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Submission information
Submission Number: 214
Submission ID: 1364
Submission UUID: 72e5577b-0a89-4255-9dc6-dd3850b27682
Submission URI: /2025/abstracts
Created: Sat, 06/28/2025 - 13:42
Completed: Sat, 06/28/2025 - 14:34
Changed: Fri, 07/25/2025 - 10:33
Remote IP address: 41.13.176.74
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Current page: Complete
Webform: Abstract
Presenters
Ms.
Legegeru
Kelopile suzan
Fs department of social development
K.S.Legegeru holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work as obtained from the University of the Free State. She is currently working as a Social Work Supervisor in the FS Department of Social Development. She further serves as a Deputy Chairperson in the Social Work Supervisors Learning and Support Forum within Thabo Mofutsanyana District.
No
Abstract
Exploring how Social Workers integrate environmental justice,sustainability and ecological perspective into practice.
THEME 1: Green Social Work and Climate Resilience: Supporting Vulnerable Communities in the Face of Environmental Crises
SUB 1.3 How social workers support resilience, adaptation, and recovery in affected communities.
Oral Presentation
EXPLORING HOW SOCIAL WORKERS INTEGRATE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, SUSTAINABILITY AND ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES INTO PRACTICE.
In the wake of environmental crises in South Africa, a need to integrate environmental justice, sustainability and ecological perspectives into practice has never been more urgent. While environmental crises impacts us all, vulnerable and marginalized populations are impacted more adversely; threatening livelihoods and deepening existing inequalities.
As a profession with a long-standing declared focus on person-in-environment, Social Work may be key in accelerating interdisciplinary efforts to tackle environmental threats to human wellbeing and continued existence. Yet, the profession has evidently been silent or less involved.
This qualitative study used a descriptive design to explore how Social Workers integrate environmental justice, sustainability and ecological perspectives into practice. Utilizing the instrumental case study, the researcher purposively sampled ten Social Workers employed by the Free State Department of Social Development in Phuthaditjhaba. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken to obtain the data which was thematically analysed.
The findings of the study shows that although Social Workers are aware about the inter-relatedness between ecological issues and social problems ( including poverty, inequality and social exclusion) in light of rapidly mounting environmental crises; lack of capacity building in the area limits their capacity to integrate green social work( environmental justice, sustainability and climate resilience) into their daily practice.
The findings also suggests that Social Workers are playing a limited role in environmental justice and sustainability. It further shows that the focus has largely been on mitigating the impacts in the aftermaths of environmental crises. Thus, their interventions are more reactive than proactive.
The study findings are envisioned to develop an understanding on how Social Workers can utilize their expertise to enhance the prevention of environmental crises, accelerate the mitigation of subsequent impact, while protecting vulnerable populations and promoting environmental justice and sustainability.
In the wake of environmental crises in South Africa, a need to integrate environmental justice, sustainability and ecological perspectives into practice has never been more urgent. While environmental crises impacts us all, vulnerable and marginalized populations are impacted more adversely; threatening livelihoods and deepening existing inequalities.
As a profession with a long-standing declared focus on person-in-environment, Social Work may be key in accelerating interdisciplinary efforts to tackle environmental threats to human wellbeing and continued existence. Yet, the profession has evidently been silent or less involved.
This qualitative study used a descriptive design to explore how Social Workers integrate environmental justice, sustainability and ecological perspectives into practice. Utilizing the instrumental case study, the researcher purposively sampled ten Social Workers employed by the Free State Department of Social Development in Phuthaditjhaba. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken to obtain the data which was thematically analysed.
The findings of the study shows that although Social Workers are aware about the inter-relatedness between ecological issues and social problems ( including poverty, inequality and social exclusion) in light of rapidly mounting environmental crises; lack of capacity building in the area limits their capacity to integrate green social work( environmental justice, sustainability and climate resilience) into their daily practice.
The findings also suggests that Social Workers are playing a limited role in environmental justice and sustainability. It further shows that the focus has largely been on mitigating the impacts in the aftermaths of environmental crises. Thus, their interventions are more reactive than proactive.
The study findings are envisioned to develop an understanding on how Social Workers can utilize their expertise to enhance the prevention of environmental crises, accelerate the mitigation of subsequent impact, while protecting vulnerable populations and promoting environmental justice and sustainability.
Reviewer ONE Feedback
Dr
Sandile
Dhludhlu
Yes
Empirical Research
Accepted
Reviewer TWO Feedback
Dr
Sandile
Dhludhlu
Yes
Empirical Research
Accepted