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The role of green social work in response to climate change: perceptions of social workers
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2024
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| _version_ | 1867613760433160192 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Nel, Tamsin Leigh |
| author2 | Khosa, Priscalia |
| author_browse | Khosa, Priscalia Nel, Tamsin Leigh |
| author_facet | Khosa, Priscalia Nel, Tamsin Leigh |
| author_sort | Nel, Tamsin Leigh |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/130623 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:41:15.521Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publishDateRange | 2024 |
| publishDateSort | 2024 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/130623 The role of green social work in response to climate change: perceptions of social workers Nel, Tamsin Leigh Khosa, Priscalia Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work. Social service -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa Climatic changes -- South Africa Environmentalism -- Social aspects -- South Africa Poverty Gender-based violence -- South Africa Child abuse UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The goal of this study was to bridge the gap in determining what social workers’ perceptions are on the role of green social work (GSW) within a South African context. The emergence of GSW as a framework integrates the political, social, and ecological perspectives into social work practice to react to climate change impacts. Climate change disproportionally affects vulnerable populations within society, and existing injustices and marginalization will intensify as a result. The principles of social justice and collective responsibility are central to social work, creating a responsibility for social workers to protect vulnerable populations from the negative impacts of climate change. Whilst literature and theory exist on the need for the profession to explore links between social welfare and the natural environment, the concern is the lack in empirical studies of GSW worldwide depicting the voices of social workers. Therefore, the nature of this study is qualitative. A combination of exploratory and descriptive research design was utilized as well as purposive and snowball sampling methods. The findings were obtained from an empirical investigation with 11 social workers within South Africa, and one key informant from the United Kingdom (UK). Data was collected through virtual interviews via Zoom, WhatsApp FaceTime, and Microsoft Teams, using a semi- structured interview guide. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings of the study show that social workers are yet to be proactive in dealing with the climate crisis, but can make use of existing skills and roles from the profession. GSW was found to be an appropriate guideline for social workers in South Africa to make use of when addressing the effects of climate change. However, lack of proactiveness of the profession was found to be due to other pressing social issues such as poverty, gender-based violence and child abuse facing South Africa. Nevertheless, based on the study findings, the social workers who participated in this study are in fact making strides towards sustainable practices in their own ways and are inviting other social workers in South Africa to act against climate change The findings of this study are anticipated to develop an understanding of the role of social workers in the remit of climate change and can further equip social workers in working with communities who are affected by the effects of climate change. This study also advocates for the profession to shift towards the narrative of implementing GSW ideals in its practice, policies, and in the social work curriculum, as it is a framework that can be applied within the context of South Africa. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om die gaping te oorbrug deur te bepaal wat maatskaplike werkers se persepsies is oor die rol van groen maatskaplike werk (GMW) binne 'n Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Die ontstaan van GMW as 'n raamwerk integreer die politieke, sosiale en ekologiese perspektief in maatskaplike werkpraktyk om op klimaatsveranderingimpakte te reageer. Klimaatsverandering beïnvloed kwesbare bevolkings binne die samelewing onverhoudingsgewys, en bestaande onregverdigheid en marginalisering sal versterk word as gevolg daarvan. Die beginsels van sosiale geregtigheid en kollektiewe verantwoordelikheid is sentraal tot maatskaplike werk, wat 'n verantwoordelikheid vir maatskaplike werkers skep om kwesbare bevolkings teen die negatiewe impakte van klimaatsverandering te beskerm. Terwyl daar literatuur en teorie bestaan oor die behoefte vir die professie om skakels tussen maatskaplike welsyn en die natuurlike omgewing te verken, is die bekommernis die gebrek aan empiriese studies van GSW wêreldwyd wat die stemme van maatskaplike werkers uitbeeld. Daarom was die aard van hierdie studie kwalitatief. 'n Kombinasie van verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsontwerp is gebruik asook doelgerigte en sneeubal steekproefmetodes. Die bevindings is verkry uit 'n empiriese ondersoek met 11 maatskaplike werkers binne Suid-Afrika en een sleutelinformant uit die Verenigde Koninkryk (VK).Data is ingesamel deur middel van virtuele onderhoude via Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime en Microsoft Teams met behulp van 'n semigestruktureerde onderhoudgids. Tematiese inhoudsontleding is gebruik om die data te analiseer. Die bevindings van die studie toon aan dat maatskaplike werkers nog nie pro-aktief is in die hantering van die klimaatkrisis nie, maar van bestaande vaardighede en rolle binne die professie gebruik kan maak. GSW is bevind as 'n toepaslike riglyn vir maatskaplike werkers in Suid-Afrika om te gebruik wanneer hulle die gevolge van klimaatsverandering aanspreek. Nietemin is die gebrek aan proaktiwiteit van die professie toegeskryf aan ander dringende maatskaplike kwessies soos armoede, geslagsgebaseerde geweld en kindermishandeling in Suid-Afrika. Nietemin, gebaseer op die studiebevindinge, maak die maatskaplike werkers wat aan hierdie studie deelgeneem het, wel vordering in die rigting van volhoubare praktyke op hul eie maniere en nooi ander maatskaplike werkers in Suid-Afrika uit om stappe teen klimaatsverandering te neem. Die bevindings van hierdie studie word verwag om 'n begrip te ontwikkel van die rol van maatskaplike werkers in die bestek van klimaatsverandering en kan maatskaplike werkers verder toerus om met gemeenskappe te werk wat deur die gevolge van klimaatsverandering geraak word. Hierdie studie pleit ook vir die professie om na die narratief van die implementering van GSW-ideale in sy praktyk, beleid, en die maatskaplike werk-kurrikulum te skuif, aangesien dit 'n raamwerk is wat binne die konteks van Suid-Afrika toegepas kan word. Masters 2024-02-13T07:26:01Z 2024-04-27T00:21:06Z 2024-02-13T07:26:01Z 2024-04-27T00:21:06Z 2024-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130623 en Stellenbosch University ix, 119 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Social service -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa Climatic changes -- South Africa Environmentalism -- Social aspects -- South Africa Poverty Gender-based violence -- South Africa Child abuse UCTD Nel, Tamsin Leigh The role of green social work in response to climate change: perceptions of social workers |
| title | The role of green social work in response to climate change: perceptions of social workers |
| title_full | The role of green social work in response to climate change: perceptions of social workers |
| title_fullStr | The role of green social work in response to climate change: perceptions of social workers |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of green social work in response to climate change: perceptions of social workers |
| title_short | The role of green social work in response to climate change: perceptions of social workers |
| title_sort | role of green social work in response to climate change perceptions of social workers |
| topic | Social service -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa Climatic changes -- South Africa Environmentalism -- Social aspects -- South Africa Poverty Gender-based violence -- South Africa Child abuse UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130623 |
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