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The importance of a social work practice
Following World Social Work Day, Slater and Gordon’s national social work service manager has stressed the importance of social work in a legal context.
Lauren Croft
After introducing “no win no fee” cost agreements to Australia nearly three decades ago, Slater and Gordon has emphasised the importance of its social work service for clients awaiting personal injury compensation claim outcomes.
Last year, more than 370 clients across Australia received assistance from the team, which national social work service manager Olga Gountras said were always in demand.
“Compensation claims take time to settle, and while their legal claims are being pursued, injured and ill people still need to find a way to get on with their everyday lives, which can be difficult,” she said.
“We help clients manage the enormous stresses they are facing in relation to financial distress, homelessness, relationship breakdowns, mental health issues and barriers to accessing the care, support and treatment that they need, among a wide range of other issues.
“We care about how our clients’ lives and how they’re coping, so providing a complimentary social work service ensures that we can help them access whatever help it is they need beyond the legal assistance their lawyer is already providing.”
Ms Gountras said that World Social Work Day on 15 March provided an opportunity to acknowledge the important contribution social workers made across a range of sectors to individuals, families, communities and the broader society, adding that there were more commonalities between the professions of social work and law than many realised.
“Both professions are underpinned by their ethics, demand integrity, confidentiality, client respect, advocate on our clients’ behalf and always seek to act in their best interests,” she said.
“Social workers and lawyers assist their clients to improve their quality of life and to redress social injustice, and the protection and advancement of human rights is also at the core of what both professions do.”
Slater and Gordon chief executive John Somerville said the firm was proud to provide a service that was “changing the lives of so many clients”.
“From being injured in road or workplace accidents, to those who have been diagnosed with an asbestos related illness, our lawyers have witnessed many people struggling to deal with the associated social and emotional trauma that comes with such an abrupt and threatening disruption to their lives,” he said.
“Our social work service means we are able to help our clients beyond the legal process and provide the additional care they need to help move forward with their lives.
“The social work team is made up of highly skilled, experienced and passionate professionals and I want to thank them for the difference they make to the lives of our clients every day.”
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
