The authors bring more than 40 years' experience in rural social work and community development to the challenge of providing good social care to the more than six million people who live in rural Australia, some in very remote locations. Their book emphasises the importance of a developmental approach encompassing proper planning, evidence-based policy, and the influence which practitioners can have. The first part of the book explains the processes for developing, implementing, and evaluating policies and social plans, including achieving impact through networking, formal consultations, community development, and lobbying. Part two of the book looks at types of social care and the challenges each present. The types of social care include:

• community-embedded, where practitioners view themselves as part of the community;
• specialised, where the focus is on a particular target group or methodology;
• statutory, where the provision of social care comes with legislative responsibility; and
• visiting, where the practitioner doesn't live in the community but provides services on a visiting basis.

The authors devote specific attention to Indigenous communities and, through case studies, provide examples of social care programs in action.

This is an invaluable book for practitioners and students of social work, nursing, education, psychology, community development, and social policy, as well as others who care for the social needs of rural communities on a voluntary basis.

Table of Contents

Social care in rural places

PART ONE: SOCIAL CARE DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER 1: Social policy
CHAPTER 2: Social planning
CHAPTER 3: Community development

PART TWO: SOCIAL CARE SERVICES AND PRACTICE
CHAPTER 4: Individualised services and generalist practice
CHAPTER 5: Visiting services and practice
CHAPTER 6: Specialised services and practice
CHAPTER 7: Statutory services and mandated practice
CHAPTER 8: Practice, practitioners, community, and lifestyle
Bibliography
Index