Social Work in New Zealand

 About Social Work

The following definition of social work was developed jointly by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) in May 2001.

Definition of Social Work

The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.

Commentary

Social work in its various forms addresses the multiple, complex transactions between people and their environments. Its mission is to enable all people to develop their full potential, enrich their lives, and prevent dysfunction. Professional social work is focused on problem solving and change. As such, social workers are change agents in society and in the lives of the individuals, families and communities they serve.

Social work is an interrelated system of values, theory and practice.

Values

Social work grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals, and its values are based on respect for the equality, worth, and dignity of all people. Since its beginnings over a century ago, social work practice has focused on meeting human needs and developing human potential. Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work action. In solidarity with those who are disadvantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty and to liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion. Social work values are embodied in the profession's national and international codes of ethics.

Theory

Social work bases its methodology on a systematic body of evidence-based knowledge derived from research and practice evaluation, including local and indigenous knowledge specific to its context. It recognises the complexity of interactions between human beings and their environment, and the capacity of people both to be affected by and to alter the multiple influences upon them including bio-psychosocial factors. The social work profession draws on theories of human development and behaviour and social systems to analyse complex situations and to facilitate individual, organisational, social and cultural changes.

Practice

Social work addresses the barriers, inequities and injustices that exist in society. It responds to crises and emergencies as well as to everyday personal and social problems. Social work utilises a variety of skills, techniques, and activities consistent with its holistic focus on persons and their environments. Social work interventions range from primarily person-focused psychosocial processes to involvement in social policy, planning and development. These include counselling, clinical social work, group work, social pedagogical work, and family treatment and therapy as well as efforts to help people obtain services and resources in the community. Interventions also include agency administration, community organisation and engaging in social and political action to impact social policy and economic development. The holistic focus of social work is universal, but the priorities of social work practice will vary from country to country and from time to time depending on cultural, historical, and socio-economic conditions.

Social Work Practice in Aotearoa New Zealand

Defining the purposes and tasks of social work practice in Aotearoa New Zealand is difficult primarily because of the variety of viewpoints held. For example, politicians see the task of social work in a very different way from social workers; there are likely to be differences between the views of managers, administrators and clients; between Maori and Pakeha and between women and men. Each viewpoint draws upon different ideologies to explain why a society has Social Workers, the expectations of them and what they do. Looking to overseas countries for ideas and guidance, while contributing much to the development of social work, tends to complicate matters as the growing desire, particularly over the last 15-20 years, has been to find an indigenous expression of social work practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Although ideas about Social Work from other counties have influenced the development of the profession in Aotearoa New Zealand, unique models of practice have been developed as Social Work has matured in the context of this particular bicultural society. These models take into account the historical context within Aotearoa New Zealand, the evolution of social work, social change, and most importantly the requirements of Te Tiriti O Waitangi, the founding document of this country. Social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand are challenged to identify and express the distinctly indigenous components of social work practice.

Social Workers work in a variety of settings including government agencies such as Child Youth and Family Services and District Health Board settings, various non-government and community organisations including iwi agencies and also in private practice and consultancy. Fields of practice include youth justice, child protection, health, mental health, addictions, disability, families/whanau, research, policy, training, and education,

Social Work practice needs to be considered in the light of the contribution it makes to the social wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Royal Commission on Social Policy succinctly expressed principles in relation to social wellbeing in the following statement:

‘Social well-being exists when all members of the community have a reasonable expectation of achieving those things which are generally accepted as necessary for a healthy and happy life. Two different approaches need to be balanced - that of Maori emphasis on community (in Maori practice, people's rights/needs or the idea of their individual well-being cannot be separated from the rights that are associated with group membership) and that of the belief in individual rights and freedoms underlying much Western thought. New Zealanders value three principles in relation to social well-being:

1. Voice: to be heard and to have one's views taken into account, to be part of decision-making.
2. Choice: active choice based on full information.
3. Safe prospect: the ability to plan with reasonable confidence for the future.

