Transnational Social Work

"This unique text provides accounts of 21st-century social work travellers who are taking pioneer paths. The editors have assembled case studies from around the globe to explore policy, practice and personal stories of migration and travel." Jill Manthorpe, King's College London

"This timely and troubling book describes how employers and the profession should do more to release the goodwill and potential of the many migrant social workers." David N. Jones, Director, People Need People Consulting, former IFSW President and Global Coordinator of the Global Agenda for Social Work

“Critical reading that clearly identifies the systematic barriers internationally educated social workers endure to transition into regulated social work practice in Canada.” Jan Christianson-Wood, President, Canadian Association of Social Workers

“Chapters draw on the latest research into the experiences of transnational social workers, employers and the policy contexts that impact on transnational labour market mobility. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on new public management … An interesting and informative read and one I certainly recommend.” Professional Social Work Magazine.

“Transnational Social Work will no doubt appeal to a range of practitioners and employers. I would hope to see regulators – particularly those in the statutory environment – joining the debates that this book will generate… I commend the book. It is a very timely publication that addresses what will be a continuing, and growing, professional issue.” Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work

"… breaks new ground and deserves to be widely read… will appeal

to practitioners and social work educators alike" Critical and Radical Social Work

Allen Bartley is a sociologist and a researcher into the experiences of transnational migrants. He is Head of the School of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work in the Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Liz Beddoe is an Associate Professor in the faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Liz’s teaching and research interests include critical perspectives on social work education and professional supervision.

Transnational social work: opportunities and challenges of a global profession ~ Allen Bartley and Liz Beddoe

Part One: Setting the transnational context

Opportunities and challenges of a global profession: an international perspective ~ Karen Lyons

New Public Management, migrant professionals and labour mobility: possibilities for social justice social work? ~ Donna Baines

Part Two: Practitioner perspectives

A complicated welcome: social workers navigate policy, organisational contexts and sociocultural dynamics following migration to Canada ~ Marion Brown, Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, Stephanie Ethier and Amy Fulton

The experience of transnational social workers in England: some findings from research ~ Sue Hanna and Karen Lyons

Transnational social workers in Australia: naivety in the transnational professional space ~ Allen Bartley

Transnational social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand ~ Liz Beddoe

Part Three: Employer/stakeholder views

In search of better opportunities: transnational social workers in the UK navigating the maze of global and social mobility ~ Shereen Hussain

Transnational social workers and the Australian labour market ~ Gai Harrison

Powhiri: a safe space of cultural encounter to assist transnational social workers in the profession in Aotearoa New Zealand ~ Wheturangi Walsh-Tapiata, Helen Simmons, Litea Meo-Sewabu and Antoinette Umugwaneza

Consistency and change: internationally educated social workers compare interpretations and approaches in Canada and their countries of origin ~ Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, Marion Brown and Stephanie Ethier

Part Four: Policy challenges, professional responses

Readiness and regulation: perspectives of Canadian stakeholders on the labour mobility of internationally educated social workers ~ Marion Brown, Annie Pullen Sansfaçon and Kate Matheson

Will she be right, mate? Standards and diversity in Australian social work ~ Karen Healy

Recognising transnational qualifications in Australia ~ Angelika Papadopoulos

Social work mobility in Europe: a case study from Ireland ~ Trish Walsh, George Wilson and Erna O’Connor

Conclusion ~ Liz Beddoe and Allen Bartley