Systemic approach to working with vulnerable people. An Australian experience.

Centrelink is part of the Department of Human Services and was created as the Australian Government Service Delivery agency responsible for the delivery of income support payments and other services to assist Australians in times of need. It employs close to 700 social workers within a much larger administrative and customer service workforce located across the country. This presentation will focus on the use of strengths based practice in our work with people in times of crisis and vulnerability. This includes those affected by domestic violence, homelessness and family breakdown, as well as natural disasters and terrorist events. The Australian Government through its social inclusion agenda has focused on issues such as homelessness, family violence, jobless families, closing the gap for indigenous Australians and entrenched social disadvantage. Australia has also experienced a unprecedented period of natural disasters over the past year. Desley Hargreaves talks to the strengths based approach to responding to these challenges that has been an important strategy in making a small difference in the lives of those people affected by such circumstances, in Australia.