives scant attention in undergraduate and work-based training.
Health practitioners are faced on a daily basis with complex and emotionally charged clinical situations. It is sometimes difficult to maintain healthy practitioner/client relationships in these circumstances. These relationships have the potential to move on a continuum from healthy to over-involved or under-involved. This movement poses risks for both client and practitioner. There is an assumption that practitioners have the skills to manage these situations when in reality the subject often receives scant attention in undergraduate and work-based training.
Popular discourse that describes intercountry adoption (ICA) has changed little since the 1950s. Increasingly evidence is mounting that necessitates a paradigm shift in how the international community conceptualises and responds to ICA.... more
Popular discourse that describes intercountry adoption (ICA) has changed little since the 1950s. Increasingly evidence is mounting that necessitates a paradigm shift in how the international community conceptualises and responds to ICA. Outmoded thinking focuses solely on individual solutions for individual children rather than approaches that address the structural issues that separate children from their families in the first instance. Currently the only overarching international framework for ICA is a legal one which is limited when applied to prevention. A socioecological perspective and lessons learned from other arenas suggests a new international vision and intersectoral collaborations are needed.
Australia’s relationship with intercountry adoption as an institutional practice began with the Vietnam War. The desire to ‘rescue’ children by adopting them into Australia was ignited by the global media’s depiction of ‘Operation... more
Australia’s relationship with intercountry adoption as an institutional practice began with the Vietnam War. The desire to ‘rescue’ children by adopting them into Australia was ignited by the global media’s depiction of ‘Operation Babylift’, the dramatic rescue of children from Saigon during the fall of the city in 1975. Despite concerns about the motivations and process of these adoptions, altruistic discourse dominated and the practice became desirable to many Australians for a range of reasons. These tensions remain today. International adoption became the solution to children at risk while at the same time alleviated the distress felt by the Australian public to their plight.
The humanitarian discourse of child rescue by adoption became influential. It was embraced and mobilised by the media, in turn, influencing the attitudes of individual Australians and families. Adoption sanctioned by government proved possible. Parent groups, recently formed, grew in size and influence, changes were made to legislation to accommodate it and government departments incorporated the practice. Adoption from Vietnam to Australia though short-lived was a forerunner to the expansion of adoption to other sources in Asia.
This paper discusses the Australian legacy of intercountry adoption from Vietnam and how it shaped contemporary practice.
The humanitarian discourse of child rescue by adoption became influential. It was embraced and mobilised by the media, in turn, influencing the attitudes of individual Australians and families. Adoption sanctioned by government proved possible. Parent groups, recently formed, grew in size and influence, changes were made to legislation to accommodate it and government departments incorporated the practice. Adoption from Vietnam to Australia though short-lived was a forerunner to the expansion of adoption to other sources in Asia.
This paper discusses the Australian legacy of intercountry adoption from Vietnam and how it shaped contemporary practice.
Background: Practitioner expertise regarding the management of complex ethical dilemmas is often assumed. Healthy professional/client relationships are challenged daily in health settings. Boundary breaches can have serious consequences... more
Background: Practitioner expertise regarding the management of complex ethical dilemmas is often assumed. Healthy professional/client relationships are challenged daily in health settings. Boundary breaches can have serious consequences for individuals and organisations. Yet, the reality is few practitioners receive specific training regarding professional boundaries and ethical decision making. This issue was addressed through a research agenda that utilised an interprofessional learning approach.
Aim: To evaluate a Professional Boundaries for Health Practitioner (PBHP) training course.
Methods: The training was first developed from a needs assessment and provided to 55 rehabilitation practitioners across the continuum of care. It addressed domains of knowledge, comfort, experience and ethical decision-making of practitioners in a randomised control trial. The training was then rolled out to 109 practitioners working in a range of settings across Queensland funded by the Queensland Health Community Rehabilitation Workforce Project, an Australian Government Pathways Home initiative. A questionnaire generating quantitative and qualitative data relating to anticipated outcomes and relevant to the population was used.
Results: There was 100% response rate. Quantitative evaluations were extremely positive. Five dominant themes were drawn from the thematic analysis of qualitative findings. These were teaching methods, ethical decision making, supervision, critical reflection and separation from the workplace.
Conclusions: Evaluation of PBHP suggests that the interprofessional learning context was beneficial providing a meaningful way of raising ethical awareness, developing skills, engendering collaborative relationships and expanding critically reflective practice. A number of barriers to delivering the training, such as staff shortages and assumptions about practice, and implications for multilevel training were identified.
Aim: To evaluate a Professional Boundaries for Health Practitioner (PBHP) training course.
Methods: The training was first developed from a needs assessment and provided to 55 rehabilitation practitioners across the continuum of care. It addressed domains of knowledge, comfort, experience and ethical decision-making of practitioners in a randomised control trial. The training was then rolled out to 109 practitioners working in a range of settings across Queensland funded by the Queensland Health Community Rehabilitation Workforce Project, an Australian Government Pathways Home initiative. A questionnaire generating quantitative and qualitative data relating to anticipated outcomes and relevant to the population was used.
Results: There was 100% response rate. Quantitative evaluations were extremely positive. Five dominant themes were drawn from the thematic analysis of qualitative findings. These were teaching methods, ethical decision making, supervision, critical reflection and separation from the workplace.
Conclusions: Evaluation of PBHP suggests that the interprofessional learning context was beneficial providing a meaningful way of raising ethical awareness, developing skills, engendering collaborative relationships and expanding critically reflective practice. A number of barriers to delivering the training, such as staff shortages and assumptions about practice, and implications for multilevel training were identified.
