Perceptions of Social Work in Australia: What Do Social Workers Think?

Previous international studies indicate social workers often believe their profession is misunderstood and not highly valued by the community. However, this topic has not been studied in-depth in Australia. This article reports on research about social workers’ perceptions of how social work is understood in the Australian context. Results from an online survey (n = 169) show that social workers are proud of their profession; they see themselves as advocates for vulnerable populations and proponents of social change and feel they work hard in stressful situations. However, they believe the public misunderstands their role, aligning them with predominantly bureaucratic activities. Further, social workers believe that the public has a lack of trust in their role; they have poor representation in the media; and there is a negative stigma attached to their work. These findings are consistent with the narrative of being misunderstood found in previous studies. Respondents highlighted that there is a role for the professional association, social work academia, and social workers to promote a positive narrative to improve the public understanding and appreciation of social work. This article highlights how professionals perceive their status and image as important when considering professional socialisation, and provides an opportunity to influence a more positive narrative about social work. IMPLICATIONS Understanding how social workers perceive their public image can help shape professional identity and socialisation. Social workers, educators, and professional associations can play a key role in addressing misconceptions and highlighting the diverse roles undertaken by social workers.