Social work

Our social workers provide information, support and counselling to patients who are in hospital or receiving outpatient care. We help people adjust to hospital life, navigate changing health needs and plan for appropriate care during and after their hospital stay. 

We support the whole person, taking into account social, emotional and practical needs. We advocate for patient and carer rights, promote dignity and choice, and work to improve access to care and community resources. 

Footscray, Sunshine and Williamstown services 

We provide support to patients and their families across four key areas: 

• Welfare role – help with practical needs such as housing, financial assistance and accessing community services.
• Therapeutic role – providing emotional support during a hospital stay and in the transition back to home or community care.
• Education role – providing information about navigating the healthcare system and connecting with relevant services.
• Statutory role – helping patients understand their rights under the law and how legislation affects their care. 

Allied community health services 

We also run a number of community health programs at our Bacchus Marsh, Melton and Caroline Springs locations, including: 

• support for patients and their family in navigating the system
• aged care planning, including discussing options for aged care placement, My Aged Care referrals and follow-up
• support returning home after hospital and connecting with the right services
• carer support, in relation to self-care, health and wellbeing
• group work and support programs including psycho-education. 

Social workers are available Monday to Friday, 8am – 4:30pm, at Footscray, Sunshine and Williamstown Hospitals. Ask your care team or outpatient department, or contact the hospital switchboard on (03) 8345 6666. 

For the community health programs, you can either be referred to this service by a GP or phone (03) 9747 7609 to arrange a self-referral. If you’re over the age of 65 (50 or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders) please contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. 

The work of social workers is guided by several laws and frameworks, including: 

• Health Services Act
• Guardianship and Administration Act
• Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities
• Disability Act
• Mental Health Act
• Family Violence Protection Act
• Children, Youth and Families Act. 

Western Health’s social workers contribute to research and quality improvement initiatives focused on enhancing psychosocial outcomes and patient wellbeing. 

 Below is a selection of journal publications that Western Health social workers have either led or contributed to. 

• Implementing voluntary assisted dying in a major public health service
• Exploring a hospital's response to children who have no fixed address    
• Worsening general health and psychosocial wellbeing of Australian hospital allied health practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic
• DisCOVeRY: A co-designed and evidence informed model of care for people with Long COVID
• Enhancing access to income support for vulnerable hospital patients    
• A palliative care social worker's reflection on visiting restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic: Window gazing
• Dying in hospital during COVID-19: Isolation, despair and moral distress  
• Oncology social workers’ responses to and reflections on COVID-19