Introduction: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with SCI have poorer health outcomes and higher readmission rates than the general SCI population. Hospital based education is usually designed for a dominant western culture and... more
Introduction: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with SCI have poorer health outcomes and higher readmission rates than the general SCI population. Hospital based education is usually designed for a dominant western culture and practitioners struggle to achieve cultural sensitivity and appropriateness when encountering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in both clinical and educational contexts. Little is understood about the effectiveness of current practices for these people.
Aim: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to explore educational interventions within health and disability arenas that are both effective and culturally appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Methods: A systematic review identified 1,314 papers. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. An interpretive approach to the synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data was conducted using content and thematic analysis.
Results: Four key concepts were identified in the analysis – Relational Activities, World Views, Bridging the Educational Divide, and Barriers. Findings challenge current approaches to the provision of health education to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with SCI and demand new understandings.
Conclusions: A paradigm shift is necessary and must precede the future development of culturally safe education. Early inclusion of families and communities; cultural competence; a shift of focus to community preparation despite scarce resources; and the support and training of Indigenous practitioners are indicated.
Aim: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to explore educational interventions within health and disability arenas that are both effective and culturally appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Methods: A systematic review identified 1,314 papers. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. An interpretive approach to the synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data was conducted using content and thematic analysis.
Results: Four key concepts were identified in the analysis – Relational Activities, World Views, Bridging the Educational Divide, and Barriers. Findings challenge current approaches to the provision of health education to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with SCI and demand new understandings.
Conclusions: A paradigm shift is necessary and must precede the future development of culturally safe education. Early inclusion of families and communities; cultural competence; a shift of focus to community preparation despite scarce resources; and the support and training of Indigenous practitioners are indicated.
The maintenance of ethical boundaries and healthy client-carer relationships are complex processes. Dilemmas that challenge these relationships are common in community settings yet little attention is usually paid to them despite risks of... more
The maintenance of ethical boundaries and healthy client-carer relationships are complex processes. Dilemmas that challenge these relationships are common in community settings yet little attention is usually paid to them despite risks of harm to clients, professionals and organisations. This presentation is drawn from a research agenda and training program developed from that research. The aim of this session is to raise awareness around the issues and highlight the ethical responsibilities of both clients and professionals in the course of their relationships.
Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with SCI have poorer health outcomes and higher readmission rates than the general SCI population. Hospital based education is usually designed for a dominant western culture and... more
Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with SCI have poorer health outcomes and higher readmission rates than the general SCI population. Hospital based education is usually designed for a dominant western culture and practitioners struggle to achieve cultural sensitivity and appropriateness when encountering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in both clinical and educational contexts. Little is understood about the effectiveness of current practices for these people.
Aim: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to explore educational interventions within health and disability arenas that are both effective and culturally appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
.
Methods: A systematic review identified 1,314 papers. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. An interpretive approach to the synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data was conducted using content and thematic analysis.
Results: Four key concepts were identified in the analysis – Relational Activities, World Views, Bridging the Educational Divide, and Barriers. Findings challenge current approaches to the provision of health education to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with SCI and demand new understandings.
Conclusions: A paradigm shift is necessary and must precede the future development of culturally safe education.
Implications for practice and future research: Early inclusion of families and communities; cultural competence; a shift of focus to community preparation despite scarce resources; and the support and training of Indigenous practitioners are indicated. This project has highlighted the lack of Australian research addressing the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with spinal cord injuries.
Aim: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to explore educational interventions within health and disability arenas that are both effective and culturally appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
.
Methods: A systematic review identified 1,314 papers. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. An interpretive approach to the synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data was conducted using content and thematic analysis.
Results: Four key concepts were identified in the analysis – Relational Activities, World Views, Bridging the Educational Divide, and Barriers. Findings challenge current approaches to the provision of health education to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with SCI and demand new understandings.
Conclusions: A paradigm shift is necessary and must precede the future development of culturally safe education.
Implications for practice and future research: Early inclusion of families and communities; cultural competence; a shift of focus to community preparation despite scarce resources; and the support and training of Indigenous practitioners are indicated. This project has highlighted the lack of Australian research addressing the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with spinal cord injuries.
This interactive Reflective Practice Workshop is designed for multidisciplinary teams. Reflective practice is vital to good practice challenging professionals to examine their relationships with their clients and their interventions on a... more
This interactive Reflective Practice Workshop is designed for multidisciplinary teams. Reflective practice is vital to good practice challenging professionals to examine their relationships with their clients and their interventions on a daily basis. This is of particular relevance when interactions are difficult. The workshop examines reflective practice and its functions for individuals and teams, barriers too implementation in practice, and the benefits to professionals and their clients.
Aim: This workshop aims to explore the challenges faced by both professionals and managers when dealing with these complex issues and the solutions. Frameworks for training and policy development are explored. Expected Outcomes:... more
Aim: This workshop aims to explore the challenges faced by both professionals and managers when dealing with these complex issues and the solutions. Frameworks for training and policy development are explored.
Expected Outcomes:
Participation in this workshop will provide professionals and managers with increased awareness and understanding of issues faced by individuals and organizations on a daily basis; present possibilities for multidisciplinary training and professional development frameworks; and provide the basis for policy development relevant to diverse organisations.
Expected Outcomes:
Participation in this workshop will provide professionals and managers with increased awareness and understanding of issues faced by individuals and organizations on a daily basis; present possibilities for multidisciplinary training and professional development frameworks; and provide the basis for policy development relevant to diverse organisations.
