Theoretical perspective application in relation to

Centrelink Family & Domestic Violence Service

For stakeholders to inform and
guide practice collaboration

(Wikipedia
2019).
 Raise Awareness of stakeholders working in multidisciplinary
Raise team with varied backgrounds

Inform Inform Ethical Service Delivery of stakeholders

Outcomes
Understand theoretical perspectives – Systems Theory,
Understand Radical & Critical Theories and Feminist Theory.

Stakeholders will draw on examples of how theoretical

Draw on perspectives can inform their practice.

(Wikipedia
2019).
(Wikipedia
2019).
 General Systems Theory (GST) – First established in 1940’s by
biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy
 Information being communicated in a cycle – allowing social systems
to have misunderstandings, behaviours and power dynamics
corrected (Bertalanffy 1968).
 Allows practitioner to understand and analyse collaborative input of
social systems strengths and boundaries – outside of the individuals
Systems within it
 Receives criticism due to dehumanising individuals’ relationships,
Theory - however this approach could enable positive developments and
explanations surrounding individuals exposed to domestic violence by
General way of facilitating communication. – for example if one family
member is withholding details re domestic violence, another may
openly engage and provide information (Harms & Connolly 2019).
 Opportunity for continual assessment from practitioner should be
applied as the family members who may or not attend any one
session; thus, changing the feel, sound, and look of the family social
system comprising of sub-systems such as sibling systems or parental
systems (Harms & Connolly 2019).
(Wikipedia
2019).

Eco-systems Theory emerged from a psychologist Bronfenbrenner

Eco-systems in which we live conceptualised social systems’ relationships with

one another (Bronfenbrenner 1979).

Systems Ecological approaches obligate practitioners and stakeholders within

Centrelink to apply commitment to broad social change through participation
Theory - Eco in politicized community initiatives (Ungar 2002).

Understand individuals’ relationships with their families by exploring their level

of community involvement, and further analysing the systems evident
between the extended family

It may become evident that an individual is left exposed to domestic violence

simply as they have a limited support network and feel trapped in their current
environment (Healy 2005).
(Wikipedia
2019).

Complex systems theory (CST) assumes that change is

the usual feature of human systems

Systems There is often order in what may appear to be chaotic,

and the social worker’s ability to assess these instances to
Theory - most appropriately facilitate change is informed by CST
Complex (Higginbotham, Albrecht & Connor 2001).

Practitioners may implement this theoretical perspective

when facilitating change to an individual experiencing
crisis, through identifying resilience as a key quality of
survival to be accomplished (Harms & Connolly 2019).
(Wikipedia 2019).

Originally drawn from the theories of Karl Marx and the multiple
‘Marxisms’ developed by his contemporary followers, which
established a substitute to capitalist progression (Morley 2019, p.190)

Focusses on the means of production in capitalist societies, the

distribution of wealth and its prevalent, disproportionate impact on
individuals within society (de Warren 2019).

Radical Theory
Allows practitioners to perceive structural dynamics of poverty,
economic crisis and social inequality as important components of the
capitalist framework (Morley 2019, p. 190-191).

Apply by acknowledging that there are a variety of factors which

contribute to Family and Domestic Violence and that the individuals
who experience it are not at fault.
(Wikipedia 2019).

 First devised in the 1930’s by unconventional Marxists, known as the

Frankfurt School (Morley 2019, p.189)
 Critical theory maintains the doctrine of exposing prevailing forms of
oppression in order to achieve emancipation
 Proposes that problems within society such as violence, inequality
and conditions which make it hard to survive are social constructs
created by people’s actions and can therefore be rectified by people’s
actions (Morley 2019, p.189)

Critical Theory  The use of language can contribute to the issue of Family and
Domestic Violence
 Through the examination of this language used by members within
the family, the practitioner may potentially help individuals change
their use of language, thereby reducing the unequal power dynamics
constructed by society within the family unit (Rubini & Menegatti
2017)
 Used to advocate for the empowerment, liberation and emancipation
from domination for the families accessing the Family and Domestic
Violence service (Kelly 2011).
(Wikipedia 2019).
 Feminist theory encompasses many sub movements and ideologies
which can be referred to as “feminisms”
 Liberal Feminism, which is concerned with justice through legal and
social reforms
 Radical Feminism which declares that it is necessary to have a
women-only women movement
 Black Feminism, which identifies that cultural differences need to be
considered as non-white females face another layer of oppression and
Feminist added barriers to equality (Harms & Connolly 2019).

