What Is Social Work?
Social Work is a university-qualified profession dedicated to promoting wellbeing, social justice and human rights. Social workers support people to improve their quality of life, especially in situations involving complexity, vulnerability or major life transitions.
Under the NDIS, Social Work is recognised as a therapeutic support. Social workers use a holistic approach to understand how your environment, relationships, history, health, disability, culture and daily life all interact and how these factors influence your wellbeing and capacity.
Social workers who provide services must be current members of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and follow strict professional standards.
How Social Work Helps Under the NDIS
The main focus of NDIS Social Work is to maintain and maximise your social and emotional functioning. This means supporting you to live a meaningful, safe and connected life by strengthening your skills, capacity and confidence.
A social worker can support you to:
- Navigate emotional and social impacts of disability
- Adjust to major life changes and transitions
- Strengthen coping skills and resilience
- Improve relationships and communication
- Build community participation and reduce isolation
- Address complex social or family circumstances
- Work through barriers that get in the way of achieving your NDIS goals
- Understand systems, services and supports
- Increase independence and daily living skills
Social Work services are funded under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living within your NDIS plan.
At the Core are a registered NDIS provider and deliver Social Work services in line with the NDIS Price Guide and AASW Practice Standards.
Why Social Work Matters
Social Workers play a vital role in the disability sector because they can:
- Address emotional, social, relational and environmental factors
- Understand the interaction between disability, community and mental health
- Intervene across multiple parts of a person’s life to create lasting change
- Support people who experience complexity, vulnerability or risk
- Help families and carers feel supported and informed
The goal is always the same:
To support people to live safer, happier and more connected lives — with greater choice, control and independence.
Therapeutic Modalities Offered
As a qualified social worker with many years of experience in mental health and disability in community settings Anita is qualified to deliver therapeutic psychosocial interventions and has completed further training in the following modalities:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT can be used to help individuals accept difficult thoughts and emotions while taking action to live a meaningful life.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on identifying and challenging unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that contribute to distress
Solution-Focused Therapy
This approach helps individuals identify their strengths and find solutions to their problems. By focusing on creating practical and achievable goals, this therapy can empower clients to take action and make positive changes in their lives.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented technique used to enhance clients’ motivation for change. By exploring and strengthening their intrinsic motivation, you can assist clients in overcoming ambivalence and moving towards the desired changes in their lives.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a therapeutic approach that focuses on processing traumatic or distressing memories or experiences. It involves bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, to facilitate the integration of unresolved trauma.
Art in Therapy
EMDR is a therapeutic approach that focuses on processing traumatic or distressing memories or experiences. It involves bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, to facilitate the integration of unresolved trauma.
Skill Building
Teaching participants specific skills to manage their emotions and improve their overall well-being. These may include relaxation techniques, stress management strategies, communication skills, assertiveness training, and problem-solving skills.