As a part of our unit SWK101, we viewed a TED TALK video, “Putting Human Caring Back into

Social Services,” by Richard Aston of Big Buddy. In the video, Aston highlights the need to

bring empathy and human connection back into the practice of social work, which has

become overwhelmingly driven, system-driven, and bureaucratic (TEDxTalks, 2016). He says

that human services have become less humane and are now too concerned with just

paperwork than genuine, empathetic, and human care. His message has challenged social

workers to reflect on their actions and return to rational practice by cultivating bonds and

connections to empower individuals.

Dehumanization, as Aston argues, is one of the critical issues that occurs when service

systems prioritize efficiency over empathy. Aston mentions that social workers cannot give

their hundred percent while working when they are bound to satisfy the administrative body

rather than their service users. It is obvious that social workers can lose their capacity to

form deeper connections- which are highly important for aiding and advocating for those in

need- when they are forced to function within restrictive frameworks and “tick-box”

protocols. The criticism expressed here is in line with a more extensive criticism found in the

social work literature, where bureaucratic systems are often viewed as restricting the moral

need to uphold an individual’s dignity (Morley et al., 2019). Aston’s argument supports The

Australian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics (2020), particularly "Respect for

Persons" and "Social Justice," which require social workers to promote fairness and preserve

the dignity of individuals. Aston’s message is especially relevant to social workers today, who

must balance between the moral need to give compassionate care and systemic demands.

The core of social work is relational practice, which emphasizes empathy and genuine

connection with individuals (Healy, 2022). Structural pressures, however, challenge this

ideal. Aston’s criticism of contemporary social services clearly shows the clash between
these two goals, making it a crucial point for aspiring social workers to consider as they

negotiate the challenges of practice (AASW, 2020). On an emotional level, I was both

encouraged and frustrated by Aston’s remarks. His call to bring back empathy and caring to

the core of social work resonated with my principles, and I felt motivated. Aston’s words,

“When we care about people, they feel valued and empowered,” deeply resonated with me

because it supports my belief that social work should always prioritize the needs of the

individual (TEDxTalks, 2016). However, the thought of institutional constraints that might

make it impossible for social workers to provide such caliber of care frustrated me. I was

intellectually challenged by Aston’s criticism of the bureaucratic nature of modern social

service, which made me ponder how social workers may find a balance between their

ethical responsibilities and the demands of large, structured systems. Aston’s statement,

“Social services should not be about compliance, but about caring,” particularly resonated

with my beliefs as it matches my theoretical knowledge. For instance, Bolton et al. (2021)

emphasize that social work practice requires eclectic approaches mixed with different

theoretical viewpoints in order to address the unique needs of each individual. Aston’s

message reinforces the need for social workers to constantly adapt their approach in order

to put the needs of the client first, regardless of the system or structure.

The feelings I had while watching the video are a result of my deeply held values of

compassion, equity, and justice. Aston’s message strengthened my belief that empathy lies

at the heart of good social work practice. While considering the difficulties bureaucratic

institutions can pose on the effective practice of social work, I realized that my frustrations

were a result of my desire to have a genuine connection with the people I will be working

with. This is in line with the "Professional Integrity" ethical principle of the Association of

Social Workers (AASW, 2020), which encourages social workers to always maintain
transparency, honesty, and care in their interactions. Aston’s talk also highlighted the conflict

upholding professional integrity in bureaucratic environments and the real-world limitations

in providing services within these systems. His call for a more human-centered strategy

made me rethink my positionality more seriously. Having benefited from secure and

supportive systems, I recognize and acknowledge my privilege in approaching social work

from a place of security. As discussed by Morley et al. (2019), social work practice must

constantly push professionals to confront their positionality and power, ensuring that they

do not unintentionally support oppressive systems. This reflection has helped me develop a

better understanding of how my personal biases and assumptions can affect how I respond

to the bureaucratic nature of social services in the future days and how I will conduct myself.

Additionally, my understanding of the ethical framework in social work influenced my

thought process when watching the video. The profession’s ultimate purpose of advancing

social justice and human rights resonated deeply with Aston’s demand to restore genuine

human care in social work practice. Empowerment and advocacy in the field of practice,

where vulnerable people are often marginalized by social injustices, are of great value

(Alston et al., 2018). This call to action and advocacy aligns with Aston’s plea to social

workers to challenge the structures and systems that obstruct a social worker’s

compassionate care for their client. Aston’s talk challenged me to put more consideration

into thinking about how these systems can be improved rather than disregarded entirely.

Aston’s TEDxTalk has highly impacted my understanding of my future role as a social worker.

Henceforth, I will try my best to balance the demands of the large bureaucratic systems and

the ethical need to provide individual-centered care. For this, I will need to constantly reflect

on my beliefs and make sure that my beliefs and assumptions do not obstruct my work

environment as I wish to commit to equitable and fair practice. I realize that it will be
necessary for me to constantly consider how to work within the existing systems to advocate

for the well-being of the people I serve and challenge those that could possibly dehumanize

my practice. For meeting their clients' complex needs, social workers must be adaptable and

draw from a variety of theoretical perspectives (Bolton et al., 2021). I will incorporate this

eclectic perspective into my work to ensure that, even in the hardest of challenges, I will

ensure my empathy and compassion. Additionally, I have realized the importance of

systemic advocacy. The necessity for social workers to challenge injustices and promote

social justice is emphasized in the AASW Code of Ethics (AASW, 2020). Aston’s criticism of

the current social service systems reminds me that it is my duty as a future social worker to

support structural reforms that advance a more just and equitable society along with

providing for the needs of individuals. Healy (2022) highlights that a framework that

considers the needs of the individual as well as the broader social context is of great value

for effective social work practice. From what I have learned, I will strive to adjust to the

systems I work in so that my client’s needs and dignity can be met. I will stay aware of the

broader structures that will impact my clients. I aspire to be mindful of my own positionality

and constantly reflect critically upon my biases and assumptions.

In conclusion, I have been strongly reminded by Richard Aston’s TEDxTalk of the value of

empathy, genuine human care, and human connection in social work. This reflection inspired

me to think more critically about my future practices and to embrace my responsibility to

not only support individuals but also actively work towards deconstructing the systems that

create inequalities. His criticism of modern social services that are bound by restrictive,

bureaucratic systems has challenged me to consider the challenges in striking a balance

between patient care and the needs of bureaucratic procedures. In order to become a social

worker who not only offers genuine care but also works to create systemic change for a
more equitable and just society, I will adhere to the ethical principles outlined in the AASW

Code of Ethics and draw from the diverse perspectives discussed in my studies.
References

Alston, M., McCurdy, S., McKinnon, J., & Proquest Ebook Central (Eds.).

(2018). Social work: fields of practice (Third edition.). Oxford

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Australian Association of Social Workers. (n.d.). AASW Code of Ethics 2020.

https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/13400

Bolton, K., Hall, J. C., & Lehmann, P. (2021). Theoretical perspectives for

direct social work practice: A generalist-eclectic approach. Springer

Publishing Company, Incorporated.

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Healy, K. (2022). Social work theories in context : Creating frameworks for

practice (3rd edition.). Bloomsbury Academic.

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 Morley, C. (2019). Engaging with social work : A critical introduction (S.

Macfarlane & P. Ablett, Eds.; Second edition.). Cambridge University

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TEDx Talks. (2016). Putting human caring back into social services

TEDxAuckland. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?

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