Professional Work in Remote Northern Communities: A Social Work Perspective

Abstract

It is a challenge to recruit and retain good employees. In northern and remote parts of Canada the challenge is readily apparent when it involves the recruitment and retention of professional workers. Part of the difficulty might be attributed to the urban base of most professional education programs. However, whether education is based in the urban south or in the north, it is important that students in professional education programs develop and learn what it is like to work in an isolated community. This article discusses some of the challenges that are unique to the personal aspect of professional practice in a northern environment. The challenges include factors such as high visibility, high accessibility, dual or multiple relationships, access to too much information, heightened scrutiny by community members, increased responsibility, and limited access to professional development. These challenges are common to a range of professions, but for the purposes of this discussion, they will be examined primarily from the perspective of social work. Examples are drawn from the author’s personal practice experience.

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