In Australia, a powerful network promoting the diffusion and continuance of the intercountry adoption phenomenon from the 1970s has historically influenced policy and practice. This performative network is shaping current and future... more
In Australia, a powerful network promoting the diffusion and continuance of the intercountry adoption phenomenon from the 1970s has historically influenced policy and practice. This performative network is shaping current and future practice directions. 71% of all adoptions in Australia in 2006-7 were of children born overseas, yet there is no Australian research that explains how this occurs. Instead, intercountry adoption tends to be viewed from the local and personal perspectives of those involved in the process. The problem is that little is known about how local and global actors and factors have shaped the phenomenon in the Australian context.
Children from South Korea make up the majority of children adopted into Australia since the 1970s. Using South Korea as a case example, these issues are explored through the lens of Actor Network Theory. This theoretical perspective provides a framework for understanding a complex phenomenon in a way not previously examined. Understandings, drawn from research, that incorporate the complex and multilayered influences and conditions that shape intercountry adoption can positively inform policies and practice that seek to prepare prospective parents for adoption. These understandings can reduce the risk of politically driven, rather than evidence based, approaches to policy formation.
Children from South Korea make up the majority of children adopted into Australia since the 1970s. Using South Korea as a case example, these issues are explored through the lens of Actor Network Theory. This theoretical perspective provides a framework for understanding a complex phenomenon in a way not previously examined. Understandings, drawn from research, that incorporate the complex and multilayered influences and conditions that shape intercountry adoption can positively inform policies and practice that seek to prepare prospective parents for adoption. These understandings can reduce the risk of politically driven, rather than evidence based, approaches to policy formation.
Korean intercountry adoption (ICA), has historically represented the largest number of children adopted transnationally since its inception the 1950s. Korean ICA, as reported by some researchers, is one of the most significant diasporas... more
Korean intercountry adoption (ICA), has historically represented the largest number of children adopted transnationally since its inception the 1950s. Korean ICA, as reported by some researchers, is one of the most significant diasporas of children moving across the globe. Previous understandings of ICA do not adequately identify the changing conditions that enable the ebb and flow of children available for adoption, nor explain the opening and closing of sending countries.
The Korean phenomenon is enabled by specific local Korean conditions and influences; local conditions and influences in receiving countries; and global conditions and influences. These include amongst others, cultural, political and economic factors. The phenomenon, itself, is complex, meets a range of diverse interests and influences, and is characterized by discourses which reflect the interests of particular networks. Exploration of these networks, inclusive of human and non human actors, allows for a deeper understanding of such a complex and fluid phenomenon, traditionally understood from the perspective of particular global networks engaged in the process of ICA.
Global influences and the technologies that appear as actors in networks are important in understanding the emergence, diffusion and continuation of this phenomenon. This paper will present the global conditions from a theoretical perspective that provides a fresh view of such a complex but globally significant phenomenon that affects the lives of adopted children, relinquishing and adoptive parents and families.
The Korean phenomenon is enabled by specific local Korean conditions and influences; local conditions and influences in receiving countries; and global conditions and influences. These include amongst others, cultural, political and economic factors. The phenomenon, itself, is complex, meets a range of diverse interests and influences, and is characterized by discourses which reflect the interests of particular networks. Exploration of these networks, inclusive of human and non human actors, allows for a deeper understanding of such a complex and fluid phenomenon, traditionally understood from the perspective of particular global networks engaged in the process of ICA.
Global influences and the technologies that appear as actors in networks are important in understanding the emergence, diffusion and continuation of this phenomenon. This paper will present the global conditions from a theoretical perspective that provides a fresh view of such a complex but globally significant phenomenon that affects the lives of adopted children, relinquishing and adoptive parents and families.
Korean intercountry adoption (ICA), has historically represented the largest number of children adopted transnationally since its inception the 1950s. Korean ICA, as reported by some researchers, is one of the most significant diasporas... more
Korean intercountry adoption (ICA), has historically represented the largest number of children adopted transnationally since its inception the 1950s. Korean ICA, as reported by some researchers, is one of the most significant diasporas of children moving across the globe. Previous understandings of ICA do not adequately identify the changing conditions that enable the ebb and flow of children available for adoption, nor explain the opening and closing of sending countries.
The Korean phenomenon is enabled by specific local Korean conditions and influences; local conditions and influences in receiving countries; and global conditions and influences. These include amongst others, cultural, political and economic factors. The phenomenon, itself, is complex, meets a range of diverse interests and influences, and is characterized by discourses which reflect the interests of particular networks. Exploration of these networks, inclusive of human and non human actors, allows for a deeper understanding of such a complex and fluid phenomenon, traditionally understood from the perspective of particular global networks engaged in the process of ICA.
Global influences and the technologies that appear as actors in networks are important in understanding the emergence, diffusion and continuation of this phenomenon. This paper will present the global conditions from a theoretical perspective that provides a fresh view of such a complex but globally significant phenomenon that affects the lives of adopted children, relinquishing and adoptive parents and families.
The Korean phenomenon is enabled by specific local Korean conditions and influences; local conditions and influences in receiving countries; and global conditions and influences. These include amongst others, cultural, political and economic factors. The phenomenon, itself, is complex, meets a range of diverse interests and influences, and is characterized by discourses which reflect the interests of particular networks. Exploration of these networks, inclusive of human and non human actors, allows for a deeper understanding of such a complex and fluid phenomenon, traditionally understood from the perspective of particular global networks engaged in the process of ICA.
Global influences and the technologies that appear as actors in networks are important in understanding the emergence, diffusion and continuation of this phenomenon. This paper will present the global conditions from a theoretical perspective that provides a fresh view of such a complex but globally significant phenomenon that affects the lives of adopted children, relinquishing and adoptive parents and families.
