Integrating Human Service Law and Practice assists human service students and workers in understanding their legal rights, obligations, and responsibilities, as well as familiarising them with some areas of substantive law relevant to human service delivery. 'Key Points for Practice' and 'Practice Questions and Responses' demonstrate the application of legal issues in professional practice. With an emphasis on the decision-making of human-service workers, this book aims to help students gain an understanding of the law which enables them to enlist it to get the best outcomes for themselves and their clients. Students will be able to challenge the law knowledgably, if appropriate, to pursue a social justice agenda. Throughout the book, the potential for positive interaction between legal imperatives and quality practice is reiterated.

• New tables helping students find information on legislation for each State
• New 'Legal Myths and Realities' boxes
• Discussion of the potential impact of the new Work Choices legislation on Human Services workers and their clients
• Significantly revised in relation to changing laws in negligence, family and refugee law
• Key points for practice at the end of each chapter

Foreword by Professor Suzy Braye and Professor Michael Preston-Shoot

Figures and Tables

Acknowledgments

Part I: Relationship between Law and Human Services

1 Positioning the Book

2 Connecting Law and Human Services

3 Law, Ethics and other Important Factors in Human Service Decision-Making

Part II: Legal Obligations, Rights, and Regulation of Human Service Workers

4 Professional, Business, and Employment Matters

5 Managing Information

6 Courts Tribunals and the Human Services

7 Getting it Wrong

Part III: Service Delivery - Diverse Populations and Jurisdictions

8 Crimes and Victims

9 Families and Children

10 Housing and Finance

11 Diversity and Vulnerability

12 Finding Equilibrium in Times of Uncertainty

Appendix 1 - Finding, Reading and Citing Law

References

Index

Rosemary Kennedy - Program Director Bachelor of Social Science (Human Services)/Bachelor of Psychology; Academic Integrity Officer, School of Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia

Jenny Richards - Lecturer, School of Law, Flinders University