Code of Ethics Critically Analyse Australian Association

Code of Ethics

"Critically analyse Australian Association Social Worker's Code Ethics (2010), reference utility guiding promoting high quality ethical practice working Aboriginal Torres Straight Islander people.

Critically analyse the Australian Association of Social Worker's Code of Ethics (2010), with particular reference to its utility for guiding and promoting high quality ethical practice when working with Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people.

The Australian Association of Social Worker's Code of Ethics (2010) is designed to help social workers navigate the often-thorny issues which concern professionals, particularly when they are working with historically disadvantaged groups. The ethical guide aspires to set professional ideals yet also provide practical guidance. It repeatedly underlines the new commitment of the profession to honor the multicultural nature of Australian society. The cover of the Code of Ethics is emblazoned with an image of aboriginal people sitting around a burning campfire. "Through the flames of the campfire, the smoke forms a spiraling upward pathway, travelling through the AASW logo and linking the family with the environments of education, housing and health...The goal for social work is to ethically engage and interact with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to promote, achieve and maintain their overall well being" (2).

The Code pays honor to the distinct nature of the culture of aboriginal people, their historic right to Australian territory, and makes a commitment to culturally-competent care (5). Working with Australia's 'first people,' who have been historically disadvantaged over the course of Australian history is a central value of all professionals, regardless of where they operate. Social workers must understand that frequently native peoples have a different understanding of moral and ethical concepts than people from Anglo-European societies; including a priority given to community relationships, a different spiritual worldview; and different modes of political authority, such as 'elders' who are accorded special respect within the context of the tribe (17-18).

As well as this specific commitment to native peoples, the Code of Ethics affirms that members of the profession try to make society more just in a collective fashion, not merely seek to aid individual clients. Social work "promotes justice and social fairness, by acting to reduce barriers and to expand choice and potential for all persons, with special regard for those who are disadvantaged, vulnerable, oppressed or have exceptional needs" (13). The Code stresses that it is the social worker's, not the client's responsibility to set boundaries regarding what constitutes professional behavior, including ones that relate to physical contact (22).

However, while the statements are affirmative of culturally diverse attitudes in words, how precisely the social worker should put these ideas into practice is vague. There are certain practical statements which seem sensible, like having a translator on hand when dealing with members of tribes who do not speak English and to only make referrals to competent persons (21). There are references to specifics as to what constitutes informed consent, terminating services, and the ethics of research, but even these are open to interpretation.