A submission by Griffith University
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Printed in Interaction - The Australian magazine on intellectual disability
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The adoption of Korean children has played a significant role in the practice of intercountry adoption in Australia since the 1970s and represents the majority of overseas born children adopted into Australia. Its influence on policy and... more
The adoption of Korean children has played a significant role in the practice of intercountry adoption in Australia since the 1970s and represents the majority of overseas born children adopted into Australia. Its influence on policy and practice is explored in this thesis through the Queensland experience. From its outset the adoption of children from overseas has been characterised by polarised perspectives and vested interests. Actor Network Theory, the theoretical lens through which this phenomenon is viewed, allows for the exploration of controversies and multiple perspectives that have featured in over thirty years of Korean intercountry adoption practice in Australia. This thesis aims to identify which actor networks were influential in the emergence, diffusion and continuation of Korean intercountry adoption; and to explore the translations, an important concept in Actor Network Theory, and the tactics used by these networks to spread particular discourse to meet network goals.
The methodology is qualitative and approaches Korean intercountry adoption as a case study. The data corpus, collected from 2004 to 2007 comprised text and interviews. Text included Queensland government archival records; submissions provided to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services Overseas Adoption in Australia 2005 and public hearing transcripts; parliamentary documents; media reports; computer-mediated communications such as internet sources and email discussion groups. Interviews were conducted with key stakeholders from interest groups and organisations with administrative roles in intercountry adoption practice in Australia.
Korean intercountry adoption has proved influential in developing expectations concerning how intercountry adoption should be practised in Australia. Three actor networks, proponent, opponent and nonpartisan were identified during the diffusion and continuance periods. Actor Network Theory helped understand how the proponent network became dominant in the Australian context. A number of highly effective tactics have been used to expand and increase the influence of the proponent network through translations. However, a number of threats to continuation such as the growth of the opponent network and the promotion of Korean domestic adoption have emerged. Actors have responded to these threats in a number of ways. Detours have been proposed by proponent actors to help them reach their goals though these may bring unintended consequences. An Actor Network Theory perspective reveals the important role of the Internet; helps understand how controversies are created and perpetuated; how intercountry adoption has become politicised in Australia; and highlights the risks to child centred and knowledge based practice that politicisation brings.
The significance of this study lies in the insights provided by exploring power interrelationships between actor networks and how these shape particular phenomenon, in this case, Korean intercountry adoption. Intercountry adoption in Australia is poorly understood at a macro level as are the controversies surrounding it. Its practice has been heavily influenced by the interests of the dominant network with scant attention to research in the local context. Actor Network Theory that allows for the inclusion of human and nonhuman actors such as the Internet has proven useful for developing contemporary understandings of such a complex, global phenomenon. These understandings provide opportunities for individuals, groups and governments to address controversy in ways than do not contribute to its perpetuation and to refocus their attentions on the factors that contribute to the relinquishment of children in the first instance. This thesis highlights how politically driven agendas that serve the interests of one network can marginalise voices that bring more complex understandings to the intercountry adoption phenomenon. An Actor Network Theory analysis exposes the lack of investment by governments, organisations and individuals in community programs and services that address the causes of child relinquishment and empower Korean families and communities to seek their own solutions.
The methodology is qualitative and approaches Korean intercountry adoption as a case study. The data corpus, collected from 2004 to 2007 comprised text and interviews. Text included Queensland government archival records; submissions provided to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services Overseas Adoption in Australia 2005 and public hearing transcripts; parliamentary documents; media reports; computer-mediated communications such as internet sources and email discussion groups. Interviews were conducted with key stakeholders from interest groups and organisations with administrative roles in intercountry adoption practice in Australia.
Korean intercountry adoption has proved influential in developing expectations concerning how intercountry adoption should be practised in Australia. Three actor networks, proponent, opponent and nonpartisan were identified during the diffusion and continuance periods. Actor Network Theory helped understand how the proponent network became dominant in the Australian context. A number of highly effective tactics have been used to expand and increase the influence of the proponent network through translations. However, a number of threats to continuation such as the growth of the opponent network and the promotion of Korean domestic adoption have emerged. Actors have responded to these threats in a number of ways. Detours have been proposed by proponent actors to help them reach their goals though these may bring unintended consequences. An Actor Network Theory perspective reveals the important role of the Internet; helps understand how controversies are created and perpetuated; how intercountry adoption has become politicised in Australia; and highlights the risks to child centred and knowledge based practice that politicisation brings.
The significance of this study lies in the insights provided by exploring power interrelationships between actor networks and how these shape particular phenomenon, in this case, Korean intercountry adoption. Intercountry adoption in Australia is poorly understood at a macro level as are the controversies surrounding it. Its practice has been heavily influenced by the interests of the dominant network with scant attention to research in the local context. Actor Network Theory that allows for the inclusion of human and nonhuman actors such as the Internet has proven useful for developing contemporary understandings of such a complex, global phenomenon. These understandings provide opportunities for individuals, groups and governments to address controversy in ways than do not contribute to its perpetuation and to refocus their attentions on the factors that contribute to the relinquishment of children in the first instance. This thesis highlights how politically driven agendas that serve the interests of one network can marginalise voices that bring more complex understandings to the intercountry adoption phenomenon. An Actor Network Theory analysis exposes the lack of investment by governments, organisations and individuals in community programs and services that address the causes of child relinquishment and empower Korean families and communities to seek their own solutions.
