The social work professionalisation project before the 1990s in Aotearoa New Zealand: The dream

Authors

  • Sonya Hunt University of Waikato

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol28iss3id245

Keywords:

social work professionalisation, professional associations, social work education.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The meaning and purpose of social work has always been debated within the social work profession. The profession dreams of contributing towards a better, fairer, civil society locally and internationally. This article explores the professionalisation of social work in Aotearoa New Zealand. This exploration has been undertaken as background for an ongoing research project.

METHOD: A critical consideration of the different theoretical and historical dimensions and interests at work that impacted on the journey of professionalisation of social work in this country has been undertaken based on a review of literature. Part one of the article outlines a definition of social work, and different concepts and approaches to professionalisation. Part two of the article contextualises the different approaches to professionalisation within Aotearoa New Zealand, from early forms of welfare pre-colonisation up until the early 1990s.

CONCLUSION: The literature and trends discussed serve to both document the history of professionalisation of social work in Aotearoa New Zealand and as background to an ongoing critical research project which aims to uncover interests at work and interrogate the legitimacy of those interests, while enabling the voices of key actors from the time to surface, be explored, and be recorded.

References

Abbott, P., & Meerabeau, L. (1998). The sociology of the caring Professions (2nd ed.). London University: College Press.

Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers. (1993). Code of ethics and bicultural code of practice. Dunedin, New Zealand: Author.

Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers. (2008). ANZASW competency handbook (Second revision ed.). Christchurch, New Zealand: Author.

Barretta-Herman, A. (1993). Development of social work in New Zealand: 1969-1988. Part II: Social work professionalism. Social Work Review, 5(5), 30-35.

Beddoe, L. (2013a). A profession of faith, or a profession: Social work, knowledge and professional capital. New Zealand Sociology, 28(2), 44-63.

Beddoe, L. (2013b). Continuing education, registration and professional identity in New Zealand social work. International Social Work. doi: 10.1177/0020872812473139

Beddoe, L. (2014). A matter of degrees: The role of education in the professionalisation journey of social work in New Zealand. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 26(2&3), 17-28.

Beddoe, L., & Deeney, C. (2012). Discovering health social work in New Zealand in its published work: Implications for the profession. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 24(1), 41-55.

Beddoe, L., & Randal, H. (1994). The New Zealand Association of Social Workers: The professional response to a decade of change. In R. Munford & M. Nash (Eds.), Social work in action (pp. 21-36). Palmerston North, New Zealand: The Dunmore Press.

Benton, R., Benton, N., Croft, C., & Waaka, A. (1991). Kahukura: The possible dream: What the Treaty of Waitangi requires of courses in the social services. A report prepared for the Māori caucus of the New Zealand Council for Education and Training in the Social Services. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Council for Education and Training in the Social Services.

Blagdon, J., Taylor, M., & Keall, B. (1994). Social worker registration. Social Work Review(June), 24-25.

Bolton, S., & Muzio, D. (2008). The paradoxical processes of feminization in the professions: the case of established, aspiring and semi-professions. Work, Employment & Society, 22(2), 281-299. doi: 10.1177/0950017008089105

Brill, C. K. (2001). Looking at the social work profession Through the eye of the NASW code of ethics. Research on Social Work Practice, 11(2), 223-234. doi: 10.1177/104973150101100209

Children, Young Persons, and their Families Act 1989. 1989 S.N.Z. 24.

Cockburn-Wootten, C. (2012). Critically unpacking professionalism in hospitality: Knowledge, meaningful work and dignity. Hospitality & Society, 2(2), 215-230. doi: 10.1386/hosp.2.2.215_1

Cockburn-Wootten, C., & Brewis, J. (2014). Crossing thresholds: Hospitality and professionalism in Aotearoa New Zealand social work. Hospitality & Society, 4(2), 115-133. doi: 10.1386/hosp.4.2.115_1

Corrigan, R. (2005). A futuristic challenge. Te Komako: Social Work Review, 17(Winter), 20-25.

Daniel, B. (2013). Social work: A profession in flux. Journal of Workplace Learning, 25(6), 394-406.

Durie, M. (1995). Whaiora, Māori health development. Auckland, New Zealand: Oxford University Press.

Etzioni, A. (Ed.). (1969). The semi-professions and their organizations: Teachers, nurses and social workers. New York, NY: The Free Press.

Evetts, J. (2003). The sociological analysis of professionalism: Occupational change in the modern world. International Sociology, 18(2), 395-415. doi: 10.1177/0268580903018002005

Evetts, J. (2006a). Introduction: Trust and professionalism: Challenges and occupational changes. Current Sociology, 54(4), 515-531. doi: 10.1177/0011392106065083

Evetts, J. (2006b). Short Note: The sociology of professional groups: New directions. Current Sociology, 54(1), 133-143. doi: 10.1177/0011392106057161

Evetts, J. (2011). A new professionalism? Challenges and opportunities. Current Sociology, 59(4), 406-422. doi: 10.1177/0011392111402585

Flexner, A. (2001 (1915)). Is social work a profession? Research on Social Work Practice, 11(2), 152-165. doi: 10.1177/104973150101100202

Fournier, V. (1999). The appeal to ‘professionalism’ as a disciplinary mechanism. The Sociological Review, 47(2), 280-307. doi: 10.1111/1467-954X.00173

Freidson, E. (2001). Professionalism: The third logic. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press.

