Setting the scene

In May 2024, nine people working in education, health, and human services who were studying the Social Work Theory and Practice 3 subject, attended the inaugural five-day Charles Sturt University Canberra-specific social work group work intensive workshop. Dr Monica Short facilitated the five-day workshop. The School of Social Work and Arts and Library Services colleagues supported this workshop and/or this resulting anthology.

In the spirit of democratising education, as proposed by Duncombe et al., (2024), this anthology emerged from the authors’ cumulative learnings at that workshop and their experience with group work in their respective careers. To ensure the trustworthiness of the publication, the material generated for this anthology was considered alongside: the student perspective; relevant extant literature; the experience of an industry colleague and partner (Cara Jacobs, Chief Operating Officer, YWCA Canberra), the knowledge of experienced social work group work practitioners (Karen Dempsey and Rohena Duncombe) and interdisciplinary philosopher, Dr Emma Rush.

This anthology has been double-blind peer-reviewed by subject experts from a community organisation.

This anthology is an aid and complements existing scholarship in the field.

Reference list

Duncombe, R., Russ, E., Gersbach, K., Halton, C., Jeffries, P., Whitaker, L., Short, M., & Redshaw, S. (2024). Democratising online social work education: Addressing othering. In J. Przeperski & R. Baikady (Eds.), The Routledge International Handbook of Social Work Teaching (pp. 391-412). Routledge.