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Background It is widely understood that children who enter foster care are likely to have had previous traumatic experiences which can affect many aspects of their lives, including their ability to thrive at school. In order to better... more
Background It is widely understood that children who enter foster care are likely to have had previous traumatic experiences which can affect many aspects of their lives, including their ability to thrive at school. In order to better support the educational needs of children who are fostered, deeper insight needs to be gained into the relationships between children in foster care, foster parents, and schools. As a contribution to this under-researched area, this study focuses attention on the viewpoints of foster parents in relation to their foster children’s school experiences, in a Polish context. Purpose This research sought to explore the perceptions of foster parents on the education of their foster children and investigate how they understood these experiences. Methods A qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was undertaken to analyse foster parents’ lived experiences of their foster children’s education. A purposive sample of 62 foster parents participated across seven focus groups. An in-depth, interpretive analysis was conducted. Findings Overall, analysis of the rich data set identified four main themes, which crossed all focus groups: Experiences of discrimination; Advocating for the child, Feelings of futility, and Connecting positively. Conclusions The study highlights more widely how foster parents can feel routinely excluded from their foster children’s education and suggests that feelings of discrimination may be common experiences. It also draws attention to the opportunities for meaningful connectivity between school professionals, foster parents and children. Implications for practice, which may be of use in other settings internationally, are offered.
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Australian research on intercountry adoption in Australia is reported with particular reference to social work, divergent and competing interests of various stakeholders, and the highly political and contested nature of its practice in... more
Australian research on intercountry adoption in Australia is reported with particular reference to social work, divergent and competing interests of various stakeholders, and the highly political and contested nature of its practice in Australia. The practice of intercountry adoption in Australia is examined from its diffusion into Australia in the 1970s to contemporary times. Government approved Australian intercountry adoption programs began operation in the 1970s and although always small in number, the recent decline is consistent with global trends. Intercountry adoption in Australia is regulated by state and federal governments and social workers are integral to its practice. Controversies surrounding intercountry adoption in Australia have historically been linked to pressure from lobbyists and the support of some politicians. In 2014, Australia was at a crucial juncture with changes to how intercountry adoption is structured under review by the federal government.
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Fathers with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities (ID) are under-represented in research. This article explores the lived childhood experiences of fathers with ID using interpretive phenomenology to understand the meanings ascribed... more
Fathers with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities (ID) are under-represented in research. This article explores the lived childhood experiences of fathers with ID using interpretive phenomenology to understand the meanings ascribed to these experiences and how this has shaped their understanding of self. Rich data was collected through in-depth interviewing of fathers in Poland. The analysis yielded thirteen constituent themes and four superordinate themes: traumatic experiences; resilience; the positive impact of significant others; and becoming a better parent. Many fathers focused on traumatic experiences associated with problematic parental practices (abuse, neglect, parental substance misuse) and discrimination in schools. Participants made meaning of adverse experiences especially resilience, strengths and a determination to be a better parent, which helped them cope with adverse situations. This study provides insights into the impact of lived childhood experiences of these fathers, which in many ways shapes their own parental practices.
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Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Resilience, Parenting, Fathers, and 9 morePhenomenology of the Body (Philosophy), Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Trauma, Developmental disabilities, Neglect, Public health systems and services research, Role Models, Lived Experience, and Developmental Disability
Fronek, P. (2018). Assessment of prospective adoptive parents. In C. Jeannin (Ed.), Towards a greater capacity: Learning from intercoutnry adoption breakdowns (pp. 110 - 113). Geneva: International Social Service.
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This chapter looks to social work, the future and the next pandemic. Just as COVID-19 was not the only health emergency this century, the next one will follow, perhaps sooner than we expect given the neglect of the planet and worsening... more
This chapter looks to social work, the future and the next pandemic. Just as COVID-19 was not the only health emergency this century, the next one will follow, perhaps sooner than we expect given the neglect of the planet and worsening ecological and social conditions globally. Social workers must learn lessons from this and past pandemics and recognise the expertise we offer. This chapter addresses preparedness and response at multiple levels, social work’s expertise, capacities for self-examination and, importantly, leadership that will take us into the future.
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Intercountry adoption (ICA) is a contested practice represented by competing discourses of humanitarianism, exploitation, poverty and wealth. Multiple factors have contributed to decreasing numbers of adoption globally including... more
Intercountry adoption (ICA) is a contested practice represented by competing discourses of humanitarianism, exploitation, poverty and wealth. Multiple factors have contributed to decreasing numbers of adoption globally including documented incidents of fraud which have accumulated over the last two decades. There is little recompense for families subjected to the fraudulent removal of their children, the children, and adoptive parents who are also defrauded. This article reports on the troubled progression of fraudulent ICA, presents a case of fraud and novel restitution in Samoa and concludes that restitution pathways should also facilitate contact and reunification of children with their families.
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Three Australian apologies have been made for past practices in out-of-home care and adoption that perpetuated a series of rights violations and false assurances. Commitments to not repeating past practices that caused profound and... more
Three Australian apologies have been made for past practices in out-of-home care and adoption that perpetuated a series of rights violations and false assurances. Commitments to not repeating past practices that caused profound and long-term, negative effects on the wellbeing of children and adults were given. Regarding these wrongs as past, ignores the reality that history does repeat when there is a failure to remain cognizant of them. In this paper, the basis of these apologies and current practices are discussed and standards for assessing the extent to which past wrongs are present in contemporary child protection systems are proposed.
