Skills, bravery, courage, and foolhardiness: Seventy-five years of social work in health care in Melbourne, Australia.

The lessons from the history of health social work in Melbourne, Victoria can be extrapolated to social work in other parts of Australia and internationally. Based on consultation with social workers, archival material and personal reflections this article traces 75 years of health social work in Melbourne and Victoria within the context of the prevailing social influences. The profession, which was started by local opinion leaders and public demand, is now well established. Initially Australians looked to Britain to guide the new profession, but by the latter part of the twentieth century they increasingly looked to the USA. Many challenges still face health social work. Sharing of knowledge and experience will strengthen social work locally and internationally.