The focus of this essay is to take you through an outline on the history of social work in Aotearoa New Zealand, while defining social work and the purpose it holds. Included in this essay will be a discussion on how social work developed, progressed and has been amended throughout the years. Some of the key topics included will be the influence of Puao-te-Ata-tu: The Daybreak. Report, the impact of professionalisation of social work in New Zealand, the historical debated around social work registration and the impact social work registration has had. Another key topic covered will be how education around social work has advanced increasing professionalism of social work. It is important for social work students to understand the history of their profession.
Therefore, I begin with defining social work. The current definition of social work has been amended since the first formal definition was agreed upon in 1957. In July 2014 The International federation of Social Workers and The International Association of Schools of Social work agreed on a new international definition for the social work profession which is: Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing. The above definition may be amplified at national and/or regional levels. (IFSW & IASSW 2014).
According to Global standards for social work education and training (2004), the main purpose of social work has been identified through interpretation and opinions on the international definition above as well as extracting information from available documents, reports, and books. Social work aims to assist in the protection of people who are unable to do so themselves, while acknowledging and challenging the inequalities and injustices we have in society that causes these people to become vulnerable. Without a doubt in the main objective is to increase the wellbeing of individuals, families, groups, and communities.
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Social work promotes respect for, cultures, ideologies, beliefs and religions amongst society. In Aotearoa New Zealand a primary culture is Maori, as part of the history of social work it is important we acknowledge the Maori welfare traditions and how welfare traditions changed with European arrival. Through whanau, hapu and iwi Māori society had developed systems of rights and responsibilities to protect and enhance their welfare. These were aligned with their physical and spiritual beliefs. With immigrant arrival the state gradually over decades stepped in, bringing in public systems and organisations to protect and enhance welfare such as the addition of foster care systems in 1883, Women’s Christian Temperance Union in 1885, and the first paid social worker in 1910 (Tennant, 2007).
In 1986 came the addition of the Puo-te-Ata-tu: The Daybreak. report, “It was the first official government document that acknowledged Maori social work methods and recommended their use” (Hollis, 2012 p.41). It influenced change in social work practices done by Maori, it had an impact not only at an organisational level but also an individual level. It was not until after the report that Maori social work methods were encouraged, the report changed the way of ministerial thinking. The Maori way of doing things became more accepted as a professional approach rather than the second-best option. All though all 13 recommendations had positive implications for Maori they were never fully implemented by parliament. “Participants questioned the approaches that some organisations undertook to include Mäori methods into the organisational environment. They stated that some Mäori practices such as the use of Te Reo Mäori were accepted but the way it was implemented did not always benefit the whänau” (Hollis, 2012 p.46-47). The the Puo-te-Ata-tu: The Daybreak. report was a “report of the people belonging to Maori social workers” (Hollis, 2012 p.48). The lack of awareness around the report has now seen it be brought into social work education in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Social work education was initiated by the University of Victoria bringing in the first social work program in 1949. In 1976 Massey University introduced a four-year Bachelor of social work program which embedded social work into territory education. Social work is now a post-secondary degree level in 125 countries. There were increasing demands for social work training which resulted in low entry programs, with this also came the addition of work-based training and unit standards. “Since the implementation of the Social Workers Registration Act (SWRA)(2003), the SWRB has the responsibility for the recognition and monitoring of the standards of social workqualifications across the range of tertiary institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand.” (Hunt, 2016, p.20).
The positive development of social work education plays a significant part of social works professionalisation. Professionalisation for the social work occupation was acknowledged as a lengthy process reasons for this included that it was a female dominated occupation, there were constraints regarding the law, and the initial lack of knowledge. Practitioners, users, the state and universities were the main influences in the development of the social work profession. In 1964 the New Zealand Association of Social Workers was established, they Focused on training, sharing information, research, professional standards, philosophy & international linkages. The New Zealand Association of Social workers considered establishing a register of social workers however that was but aside for many years (Hunt, 2016).
The registration of social work was first thought about in 1969 however was not then brought back into discussion until the early 2000s when the Social Workers registration act was introduced. “The Social Workers Registration Act was enacted into Aoteroa New Zealand law in April 2003 and provides the framework for the registration of social workers. In general the Act prescribes entitlement to and criteria for registration; competence and fitness to practise social work; and discipline and complaints procedures” (Gilray, 2003 p.25). Concerns were raised about the impact of social work registration would have on social workers and the profession, a few of those issues raised were professional accountability, public protection and disciplinary processes. Concern was also raised for competent practitioners that lacked formal qualifications. To begin with being a registered social worker was a voluntary process. In March 2013, 3923 social workers were registered (Gilray, 2003). Fast forward to 2019 social work registration has become mandatory. “Mandatory registration will protect vulnerable adults and children from unsafe or incompetent social work practice by, ensuring social workers are appropriately qualified to carry out their work, requiring continuing professional development and specific competencies, having processes in place to address any concerns about a social worker’s practice through a complaints and disciplinary process, ensuring social workers who have had their registration cancelled are not able to practise social work again” (Minstry of Social Development, n.d., para. 5). Within 2 years all people practicing social work will need to be registered. By introducing registration to the public, it allowed users to have trust in social workers, while giving the public confidence in the accountability of practitioners.
Registration of social workers is closely monitored by the social work registration to protect the public and ensure social workers are fit for practice. The Social Works Registration Board is one of the main national professional bodies for social work in New Zealand. The other is the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers. The Social work registration board is made up of ten members and reports annually to parliament while advising and making recommendations to the minister about ongoing material relating to social work . The Social Work Board is made up of ten members. The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social workers set up in 1964 is a voluntary organisation. “The association publishes electronic newsletters and regular bulletins to members with information about employment opportunities, continuing professional development and conferences. The association is also active in supporting campaigns and writing submissions on public issues and legislation changes which have impact on the families and communities we serve”(Beddoe, 2016). Both organisations are over seen by chief executives.
