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Social workers help with mental health, relationship and upbringing issues, family violence, gambling, alcohol and other drug use and more.
If you are struggling with difficulties then a social worker can help you.
If your family is working with a social worker, it is okay to ask questions about how social workers will help you.
About social workers
Social workers are university-trained professionals who help improve people's well-being and manage issues or difficulties in their lives.
Social workers have provided training in counseling, child well-being and family support. This means that they know how to help families and children who are having problems.
Social workers support issues such as individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations:
Mental health problems
Disability
Trauma experiences
Relationship difficulties
Follow the challenges
family violence
Grief and loss
Homeless
Gambling
Abuse of alcohol and other drugs.
Social workers focus on a person's personal issues. They also look for other things that may cause difficulties. For example, a social worker helping someone on a mental health issue sees things that can contribute to the issue - for example, relationship breakdown, homelessness, unemployment, family violence and so on.
Many social workers have jobs as case managers, meaning that they work with individuals or families to identify the changes they need in their lives, as well as link them to other agencies and programs Who can help them. With your consent, they also ensure that these agencies are connected and communicate among themselves.
Social workers may also work as counselors, psychiatrists, family support workers, or community development workers.
Social workers are employed in many different government, non-governmental and community organizations. These include hospital and community health centers, early intervention services, family support agencies, family medical services, child protection programs, family violence services, mediation programs and bereavement services. They also work in schools, employment agencies, justice services, housing services and aged care services.
Why you or your child can see a social worker
A social worker can help if you have special or complex needs or difficulties that you are struggling to manage on your own.
A social worker can help you or your child due to a mental health condition, disability, or critical illness.
Other reasons to see a social worker may include:
Current or past experience of abuse or family violence
Problems with a relationship in your life - for example, a divorce or separation
Alcohol and other drugs or gambling problems
Problem to increase
Your life is experiencing significant changes such as loss of employment.
Difficulty coping with the loss of an important person in your life, including pregnancy loss.
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