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Social housing in Australia at the time of pandemic: A social work response
Dr Kim Robinson Senior Lecturer in Social Work Deputy HDR Co-Ordinator School of Health & Social Development, Faculty of Health Deakin University Geelong Waterfront Campus, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, VIC 3220 +61 3 52278205
Professor Linda Briskman Margaret Whitlam Chair of Social Work School of Social Sciences and Psychology Locked Bag 1797 Penrith NSW 2751 l.briskman@westernsydney.edu.au
Abstract:
The police response initiated by Government to COVID-19 with people living in social housing in inner city Melbourne, has drawn widespread condemnation from critical social workers. In July 2020 without notice, 3,000 residents were subject to immediate lockdown, which was enforced by 500 armed police. In July 2021 a similar response is being taken in Sydney’s inner west. For decades these parts of inner-city Melbourne and Sydney have flourished as different migrant communities, often newly arriving as refugees, live with long standing residents in social housing apartment blocks. Multi-cultural, bi-cultural and community development workers work collaboratively and in partnership over decades with communities, building sustainable and supportive social capital, supporting education and business.
This paper will draw on the lived experience of two social work academics, both of whom have worked as social workers and social work educators in these areas. We argue that human rights, central to critical social work that critiques of top-down state intervention, are essential during these times, and core to our work is community driven responses. Based on analysis of the responses of community members and the media we highlight how social workers, community workers and leaders are currently engaging with the crisis. Of concern is that the situation in Melbourne is being replicated in Sydney, and the predominance of health and policing paradigms do not consider the knowledge and experience of diverse communities. We argue how the core elements of critical social work remain as urgent as ever at a time when police and public health responses to the pandemic are damaging community trust, and that social work is well placed to respond to COVID through commitment to social action, social inclusion and community development.
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