Rurality and Technology

This third chapter in the environment section of the book will explore how the changing and ever developing use of technology has and could continue to impact on social work practice in rural settings. The global pandemic caused a seismic shift in social work practice. In an extremely short period of time, social workers had to embrace or at the very least learn to cope with practice in an online world. Whilst debate and discussion about the use of technology in social work practice is not new, the requirements to use technology since March 2020 have meant that the potential benefits of using technology have gained real traction for the first time in social work. This chapter will explore the benefits of technology for people who live rurally and use services, social workers and rural and remote communities drawing on learning from the impact of the global pandemic. It will also critically consider the dangers of suggesting the use of technology is the answer to the challenges of working with rural and remote people and diverse communities.