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“I'm thinking of a queer feeling I sometimes get, a feeling that I've got something important to say and the power to say it — only I don't know what it is, and I can't make any use of the power.” Aldous Huxley, Brave New... more
“I'm thinking of a queer feeling I sometimes get, a feeling that I've got something important to say and the power to say it — only I don't know what it is, and I can't make any use of the power.” Aldous Huxley, Brave New World Huxley’s fictional tale of a “Brave New World” provokes an interesting reflection on contemporary social work. Huxley’s characters were suppressed and oppressed by their political, social and technological environment. Efforts to quell the masses and eliminate independent thought required the compulsory use of the drug, soma. Soma ensured Huxley’s characters were anaesthetised leaving them unable to find their voice, enact their power or even really care about it. Given the environments in which many social workers find themselves, it seems reasonable to consider how empowered social workers feel to protest against injustice and breaches of human rights. In some countries social workers are constrained by neoliberal agendas and are increasingly limited in the help they can provide. In others, social workers are oppressed by governments and face imprisonment if they speak out. Government and non-government agencies have guidelines about what can be publically discussed and the use of social media is often prohibited, and where whistle blower laws exist they are often inadequate.
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Abstract The Vietnam War played a significant role in the institutionalisation of intercountry adoption (ICA) in Australia. The fall of Saigon provided the leverage needed for proponents of ICA to engage the governments of Western... more
Abstract The Vietnam War played a significant role in the institutionalisation of intercountry adoption (ICA) in Australia. The fall of Saigon provided the leverage needed for proponents of ICA to engage the governments of Western countries in ensuring previously arranged adoptions were completed. The humanitarian discourse that surrounded the airlift of children from Saigon, Operation Babylift, precipitated private-and government-sponsored mass evacuation of “orphans” who were adopted despite the lack of substantive evidence of ...
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Health Sciences, Ethics, Clinical Trial, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Adolescent, and 15 moreHuman, Activities of Daily Living, Brain, Humans, Feasibility Studies, Animal Model, Cell Transplantation, Human Experimentation, Clinical Sciences, Adult, Clinical Assessment, Control Group, Case Control Studies, Magnetic resonance image, and Functional independence measure
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Crawshaw, M., Fronek, P., Blyth, E., &amp; Alvin, A. (2017). What are children’s ‘best interests’ in international surrogacy? A social work perspective from the UK. In M. Davies (Ed.), Babies for sale: Transnational surrogacy, human... more
Crawshaw, M., Fronek, P., Blyth, E., &amp; Alvin, A. (2017). What are children’s ‘best interests’ in international surrogacy? A social work perspective from the UK. In M. Davies (Ed.), Babies for sale: Transnational surrogacy, human rights and the politics of reproduction (pp. 163 - 184). UK: Zed Books.
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COVID-19 had an immediate impact on students undertaking professional placements. From this crisis came opportunities and challenges forcing the creation of new scenarios to enable students to achieve competencies and complete placements.... more
COVID-19 had an immediate impact on students undertaking professional placements. From this crisis came opportunities and challenges forcing the creation of new scenarios to enable students to achieve competencies and complete placements. Social work professional bodies responded flexibly supporting field education innovations. Using examples from four universities, located in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, this chapter discusses the impact on students and new practices arising from crisis. A key issue remains in how the profession can take lessons learned from this pandemic to preparedness planning with governments, educational institutions and agencies in readiness for the next health emergency.
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Chapter 2 takes readers on a journey through world regions during the first six months of the pandemic, a period shaped by vastly different approaches between and within countries ranging from denial, mitigation to suppression. Some... more
Chapter 2 takes readers on a journey through world regions during the first six months of the pandemic, a period shaped by vastly different approaches between and within countries ranging from denial, mitigation to suppression. Some countries had to deal with major weather events and other disasters while also managing the health emergency. The ideologies of governments came to the fore influencing whether health or economies were prioritised, the science was accepted, and whether approaches were informed by individualism or collective responsibility. The first six months of the pandemic highlighted vast inequalities and established the global conditions for the emergence of new variants.
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COVID-19 is changing lives. Less attention has been paid to the future of young people by governments since the onset of the pandemic. We suggest that young people are vulnerable to demoralization, a state of hopelessness and... more
COVID-19 is changing lives. Less attention has been paid to the future of young people by governments since the onset of the pandemic. We suggest that young people are vulnerable to demoralization, a state of hopelessness and helplessness, during and post-COVID-19. This reflection drawn from journaling and ongoing reflexive conversation from December 2019 to April 2020 offers a critical perspective on the circumstances of young Australians that encompasses consideration of the structural factors that impact on health, life chances, equality and social justice as well as the personal aspects of reflection.
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This descriptive article reports immediate responses to COVID-19 by social work field education faculty in four universities in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Moving swiftly to online innovations, tele-supervision, teaching... more
This descriptive article reports immediate responses to COVID-19 by social work field education faculty in four universities in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Moving swiftly to online innovations, tele-supervision, teaching remote practice methods, and establishing alternative placements allowed students to meet required competencies while supporting students during the immediate crisis. Collaboration between field education faculty teams, professional bodies and agencies and clear communication with students and supervisors enabled all stakeholders to be open to flexible placement options. To conclude, COVID-19 brought opportunities to reflect on responses and explore new possibilities for field education in a post-COVID-19 world.
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This article discusses the impact of COVID-19 on a cohort of international students studying at one Australian university and the efforts made by social work academics to assist these students through a challenging and distressing time... more
This article discusses the impact of COVID-19 on a cohort of international students studying at one Australian university and the efforts made by social work academics to assist these students through a challenging and distressing time between December 2019 and July 2020. International social work students usually rely on scholarships and casual employment to support themselves while studying. Nonetheless, the Australian government made no financial provisions for international students when the COVID-19 pandemic struck leaving many students without any means of support. Students from all parts of the world attend Griffith University, located in south-east Queensland, Australia, including students from Wuhan, China, where the first known outbreak of COVID-19 was identified. Shame, anxiety, racism and concerns related to the wellbeing of families overseas were superimposed onto their own health concerns and day-to-day survival while still seeking to maintain academic progress. Materi...
