What does social work look like in a climate crisis? Transformative ecosocial work combines social justice and climate action. Welcome to the Home of Wisdom Coffee Conversations to learn more and discuss!
Ecosocial work research in Australia: Pathways to planetary well-being
This presentation explores the role of ecosocial work within the broader discourse on planetary wellbeing, sustainability, and responsibility. Ecosocial work is an emerging paradigm in social work that integrates ecological and social justice and recognises the interdependence between humans and the natural world. It advocates for transformative practice and policy approaches that address the root causes of both environmental degradation and social inequality.
Positioned within a global professional context, I will highlight the unique challenges influencing ecosocial work in Australia. These challenges include cultural disconnection from land, ecological fragility, the colonial legacy of Indigenous dispossession, a resource-intensive economy, biodiversity loss, and rising social inequities within a context of political inertia and short-term economic policy.
I will share a summary of my ecosocial work research, which attempts to respond to some of these challenges. Providing a snapshot of my research, I will outline my research focusing on transformative ecosocial practice, ecosocial works role in the sustainability transition, the realities of frontline social work, disaster preparedness in human service organisations, and the growing phenomenon of disaster fatigue in the face of extreme weather and climate-related events. This session aims to stimulate dialogue on the global relevance of ecosocial work and its potential to contribute meaningfully to the collective pursuit of planetary wellbeing.
About the presenter
Heather Boetto is Associate Professor in the School of Social Work and Arts at Charles Sturt University, Australia. Heather’s love of the natural environment emerged in her childhood as a young farm girl growing up in regional New South Wales. Later, as a social work practitioner, Heather became aware of the social impacts of climatic events, particularly drought, on the lives of people and communities in regional and rural areas. Now in academia, Heather specialises in EcoSocial Work and disaster practice. This area of knowledge recognises the interdependence between environmental wellbeing and human wellbeing, is concerned with injustice caused by the unfair distribution of environmental risks and involves helping people to create and maintain a healthy and biodiverse ecosystem.
Join the event on-site or online
We encourage you to take a moment away from your desk and participate on-site at the Home of Wisdom within the C-building, where coffee and tea will be served. However, remote participation is also possible. You are warmly welcome to join the event either way!
To join online, use the link below. In addition, use your own name as you join to be let in from the waiting room.
