• Summary: This article identifies important challenges facing social work supervision as a result of the social, political and economic changes that have characterized the last two decades in most Western countries. In response a re-positioning of the critical tradition in the scholarship and practice of social work has been proffered by several authors (for example, Allan et al., 2003; Dominelli, 2002) as a means of addressing and counteracting the more negative challenges facing social work emanating from these changes. We argue that this critical re-positioning can also be applied to similar challenges facing practice supervision. • Findings: As the social work landscape has to contend with a more conservative and fiscally restrictive environment, so too has practice supervision become more focused on efficiency, accountability and worker performance often at the expense of professional and practice development. In addition, current research has identified a crisis in the probity of practice supervision where many practitioners cite disillusionment and despair, as well as lack of opportunity to stop and critically reflect on practice situations as another challenge in this changed climate. • Application: As a significant site of practice, a critically informed supervision praxis has the potential to emerge as a site for modelling social change strategies associated with the critical social work tradition.

English Internationalizing the US social work curriculum with programs of study abroad is an effective method to develop students’ awareness of the importance of global interdependence and increase multicultural knowledge. Results from the Multicultural Awareness/Knowledge/Skill Survey and pre-post focus groups indicate the merits of a US-Australian social work program of study abroad for master’s-level social work students. French Internationaliser le curriculum américain en travail social par le biais de programmes d'études à l'étranger est un moyen efficace pour prendre conscience de l'importance de l'interdépendance globale et pour hausser nos connaissances multiculturelles. Les résultats du sondage sur les degrés de conscience, de connaissances et d'habiletés multiculturelles ainsi que les résultats des entrevues en 'focus groups' pré et post expérience, révèlent les mérites d'un programme d'étude de maítrise à l'étranger en travail social dans un échange entre les Ütats-Unis et l'Australie. Spanish Una manera eficaz de desarrollar el sentido de interdependencia global y aumentar el conocimiento de asuntos multiculturales es a través de planes de estudio que incorporen temas internacionales y con programas en países fuera del propio. Los resultados de la encuesta Conciencia Multicultural/Conocimiento/Destrezas, y los grupos de pre y post focus señalan los méritos que tienen en este sentido los programas internacionales de master's de trabajo social entre EE.UU. y Australia.

This article discusses the joint project between the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) to establish guidelines for the training and standard setting that elucidates what social work represents on a global level. While it is impossible to address all the issues that might be significant in such a large scope attention is given to the challenges establishing global standards might encounter in a region as diverse as the Asia-Pacific.

This article focuses on the impact of the Australian Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity) legislation (1986), on women's employment in the higher education sector. This Act aimed to address the disadvantage faced by women in the workplace. In the academy, this meant that some of the difficulties encountered by women who aspired to careers and senior positions were to be documented and addressed. Fourteen years after its implementation, while there has been a general growth in women's employment in the sector, there still exists a glass ceiling preventing women in both academic and administrative positions moving into management structures. This article examines some of the issues that have emerged in attempting to create à`l evel playing field'' for women in the academy with regard to supporting promotional opportunities and encouraging a positive and supportive workplace. Strategies for overcoming existing barriers and the importance of future research are emphasised.

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