About the Journal

Focus and Scope

Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work is an international, open access, peer-reviewed journal that provides a platform for research, analysis and scholarly debate on social work theory, policy and practice.  Published quarterly, it particularly welcomes work offering critical perspectives on contemporary policy developments, indigenous social work, post-colonialism, anti-racism, feminism, and progressive social work theory, policy and practice.

The journal also publishes book reviews and encourages short topical pieces called viewpoints where authors explore and reflect on controversies, ethical issues, or policy and practice developments that are of interest to the social work community. 

Each year, one issue of the journal is published as Te Komako focusing on Tangata Whenua social work; and – from time to time – we publish a Tu Mau issue highlighting issues for Pasifika social work.

Peer Review Process

All original articles undergo a rigorous, anonymous peer-review process including screening by the issue editors, refereeing by two anonymous reviewers and the editors’ final decision to publish.

Articles submitted to the viewpoints section are peer reviewed by one editor and one anonymous peer reviewer.

Book reviews are reviewed only by an editor.

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Sources of Support

Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers is kindly hosted by the University of Otago Library as part of their OUR Journals Service.

• University of Otago

Journal History

The journal has been in print since 1965 although published using different titles:

New Zealand Social Worker 1965-1975 ISSN 0028-869

New Zealand Social Work 1977-1981 ISSN 0110-3954

New Zealand Social Work Journal 1981-1988 ISSN 0111-7351 (this merged with News and Views in Social Work - which had no ISSN - to form Social Work Review).

Social Work Review 1988-2007 ISSN 0113-7662

Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, the present title, has been in use since December 2007.

Te Komako: each year, one issue of the journal is published as Te Komako focusing on tangata whenua social work. The inaugural issue of Te Komako was published in 1995.

Tu Mau: from time to time we publish a Tu Mau issue of the journal highlighting Pasifika social work. The inaugural issue of Tu Mau was published in 2001.