ECU South West campus students.
Students and graduates of Edith Cowan University's (ECU) Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) program are tackling some of the most pressing social issues facing Australian communities today.
Their research spanning suicide prevention and postvention, farm succession, water safety for migrant women, and cultural humility in social work, demonstrates the critical role of social workers in addressing complex societal challenges.
Associate Dean (Social Sciences, Social Work and Youth Work) Professor Janine Joyce highlighted the vital role ECU plays in educating social workers for the South West.
"The South West region, like many regional areas, faces significant challenges in recruiting and retaining social workers. ECU's Social Work program, based at our South West Campus, is uniquely positioned to address these workforce shortages by training graduates with a deep connection to place and community," Professor Joyce said.
Senior Lecturer Dr Sue Bailey is a researcher exploring ecological grief and is one of the social work team who supervises students and mentors them on their research journey.
"Social work is about more than providing services—it's also about understanding how our eco-social systems impact people's lives and then advocating for meaningful change. ECU Social Work Honours students over the years have undertaken significant research that can influence policy and practice across a range of critical areas," Dr Bailey said.
ECU Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) graduates Charm White, Joy Hu, Kristie Rolfe (current student), Matt Basham & Michelle Elsey.
Farm succession and mental wellbeing
As a former banker of more than 30 years Matt Basham witnessed first-hand the level of stress, conflict and angst within farming families over issues relating to farming succession.
Matt's research explored the social and emotional impacts of farm succession in Australia. The study found that farming families often struggle with succession decisions, balancing financial pressures, traditional expectations, and family wellbeing. The research highlights the need for social workers to be involved in farm succession planning to support families through these complex transitions.
Understanding suicide through media narratives
With nine Australians dying by suicide each day, Michelle Elsey's research examined how media narratives influence public perceptions and policy responses. The study found that news coverage often highlights systemic failures in mental health and veteran support services, reinforcing the urgent need for policy reform and improved resources.
Michelle chose her research topic to gain a better understanding of how discourse shapes the way suicide is represented in Australian online news media.
"The most interesting discovery in my research was that most online news media articles regarding suicide don't follow the guidelines adequately. This is something I feel needs to be explored further," she said.
Water safety and swimming confidence among migrant women
Charm White is a proud descendent of the Yuin nation, a mature aged student, and the first in her family to attend university. Recognising that one-third of all drowning victims in Australia are born overseas, Charm White's research investigated the barriers migrant women face in accessing swimming and water safety programs. The findings indicate that financial constraints, lack of knowledge, and environmental unfamiliarity limit their participation, underscoring the need for culturally tailored water safety initiatives.
Since graduating Charm is now working as a Child Protection Worker with the Department of Communities.
"The option to study social work online at ECU, with a modified program that acknowledged my individual needs, was a deciding factor in my ability to attend university," Charm said.
"Without the flexibility of this course, my research and the resulting degree would not have been possible," she said.
Cultural humility in Social Work
Jihea Joy Hu's Honours project examined cultural humility in social work. While humility encourages ongoing self-reflection and challenges traditional power structures, the study found that current practices still reflect neoliberal values. The research highlights the need for a more genuine engagement with cultural humility to support decolonisation in social work.
Joy is originally from South Korea. She said living in Australia as a person with cultural differences drew her to the topic of how social workers are engaging with ‘cultural humility’.
"Guided by cultural humility, social workers are able to unpack their own cultural influences and privileges in practice, perhaps leading towards decolonising social work," she said.
Suicide and school talk
Youth suicide is a significant issue, and schools play an important role in both prevention and postvention strategies. Kristie Rolfe’s research investigated how suicide is framed in schools through postvention strategies by analysing language used within publicly available education department documents in Australia.
After working in corporate retail for more than 20 years Kristie decided to explore a new career path and has been studying a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) part-time for the past six years. She will complete her studies this year and hopes to work directly with young people and support their mental health.
ECU: Leading the way in Social Work education
ECU is the leading provider of social workers in the South West, producing most of the graduates who go on to work in the region. The University’s Bachelor of Social Work program, based at ECU South West, is ranked as the top social work program in Western Australia (Good Universities Guide), and among the top 25 for social work research in Australia (EduRank).
Professor Joyce emphasised the importance of ECU’s regional focus.
"We know that regional and rural areas struggle to attract and retain allied health professionals, including social workers. ECU is committed to addressing this through our strong pathway agreement with WA Country Health Service (WACHS), offering graduate positions and ensuring that social work graduates can stay and contribute to their communities," she said.
With high student satisfaction and strong graduate employment rates, ECU continues to play a crucial role in addressing workforce shortages in the South West and beyond. The University is also expanding its offerings, with a new Master of Social Work (Qualifying) program launching at the Joondalup Campus in Semester Two, 2025, providing further opportunities for social work education in Western Australia.
For more information about ECU's Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) and Master of Social Work courses, visit the ECU website.
