History of Social Work

The development of Social Work in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia has developed and evolved, influencing people and professionals across the world. Social Work has advanced through welfare policies and programs with significant historical changes occurring and a shift in religious and political views allowing these changes to benefit members of society and address social issues. Key events such as the Elizabethan Poor Law, the industrial revolution, the first charity organised society (COS) and the settlement movement were established mainly in the United Kingdom however similar models were then adapted in the United States and Australia. Pioneering members of society helped advocate for human rights, social reform movements and actuate formal academic training in becoming a qualified Social Worker. Social Work has evolved in to the profession it is today influenced by some of the events mentioned in the purpose to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual or group through education, community organizing, direct practice and social policies with many concepts that started years ago, still relevant and practiced today.

The Elizabethan Poor Law was first established in England, 1601 and was designed to set a standard of rules to determine who in society was “worthy poor and undeserving poor” (Chenoweth & McAuliffe, 2012, p. 34). Able bodied poor were placed in institutions, or workhouses and people were taxed to pay for this system while the disabled, elderly or sick were placed under their parishes care (Huff, n.d.). The second amendment in 1834 of the Poor Law saw the new act focus more on deterring the able bodied poor of relief by making the conditions of the workhouses harsh so only truly destitute members of society would apply. Australia did not introduce a poor law, however the definition of deserving poor and undeserving poor along with the assumptions and principles still applied. (Chenoweth & McAuliffe, 2012, p.

References: Benevolent Society. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.benevolent.org.au/about/celebrating--200--years Chenoweth, L., & McAuliffe, D. (2012). In L. C. Mcauliffe, The Road To Social Work & Human Service Practice: An Introductory Text (3rd Ed) (pp. 33, 35, 36). South Melbourne: Cengage. Dulmus, C., & Sowers, K. (2012). The Profession of Social Work: Guided by History, Led by Evidence. Gleeson, D. J. (2008). Some New Perspectives on Early Australian Social Work. Australian Social Work, 207--225. Huff, D. (n.d.). Retrieved from Progress and Reform: A cyberhistory of Social Works formative years: http://web1.boisestate.edu/socwork/dhuff/history/chapts/1-1.htm Industrial Revolution . (2013, April 23). Retrieved from The History Channel: http://www.history.com/topics/industrial-revolution Pennington, J. (2011, 02 17). British History in Depth: Beneath the surface. Retrieved from BBC History: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/bsurface_01.shtml Pierson, J. (2011). Understanding Social Work : History and Context. Retrieved from http://www.eblib.com Smith, M. K. (2008). Octavia Hill: housing, space and social reform’, the encyclopaedia of informal education. . Retrieved from http://infed.org/mobi/octavia-hill-housing-and-social-reform/ Wade, L. C. (1967). The Heritage from Chicago 's Early Settlement Houses. Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, 411 - 441.