Fry, J. (1974). Extracts from the President's opening address. The New Zealand Social Worker, 10(1), 5-13.

Garrett, P. M. (2007). Making social work more Bourdieusian: Why the social professions should critically engage with the work of Pierre Bourdieu. European Journal of Social Work, 10(2), 225-243. doi: 10.1080/13691450701318010

Goode, W. J. (1957). Community within a community: The professions. American Sociological Review, 22(1), 194-200.

Goode, W. J. (1969). The theoretical limits of professionalization. In A. Etzioni (Ed.), The semi-professions and their organization (pp. 266-314). New York, NY: The Free Press.

Greenwood, E. (1957). Attributes of a profession. Social Work, 2(3), 44-55.

Hamilton, R. (1974). Social work: An aspiring profession and its difficulties. British Journal of Social Work, 4(3), 333-342.

Hancock, M. (2004). Building an ethical social work profession. Social Work Review, 16(Autumn), 1.

Hancock, M., & Nash, M. (2005). The first two years of the New Zealand Association of Social Workers 1964-1966: Reflections on re-reading the first issue of the New Zealand Social Worker. Social Work Review, 17(1), 23-30.

Harington, P. (2006). Practitioner scholarship and civic literacy: Will registration lift the game? Social Work Review, 18(Summer), 90-99.

Harington, P., & Beddoe, L. (2013). Civic practice: A new professional paradigm for social work. Journal of Social Work, 4(2), 47-64. doi: 10.1177/1468017313477316

Hugman, R. (1996). Professionalization in social work: The challenge of diversity. International Social Work, 39(2), 131-147. doi: 10.1177/002087289603900203

Ings, K. (1986). NZASW and the professionalisation of New Zealand social workers. New Zealand Social Work Journal, 11(1), 3-6. International Federation of Social Workers. (2014). Global Definition of Social Work. Retrieved from http://ifsw.org/policies/definition-of-social-work/

Jones, D., & Truell, R. (2012). The global agenda for social work and social development: A place to link together and be effective in a globalized world. International Social Work, 55(4), 454-472. doi:10.1177/0020872812440587

Jones, P. (1974). Social work: A profession? The New Zealand Social Worker, 10(1), 27-37.

Keall, B. (1993). Biting the bullet: Professionalism. Social Work Review, 5(3), 4-6.

Kendrick, J. (2004). A national association: A reflection of its times? Social Work Review, 16(4), 7-12.

Lyons, K. (2000). The place of research in social work education. British Journal of Social Work, 30(4), 433-447. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/30.4.433

Manchester, B. (1970). Definition of a social worker 1970. The New Zealand Social Worker: News and Opinions, 6(3), 5.

Mason Report. (February, 1992). Report of the Ministerial Review Team to the Minister of Social Welfarethe Hon. Jenny Shipley. Review of the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act. Wellington, NZ: Government Printer.

McCreary, J. (1971). The School of Social Science: Part I: The Martians. The New Zealand Social Worker, 7(1), 9-17.

McDonald, D. (1977). The anatomy of a semi-profession: Residential child care. New Zealand Social Work, 1(1), 5-8.

McDonald, D. (2004). The predestined choice: Social work education and ANZASW. Social Work Review, 16(4), 13-21.

McKenzie, M., & Nash, M. (2008). Remembering, reflection and action: The evolution of the Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work journal. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 20(2), 2-13.

Ministerial Advisory Committee on a Māori Perspective for the Development of Social Welfare. (1986). Püao-te-Āta-tü. The report of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on a Māori perspective for the Department of Social Welfare. Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Social Welfare.

Munford, R., & Walsh-Tapiata, W. (2001). Strategies for change: Community development in Aotearoa/New Zealand (3rd ed.). Palmerston North, New Zealand: Massey University.

Muzio, D., & Kirkpatrick, I. (2011). Introduction: Professions and organizations - a conceptual framework. Current Sociology, 59(4), 389-405. doi: 10.1177/0011392111402584

Nash, M. (1998). People, policies and practice: Social Work education in Aotearoa/New Zealand from 1949 - 1995. (Doctoral dissertation, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10179/2014

Nash, M. (1999). Our history - and our professional social work identity. Social Work Review, XI(3), 2-5.

Nash, M. (2001). Social work in Aotearoa, New Zealand: Its origins and traditions. In M. Connolly (Ed.), New Zealand social work: Contexts and practice (pp. 32-43). Auckland, New Zealand: Oxford University Press.

Nash, M. (2009). Histories of the social work profession. In M. Connolly & L. Harms (Eds.), Social work. Context and practice. (2nd ed., pp. 363-377). Melbourne, Vic, Australia: Oxford University press.

