Zuchowski, Ines, Kuruvila, Albert, Sen Gupta, Tarun, and Wielandt, Rebecca (2025) Integrating social workers in Australian primary health care settings. Journal of Integrated Care, 33 (5). pp. 72-85.

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Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to explore the scope and practice of social workers in Australian general practice and evaluate the outcomes of social work practice in these settings.

Design: Primary health care centres in North Queensland participated in this research. Six clinics were co-funded to employ social workers for a one-year period. Quantitative data collection was utilised via a Qualtrics survey tool to collect descriptive data about social work interventions and seek patient feedback about the social work intervention received. Patient demographics, intervention duration, areas of health, intervention, referral and referral profession information were measured. Patient feedback forms explored satisfaction rates, likelihood of return and sense of improved wellbeing.

Findings: Social workers in Primary Health Care settings applied a broad range of interventions to address diverse patient needs across a spectrum of health domains, including Mental Health, Chronic Health, Families, Ageing, Caring, Housing and Disability. Patients were highly satisfied with the services and valued the integration of social work in primary health care.

Originality: This study showed Social Workers can value-add to Primary Health Care. Social workers responded to many areas of identified health care needs through a range of intervention relevant to patients’ complex social contexts, assisting general practitioners’ engagement with patients to achieve wholistic wellbeing outcomes. Patients appreciated and valued the additional services to support their health needs. Using social workers to contribute to health assessments can open up conversations about social determinants that impact patients’ health and wellbeing while alleviating pressures on general practitioners and providing links to community services.

Item ID:	89047
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2042-8685
Keywords:	Social Work; Field Education; Primary Health Care; General Practice; Integration; Evaluation
Copyright Information:	© Ines Zuchowski, Albert Kuruvila, Tarun Sen Gupta and Rebecca Wielandt Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at Link to the terms of the CC BY 4.0 licence.
Funders:	North Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN)
Projects and Grants:	NQPHN award PS311
Date Deposited:	08 Oct 2025 01:41
FoR Codes:	44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4409 Social work > 440901 Clinical social work practice @ 40% 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4409 Social work > 440903 Social program evaluation @ 30% 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4203 Health services and systems > 420304 General practice @ 30%
SEO Codes:	20 HEALTH > 2003 Provision of health and support services > 200301 Allied health therapies (excl. mental health services) @ 50% 20 HEALTH > 2005 Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health) > 200502 Health related to ageing @ 25% 20 HEALTH > 2004 Public health (excl. specific population health) > 200407 Health status (incl. wellbeing) @ 25%
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