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The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented economic, health and social impacts as it has swept the globe. Intercountry adoption and international surrogacy are practices immediately affected, furthering vulnerabilities of children... more
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented economic, health and social impacts as it has swept the globe. Intercountry adoption and international surrogacy are practices immediately affected, furthering vulnerabilities of children and vulnerable adults. This short report calls attention to heightened risks, raises awareness for practitioners in these fields and asserts the need for caution.
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Social Work, Pure Mathematics, Intercountry Adoption, Social Science Research Network, International Adoption, and 10 moreSurrogacy, International/Intercountry Adoption, Surrogacy Ethics, Commercial Surrogacy, Pandemic, Commercial Surrogacy In India, Crossborder Surrogacy, Coronavirus COVID-19, COVID-19 PANDEMIC, and coronavirus outbreak
Misrepresentation and mischief in the research process can impact on ethical conduct, the validity of findings and deliberately change the outcome. This short report presents a scenario about deliberate interference in adoption research... more
Misrepresentation and mischief in the research process can impact on ethical conduct, the validity of findings and deliberately change the outcome. This short report presents a scenario about deliberate interference in adoption research by one organisation seeking accreditation to deliver adoption services. Unbeknown to the researchers, fake participants completed an online survey designed to capture the post-adoption needs of adult international adoptees living in Australia. Interference was unexpected as it was naively assumed that all stakeholders involved in adoption would be concerned with meeting post-adoption needs. A definition of politically motivated fake participants, implications for the research process, predicting such interference and strategies to address the problem are discussed.
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The aim of this study was to understand the extent, range and nature of social work research activity after natural disasters and to identify the implications for future research and practice. A Scoping review methodology framework was... more
The aim of this study was to understand the extent, range and nature of social work research activity after natural disasters and to identify the implications for future research and practice. A Scoping review methodology framework was used search of three databases: Web of Science, ProQuest and Informit was conducted to identify relevant studies between 2000 and 2018. Selection of studies was based on empirical research about social work and natural disasters and/or authored by social workers. Study selection found a total of 38 relevant articles. Charting the data was conducted and the following areas of focus were summarised: (1) interventions relating to psychosocial care, aid work and community work; (2) the effects of disasters on people and mediators of these effects; (3) social work education and challenges in disaster relief; and (4) measuring mental health outcomes of people who have experienced a disaster event. This scoping review has established that there is a range of...
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Child protection, Human Rights, Cambodia, Human rights (Social Work), Cambodian History, and 7 moreChild Protection Social Work, Child protection and family law, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Child Protection Issues and Child Rights Issues, Children`s Rights, UN Convention on the rights of children, and Alternative care
A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of Professional Boundaries for Health Professionals (PBHP) training program on the knowledge, comfort, experience, and ethical decision-making of multidisciplinary... more
A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of Professional Boundaries for Health Professionals (PBHP) training program on the knowledge, comfort, experience, and ethical decision-making of multidisciplinary practitioners facing client-practitioner boundary dilemmas. In all, 36 rehabilitation practitioners from an Australian state-wide spinal cord injuries service were assigned to experimental and control groups. The Boundaries in Practice (BIP) Scale measured outcomes at four points: pre, post, 3 months, and 1 year. The control group received the training after 3 months. Nonparametric Friedman&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s two-way analysis of variance was used to examine the trajectories over time. Analysis was conducted using the data of 10 experimental and 13 control group participants who responded at four data collection points. The experimental group showed significant improvement in knowledge (χ(2) = 10.673, p = 0.014) and comfort (χ(2) = 9.727, p = 0.021) managing professional boundaries post-training. The control group showed no significant change in knowledge or comfort. No significant change was seen in experience across either experimental (χ(2) = 3.609, p = 0.307) or control group (χ(2) = 7.800, p = 0.050). Ethical decision-making improved in the control group (χ(2) = 13.188, p = 0.004) following training, however remained unchanged in the experimental group. The findings do not definitively support this training approach. Ethical decision-making may improve more substantially within the practice context and organizational culture change. Multifaceted approaches are indicated. Implications for Rehabilitation Ethical dilemmas related to boundaries between clients and practitioners are a frequent occurrence in the rehabilitation setting. In a relatively small sample, the current randomized trial provided inconclusive evidence on the benefit of a 1-day needs-oriented training program to improve knowledge, comfort, and ethical decision-making. Randomized trials of education and training for rehabilitation practitioners are fraught with challenges in the clinical environment of the rehabilitation setting. Multifaceted training approaches, management support and training as well as changes to policy and organizational context in the rehabilitation setting may be needed to more holistically address the issues surrounding professional boundaries in the rehabilitation setting.
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Ethics, Decision Making, Australia, Interprofessional Education, Multidisciplinary, and 15 moreStaff Development, Neurological Rehabilitation, Humans, Female, Male, Professional Boundries, Data Collection, Ethical dilemmas, Adult, Professional Boundaries, Organizational Survival and Efficiency, Spinal Cord Injuries, Health Personnel, professional patient relations, and Medical and Health Sciences
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International private law is currently being considered to regulate commercial global surrogacy. This brief note discusses the state of social work literature in addition to the International Federation of Social Workers’ position... more
International private law is currently being considered to regulate commercial global surrogacy. This brief note discusses the state of social work literature in addition to the International Federation of Social Workers’ position statement, identifying a lack of empirical grounding in social work research. Global surrogacy is framed against previous social work research and policy development related to intercountry adoption and international private law. A triad approach to regulation is discussed as a three-legged stool for social protection development. Conclusions include recommendations for a research agenda that includes the voices of surrogates and the children.
