Australian Social Work

Social Work in Primary Health Care: Integration, Implications and Impact

Australian Social Work is inviting submissions for a Special Issue on Social Work Practice in Primary Health Care, with particular attention to social work interventions and research in primary health settings, the implications of this work, and the impact. The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together national and international research to develop the evidence and understanding needed to integrate social work more broadly into primary health care.

The Special Issue Guest Editors are Associate Professor Ines Zuchowski, James Cook University, Australia, Associate Professor Rachelle Ashcroft, University of Toronto, Canada; and Professor Liz Beddoe, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Articles will address the integration, implications and impact of social work in primary health care, including but not limited to:

• First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse and perspectives
• Social work interventions
• Social determinants of health, populations, prevention and community health
• Primary health care workforce shortages and challenges
• Roles and contributions of social work in primary health care teams and interdisciplinary practice
• Public and private interface in social work and primary health care
• Social return on investment
• Case studies of social work supported patient care
• Practice focusing on mental wellbeing, behavioural and neurodevelopmental areas
• Advocacy and critical social work supporting patient care
• Supporting patients, families and carers with chronic health needs in primary health care settings