ABSTRACT
The rise of neo-fascist politics and right-wing populist nationalism creates great challenges to social work. It focuses on a universal citizenship disguised as a pursuit of excellence based on values that benefit those most privileged. This denies the rights of ethnic and cultural minorities, those most vulnerable who sit outside this paradigm, in not giving a true commitment to a just democratic society. This creates an increased environment of white supremacy that divides people on race, colour, gender and socioeconomic status (Johnson et al., 2017). Within such an environment social justice and human rights become almost obsolete, where the most vulnerable are only discussed within orchestrated public protest uniting people who no longer feel supported by the ‘welfare arms of society’ (Roth, 2016) and are seen as outsiders Burrows (2016). As austerity politics ravage funding to social services and delivery to those most in need in maintaining social order for the benefit of those most privileged in separating Black and White, Aboriginal non-Aboriginal communities.
