Indigenism and Australian social work

Abstract

Indigenism is a concept that has emerged over the last 20 years as a result of the engagement of Indigenous academics with research. It is a way of claiming a space within research for Aboriginal knowledge systems and ways of knowing, being and doing. However, in Australia, Indigenism and Indigenist theory and practice have not been confined to research alone, it has been embedded within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social work for a number of decades. This chapter will introduce Indigenism and Indigenist theory and practice in social work, as it was developed in the Australian setting in the 1970s, identify how it has evolved and illustrate how it has impacted on both Australian social work and national policies and practices. The chapter will then move on to explore how Indigenism and Indigenist theory can inform social work theory and practice into the future.