Social Work and Human Services Responsibilities in a Time of Climate Change

This book provides an accessible, research-informed text for students, social workers and other social service workers and community development workers focused on practically linking climate change to social justice.

The book is designed for:

• Those who want to embed an understanding of climate change and its social justice impacts in their everyday practice
• Those keen to explore the explicit but also often invisible ways we see injustice playing out and exacerbated by climate change
• Those interested in embarking on research and action which addresses climate change in an inclusive, creative and fair way

Utilising existing and current research with organisations, government and communities, it examines key themes and contexts where work has been done and where more work is needed to design and implement inclusive and just action on climate change.

With a core position revolving around the idea and practice of justice – for earth and everything that lives here, it draws on First Nations worldviews, critical analysis, community-led approaches and complexity theory, to outline some practical ways to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change as well as a strategy to reshape our life and work for the longer term.

It will be required reading for all scholars, students and professionals of social work, social welfare, community development, international development, community health and environmental and community education.

Amanda Howard (Professor) is part of the Social work and Policy Studies team at the University of Sydney and is the Director of Undergraduate Programs. Areas of research include community development, disasters and climate change, inclusion and participatory action research.

Margot Rawsthorne works as an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney in the Social Work and Policy Studies Team. Areas of research interest include the lived experience of social disadvantage, community development, housing and disasters.

Pam Joseph (PhD) is a Lecturer at the University of Sydney in the Social Work and Policy Studies team. Her research includes a focus on community-led disaster resilience and the impacts of climate change, the intersection of health and disability, and is particularly interested in processes of transition.

Mareese Terare (PhD) works at the University of Sydney in the Social Work and Policy Studies team. Her research focus includes decolonising practice, First Nations knowledges and epistemologies, interpersonal trauma, social justice, children’s rights and human rights.

Dara Sampson (PhD) works as the Academic Research Manager in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle. Research interests include using fiction in social work teaching, disasters, mental health and social justice.

Meaghan Katrak-Harris (PhD) works at the University of Sydney as part of the teaching and research teams in Social Work and Policy Studies, and as a freelance researcher, writer and practitioner. Meaghan’s areas of research focus include decolonising practice, disasters, social justice and community practice.