Nash, M., & Miller, J. (2013). Social work: Where have we been and where are we going. In M. Connolly & L. Harms (Eds.), Social work: Contexts and practice (pp. 329-345). Melbourne, Vic., Australia: Oxford University Press.

Nash, M., & Munford, R. (2001). Unresolved struggles: Educating social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand. Social Work Education: The International Journal, 20(1), 21-34. doi: 10.1080/02615470020028355

O'Brien, M. (2011). Equality and fairness: Linking social justice and social work practice. Journal of Social Work, 11(2), 143-158. doi: 10.1177/1468017310386834

O'Brien, M. (2013). Social work registration and professionalism: Social justice and poverty - fellow travellers or discarded passengers? Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 25(3), 50-59.

Olgiati, V. (2006). Shifting heuristics in the sociological approach to professional trustworthiness: The sociology of science. Current Sociology, 54(4), 533-547. doi: 10.1177/0011392106065085

Orme, J., MacIntyre, G., Green Lister, P., Cavanagh, K., Crisp, B. R., Hussein, S., & Stevens, M. (2009). What (a) difference a degree makes: The evaluation of the new social work degree in England. British Journal of Social Work, 39(1), 161-178. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcm095

Payne, M. (2005). Modern social work theory (3rd ed.). London, England: Palgrave Macmillan.

Payne, M. (2014). Modern social work theory (4th ed.). Basingstoke, Hampshire, England: Palgrave Macmillan.

Report of the independent inquiry team reporting on the circumstances of the death of a child. (1989). Dangerous situations. Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Social Welfare.

Ritchie, J. (1967). The relation of the university to the profession of social work. The New Zealand Social Worker: News and Opinions, 3(2), 3-13.

Ruwhiu, L. (2001). Bicultural issues in Aotearoa New Zealand social work. In M. Connolly (Ed.), New Zealand social work. Contexts and practice (pp. 54-71). Auckland, New Zealand: Oxford University Press.

Sanders, J., & Munford, R. (2008). Building action focused research in social care organisations. Educational Action Research, 16(1), 19-30. doi: 10.1080/09650790701833071

Schinkel, W., & Noordegraaf, M. (2011). Professionalism as symbolic capital: Materials for a Bourdieusian theory of professionalism. Comparative Sociology, 10(1), 67-96. doi: doi:10.1163/156913310X514083

Scott, W. R. (1969). Professional employees in a bureaucratic structure: Social work. In A. Etzioni (Ed.), The semi-professions and their organization: Teachers, nurses, social workers (pp. 82-140). New York, NY: The Free Press.

Social Security Department. (1950). The growth and development of social security on New Zealand: (A survey of social security in New Zealand from 1898 to 1949). Wellington, New Zealand: Social Security Department with the cooperation of the Health Department.

Social Workers Registration Board. (2014). Recognised New Zealand social work qualifications: Policy. Wellington, New Zealand: Author Retrieved from http://www.swrb.govt.nz/new-applicants/recognised-qualifications

Social Workers Registration Board. (2016). Current recognised New Zealand social work qualifications. Retrieved 14 January 2016, from http://www.swrb.govt.nz/new-applicants/recognised-qualifications

Staniforth, B. (2010). Counselling in social work in Aotearoa New Zealand:The historical, political and socio-cultural evolution. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 22(3), 3-14.

Staniforth, B. (2015). Tiromoana and Taranaki House: A tale of their times. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 27(1&2), 5-23.

Tennant, M. (1983). The charitable aid relieving officer in New Zealand 1880-1920. New Zealand Social Work, 8(1), 6-9.

Tennant, M. (1989). Paupers and providers: Charitable aid in New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: Allen & Unwin and Historical Branch of Internal Affairs.

Toren, N. (1969). Semi-professionalism and social work: A theoretical perspective. In A. Etzioni (Ed.), The semi-professions and their organization: Teachers, nurses, social workers (pp. 141-195). New York, NY: The Free Press.

Walter, U. M. (2003). Toward a third space: Improvisation and professionalism in social work. Families in Society, 84(3), 317-322.

Weiss-Gal, I., & Welbourne, P. (2008). The professionalisation of social work: A cross-national exploration. International Journal of Social Welfare, 17(4), 281-290. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2008.00574.x

Wilding, P. (1982). Professional power and social welfare. London, England: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

Wilensky, H. L. (1964). The professionalization of everyone? American Journal of Sociology, 70(2), 137-158. doi: 10.2307/2775206

Witz, A. (1992). Professions and patriarchy. New York, NY: Routledge.

Younghusband, E. (1981). The newest profession. A short history of social work. London, England: Community Care / IPC Business Press.

Downloads

Published

2016-11-17

How to Cite

Hunt, S. (2016). The social work professionalisation project before the 1990s in Aotearoa New Zealand: The dream. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 28(3), 15–25. https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol28iss3id245

Issue

Section

Original Articles