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Fronek, P. (2014, 22 May). Changes to intercountry adoption must put children's needs first, The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/changes-to-intercountry-adoption-must-put-childrens-needs-first-26635
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Fronek, P., Crawshaw, M., Blyth, E., &amp; Elvin, A. (2014). International surrogacy: A report from the roundtable. National Bulletin (Australian Association of Social Workers), Winter, 30-31. - Forthcoming
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This review surveys sociological literature on intercountry adoption from 1997 to 2010. The analysis finds a preponderance of literature from the United States, reflecting its place as a major receiving country, and a focus on adoption... more
This review surveys sociological literature on intercountry adoption from 1997 to 2010. The analysis finds a preponderance of literature from the United States, reflecting its place as a major receiving country, and a focus on adoption experience organised by reference to the adoption triad: adoptive parents, adoptees, birth families. Reflecting the power imbalances in intercountry adoption, the voices and views of adoptive parents dominate the literature. There is an emerging literature generated by researchers who are intercountry adoptees, while birth families remain almost invisible in this literature. A further gap identified by this review is work which examines intercountry adoption as a global social practice and work which critically examines policy.
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Sociology, Social Work, Family studies, Race and Ethnicity, Transnational Adoption, and 11 moreAdoption, Migration Studies, Transnational migration, Intercountry Adoption, Literature Review, Social Science Research Network, Public Policy and Administration, International/Intercountry Adoption, Public Administration and Policy, Family Studies, and Transnational Migration
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Sociology, Psychology, Health Sciences, Social Work, Rehabilitation, and 15 moreDisability Studies, Interdisciplinarity, Sex, Sexuality, Spinal Cord Injury, Medicine, Disability, Interdisciplinary Education, Sexuality and Disability, Qualitative Data, Public health systems and services research, Randomized Controlled Trial, Longitudinal Study, Long Term Effect, and Training Program
This article reports on the Boundaries in Practice (BIP) Scale developed to measure knowledge, comfort, ethical decision making, and experience. Few instruments used in studies conducted on professional/client boundaries have been... more
This article reports on the Boundaries in Practice (BIP) Scale developed to measure knowledge, comfort, ethical decision making, and experience. Few instruments used in studies conducted on professional/client boundaries have been validated. The BIP demonstrated sound face, content and construct validity, and adequate internal consistency reliability. The BIP Scale provides the first reliable and valid means of investigating multiple boundary domains across health disciplines and teams. The sensitivity and complexity of ...
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Psychology and Surrogacy
Copyright in individual works within the repository belongs to their authors or publishers. You may make a print or digital copy of a work for your personal non-commercial use. All other rights are reserved, except for fair dealings or... more
Copyright in individual works within the repository belongs to their authors or publishers. You may make a print or digital copy of a work for your personal non-commercial use. All other rights are reserved, except for fair dealings or other user rights granted by the copyright laws of your country.
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The inclusion of psychosocial assessment models in human experimental research protocol is a new area and has recently been applied to persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Qualitative analysis of six psychosocial assessment interviews,... more
The inclusion of psychosocial assessment models in human experimental research protocol is a new area and has recently been applied to persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Qualitative analysis of six psychosocial assessment interviews, conducted for the purpose of screening potential human participants for experimental surgery, reveals six distinct themes of positive adjustment: Personal Strengths, Life Meaning, Positive Attitude, Engagement in Life, Support of Significant Others, and a Level of Resources that Does Not Inhibit Life Activity. The importance of psuchosocial assessment in determining an individual's adjustment to disability makes visible the particular internal and external conditions that ensure harm to research participants is minimized.
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A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific leadership courses are not commonly included in Australian social work curriculums. It is argued that there is a difference... more
A strong case for including leadership in social work programs has been articulated since the 1980s. Yet specific leadership courses are not commonly included in Australian social work curriculums. It is argued that there is a difference between 'teaching' leadership and 'teaching about' leadership. Using a critically reflective approach to social work leadership assists students to develop a professional identity that includes future possibilities for leadership in a way that is personally meaningful. This paper reflects on leadership from the perspectives of social work students and educators. A thematic analysis conducted on student reflections completed over one semester and teacher reflections on the findings are presented. A postmodern narrative approach informed the analysis from which three themes, self-transformation, caring for self, and value-based leadership, are discussed. The paper concludes that a critically reflective approach to leadership education ...
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The Australian government seems intent on lessening protections for children adopted overseas despite national and international evidence showing greater protection is needed. Two important reports on inter-country adoption were released... more
The Australian government seems intent on lessening protections for children adopted overseas despite national and international evidence showing greater protection is needed. Two important reports on inter-country adoption were released late last month: a report by UNICEF and one by the Legislation Committee of the Senate Standing Committees on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. And they couldn’t be more different.
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Producer: Pascal Hyunh
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Streamed live - Produced by Pascal Huynh
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In this interview, Judith Gibbons and Karen Smith Rotabi discuss highlights of the book "Intercountry Adoption: Policy, Practice and Outcomes." Interview by Patricia Fronek. Interview can be heard at... more
In this interview, Judith Gibbons and Karen Smith Rotabi discuss highlights of the book "Intercountry Adoption: Policy, Practice and Outcomes." Interview by Patricia Fronek. Interview can be heard at http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/policy-practice-and-outcomes-in-intercountry-adoption/