Theory  Marxist feminism which is concerned with abolishing capitalism and

argues that women’s oppression is linked to the institution of family,
 Socialist feminism which aims to end class, gender and racial
oppression (Harms & Connolly 2019).
 Postmodern feminism which believes that oppression has no single
cause and therefore no single solution; however, it explores how
language, knowledge and power intersect to marginalise and oppress
(Harms & Connolly 2019).
(Wikipedia 2019).

 Feminist Theory focuses on injustice of minority groups based on

gender, race, sexual orientation and economic status. It looks at the
intersections of those minority labels and how to liberate and
overcome injustice (Harms & Connolly 2019).
 Feminism looks to highlight the continued marginalisation of people
experiencing domestic violence by interacting and engaging with
specific demographics differently (Chenoweth & McAuliffe 2017).
 By taking a feminist approach to support, practitioners can provide
Feminist opportunities for individuals seeking support to build knowledge,
increase safety and to make informed choices about their own future,
as well as their families
Theory  Feminist theory encompasses many sub movements and ideologies
which differ when applying the perspectives to practice
 to access domestic violence support through Centrelink firstly a
specific threshold or criteria must be met to access the support. This is
a challenge for vulnerable people who require access to these
services, but do not meet the specific threshold or criteria to engage
support. By applying a feminist perspective it would be understood
that although the threshold isn’t met, support may still be required
allowing for referral (Chenoweth & McAuliffe 2017).
Questions and Case
Studies
 As a think piece, please identify a particular
case you have worked on and apply of any
of the perspectives discussed. Do you think
the outcome of the case study would be
different if applied?
 Time for reflection and any questions

(Wikipedia 2019).
Australian Association of Social Workers 2010, Code of Ethics, viewed 1 September 2019, https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/1201

Australian Department of Human Services 2019, Social Work Services, viewed 28 August 2019,
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/social-work-services#a1

Bertalanffy, L.V 1968, General Systems Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications, George Braziller, New York.

Bronfenbrenner, U 1979, The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, UK.

Connolly, M and Harms, L 2019, Social Work: From Theory to Practice, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne, Vic.

De Warren, D 2019, Introduction Radical and Critical Theories, unit notes, SOWK12010: Theories of Change for Professional Practice II, CQUniversity
e-units, https://moodle.cqu.edu.au/pluginfile.php/3245639/mod_resource/content/2/Introduction%20Radical%20and%20Critical%20Theories.pdf

Green, D & McDermott, F 2010, ‘Social work from inside and between complex systems: perspectives on person-in-environment for today’s social work’,
British Journal of Social Work, vol. 40, no. 8, pp. 2414–2430.

Healy, K 2005, Social Work Theories in Context, Palgrave McMillan, Basingstoke.

Higginbotham, N, Albrecht, G & Connor, L 2001, Health Social Science: A Trans-disciplinary and Complexity Perspective, Oxford University Press,
Melbourne, Vic.

Menegatti, M & Rubini, M 2017, Gender Bias and Sexism in Language, viewed 2 September 2019,
https://oxfordre.com/communication/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.001.0001/acrefore-9780190228613-e-470

Morley, C 2019, ‘Theories for Practice’, 2nd edn, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Mohantry, C 2003, Feminism without borders: Decolonizing theory, practicing solidarity. Durham: Duke University Press.

Newell, K 2000, Discrimination against the girl child, Washington, DC: Youth Advocate Program International.

Peterson. K, &. L. A, 2001, Building on women's strengths: A social work agenda for the twenty-first century. New York: Haworth Press, Volume 2.

Reid, W. J 2002 ‘Knowledge for direct social work practice: An analysis of trends’, Social Service Review, 76(1), pp. 6–33.

Ungar, M 2002 ‘A Deeper, More Social Ecological Social Work Practice’, Social Service Review, vol. 76, no. 3, pp. 480–497.

Wikipedia 2019, Centrelink logo, digital image, viewed 5 September 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrelink

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