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Social workers in health care have been urged to identify the nature of their expertise and to articulate profession specific roles (Peckuconis et al., 2003). This paper reports on the use of a theory of professional expertise (Fook, Ryan, & Hawkins, 2000) in management and clinical practice within two Australian hospital social work settings. This theory, directly applicable to social work, was applied within these hospitals to differentiate levels in social work industrial awards, in staff selection, in supervision and continuing professional development. Specific and broader implications for application of this theory are discussed.

This article describes an exploratory study aimed at elucidating social workers' understandings of the concepts of Adjustment to Health Condition and Adjustment to Hospitalisation as Indicators for Intervention. Thematic analysis was utilised on data from in-depth semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 18 experienced health care social workers. The findings demonstrated that adjustment was conceptualised as a complex, multi-dimensional process including the key interrelated themes of coping, emotion, subjective meaning, adaptation, support, family-focus, and process orientation. The findings can assist social workers in conceptualising their practice and articulating their role with clients and with other health professionals in relation to crucial adjustment issues identified in health care settings.

This article presents an overview of outcomes from the Mount Sinai Leadership Enhancement Program as identified by previous program participants from Melbourne, Australia. These are categorised into: (1) Personal/professional, (2) Intra-organisational, (3) Interorganisational, and (4) International outcomes. Two illustrative examples are provided of international outcomes demonstrating how the ongoing commitment of Professor Epstein has extended and embedded the principles of practice-based research in Melbourne, and how the over-riding principles of the program have been applied by participants in establishing collaborative relationships with colleagues in our neighbouring South-East Asian region.