Book chapter
Holding the Fine Line Between Transformation and Complicity
Social Work in the Mental Health Field: From Power Analysis to Practice, pp.69-90
SpringerBriefs in Social Work Series, Springer, 1st
02/2026
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract
This chapter discusses the experience and outcomes of the cooperative inquiry, including the benefits experienced by each author in engaging in collective reflections and knowledge-building regarding mental health social work. The research process itself mirrors the arguments of the book, in terms of moving beyond neoliberal and individual-focused approaches to social work practice. We discuss opportunities for social workers to collectivise in order to foster an imagination about alternative ways of conceptualising ‘mental health’ and to carve out generative spaces beyond diagnostic paradigms of distress.
Details
- Title
- Holding the Fine Line Between Transformation and Complicity
- Creators
- Louise Whitaker - Southern Cross UniversityKatherine Reid - Queensland University of TechnologyEmma Tseris - The University of SydneyHollie BallingallAshlea BorgBinti JonesAlex OlsenAimee PittLisa Thorpy
- Publication Details
- Social Work in the Mental Health Field: From Power Analysis to Practice, pp.69-90
- Series
- SpringerBriefs in Social Work Series
- Publisher
- Springer; Cham
- Edition
- 1st
- Number of pages
- 110
- Identifiers
- 9783032083067; 3032083060; 9783032083050; 991013357509802368
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
- Academic Unit
- Social Work; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Book chapter