International graduates of social work in Australia: A longitudinal study of those who struggle to develop professional identity

Professional identity development in social work students and graduates is complicated by intertwining internal and external factors. This article reports findings from a subset of data from a longitudinal qualitative study which aims to understand what factors contribute to this group’s sense of professional identity. It draws on multiple interviews conducted with six international students/graduates in Australia, at approximately six-monthly intervals between 2021 and 2023. Findings indicate that the participants encountered intersecting barriers to professional identity, which outweighed facilitating factors. The study makes a unique contribution by addressing the current knowledge gap about how international students and graduates become social workers.