These represent a uniquely New Zealand statement of the good society - one in which one has a say and a chance to determine one's destiny, where there is opportunity to strike out and express a choice, but where, in the end, there is a sense of community responsibility and collective values that provide an environment of security.'

Elements of social work practice in Aotearoa New Zealand include working directly and indirectly with people to:

1. Enhance problem-solving and coping capacities.
   Social work is about working with people to enhance their problem-solving and coping skills so as to put them in better control of their lives - to provide them with both voice, choice and hope.
2. Link people with systems that provide them with resources, services and opportunities.
   Social work is about putting people in touch with resources, services and opportunities to meet their needs.
3. Promote the just, effective and humane operation of these systems.
   Social work is about working within the parameters of current social policy within Aotearoa New Zealand. This usually means working from an agency base which is expected to provide the platform and set the parameters for just, effective and humane service delivery.
4. Contribute to the development and improvement of social policy.
   Social work is about working to influence the development and improvement of policies that shape social services to ensure that they are effective and humane.

Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers

ANZASW is the professional association for social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a not for profit membership based organisation and is independent of the government or any other employer of Social Workers. The work of the Association is largely undertaken on behalf of the membership by individual members volunteering their time. A small paid team manage the day to day operations of the Association and the services that are provided. ANZASW currently has over 3500 members and therefore represents the largest single group of Social Workers in the country.

You can find further details about the work of ANZASW, the benefits of membership and details of how you can become a member under other sections of this menu.

Registration

In 2003 the Social Workers Registration Act was enacted with the purpose of increasing the accountability for the profession, enhancing the professionalism of Social Workers and protecting members of the public. In November of that year the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) was constituted as a crown entity and as such is entirely separate from ANZASW. The SWRB is responsible for establishing the criteria for registration of New Zealand and overseas qualified Social Workers, developing a code of conduct, establishing the policies and procedures for complaints and discipline, and setting up the registration database. Further details about the SWRB can be found at their website www.swrb.org.nz

At present registration is voluntary although many employers now require their staff to either be registered or eligible for registration. As part of becoming registered a Social Worker must provide evidence of having completed an approved competency assessment process. ANZASW provides an approved competency assessment process and further details can be found here.

Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Work Educators

ANZASWE is the professional association of Social Work educators in Aotearoa New Zealand and is a separate organization to ANZASW. Both organizations seek to work collaboratively whenever appropriate but do have slightly different concerns from each other. Further details of ANZASWE can be obtained by emailing Lynne Briggs (President ANZASWE) lynnebriggs@clear.net.nz

International Federation of Social Workers

ANZASW is a member organisation of the International Federation of Social Workers. The IFSW is a global organisation striving for social justice, human rights and social development through the development of social work, best practice and international cooperation between social workers and their professional organisations. ANZASW has representatives who participate in the work of the IFSW and in this way ANZASW participates in the global development of the profession. You can obtain further information about the work of the IFSW by visiting their website www.ifsw.org/

ANZASW Charitable Trust
The ANZASW Charitable Trust manages a charitable fund dedicated to supporting individuals and projects which promote the advancement of the social work profession in Aotearoa, New Zealand. The ANZASW Charitable Trust is registered as a charitable organization. As such it is autonomous from ANZASW with its own Trustees and Constitution.

Objectives

• To promote an indigenous identity for social work in New Zealand and to assist people to obtain services adequate to their needs
• To ensure that social work in New Zealand is conducted with due regard to Te Tiriti O Waitangi
• To promote continuing development of professional standards, conditions of employment and protect the interests and public standards of social work in New Zealand
• To promote a forum for social work for discussion of matters of common concern
• To encourage publications relating to social work
• To encourage co-operation within social work organisations nationally and internationally
• Or such other contingency as may promote the education or activities of social work within New Zealand

The Chairperson of the ANZASW Charitable Trust is Fiona Robertson MANZASW Canterbury.

Donations to support the work of the Charitable Trust can be made to: