The dissertation presents the argument that the formal training of a professional social worker is relevant but not equivalent to the training needs of a professional manager in the social work field. Social work professionals as managers do not, without management training, have the same credibility and/or skills as professional managers of social work. Within the general topic of welfare, research is first directed to the Australian welfare experience in its historic sense. Selecting relevant philosophical and ideological frameworks the writer a) critically explores traditional and contemporary theories, with special reference being made to bureaucracy, organization, and management; b) investigates theories and practices of social workers and social work managers to ascertain their relevance to contemporary Australian society, using the A.C.T. Family Services Branch as an example of a social welfare agency. This assists in explaining the context, functions and obligations of a welfare agency, as it responds to the needs of the community and of the staff it employs.