Abstract

This wide-ranging collection of essays offers valuable insights into the cultural issues involved in the practical application of social work theories. Leading contributors explore the challenges faced by indigenous populations and ethnic minority groups, examining how they can gain control over their position as minority populations, and offering valuable guidance on cross-cultural work.

The direct implementation of four established theoretical approaches - ecological systems, community development, strengths-based approaches and attachment theories - is shown in a variety of contexts, including mental health care, trauma counselling and child protection. Using community development work in Australia and New Zealand as a case study, the contributors also advocate using these approaches in work with migrants and refugees.

Social Work Theories in Action recognizes the importance of drawing on the strengths of families, individuals and communities and offers theoretical perspectives that can be applied in everyday work situations. It is essential reading for social and community workers, mental health professionals and social work students.

This is a book I would recommend for anyone wanting to explore a range of theoretical issues and their implications for practice.
Community Care
This edited collection from a New Zealand perspective makes an important contribution to understanding the complex issues involved in working with ethnic minority groups and indigenous First Nation people. Whist it draws on New Zealand and Australian case material, the themes and debates addressed in the book are relevant to all social workers. This is a text I will be drawing on in my teaching of social work interventions on an undergraduate social work degree programme, as it demonstrates in a clearly written and powerful way how social work theories and methods can be applied in practice settings in the promotion of anti-oppressive social work practice.
British Journal of Social Work
Mary Nash is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Massey University in New Zealand. She is co-editor of Spirituality and Social Care, also published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, and has published on social work fields of practice, social work history, and feminism and spirituality. Robyn Munford is Head of the School of Sociology, Social Work and Social Policy at Massey University. She has published widely on social and community work and disability studies, and her research on families has gained international recognition. Kieran O'Donoghue is a Lecturer in Social Work at Massey University, currently doing doctoral level research into supervision. He has worked in probation and community mental health services, and was Programme Coordinator for the Diploma of Social Work at the Waikato Institute of Technology, New Zealand.
Written by experts in social work, the book recognises the importance of drawing on the strengths of families, individuals and communities and offers theoretical perspectives that can be applied in every day work situations. It is essential reading for social and community workers, mental health professionals and social work students'.
Educational Book Review