Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work

The sustainability of social work education during low enrolment in Aotearoa New Zealand

Hagyun Kim — 2024-10-06

Viewpoint

Holding on to hope in desperate times

Liz Beddoe — 2024-10-06

Editorial

Responding to radicalisation and extremism risks for youth: An emerging child protection and youth justice practice issue in Aotearoa

Tony Stanley — 2024-10-06

Practice note

Who cares? Life on welfare in Australia

Lesley Pitt — 2024-10-06

Review of Who cares? Life on welfare in Australia by Eve Vincent. Melbourne University Press: Victoria, Australia, 2023

ISBN 9780522878950 (pbk), pp.102, pbk and ebook $36.32

For social betterment: Social work education in Australia

Barb Staniforth — 2024-10-06

Review of For social betterment: Social work education in Australia by Jane Miller. Monash University Publishing, Clayton, Victoria Australia, 2024

ISBN 9781922979438 pp.355, $AUS39.99

Critical social work with children and families: Theory, context and practice (2nd ed.)

Darren Renau — 2024-10-06

Review of Critical social work with children and families: Theory, context and practice (2nd ed.) edited by S. Rogowski. Policy Press, 2024

ISBN 9781447369295, pp.226, softcover, $NZD 69.99 from newsouthbooks.com.au

Social workers’ perceptions and attitudes of environmental issues and sustainable development as social work practice in Aotearoa New Zealand

Polly Yeung — 2024-10-06

INTRODUCTION: Environmental and sustainable social work is gaining momentum in social work due to the rising concern of climate change and environmental degradation. Despite the social work profession being committed to social justice, the perspectives of social workers practising in Aotearoa New Zealand on environmental/green social work are yet to be explored. This study explored social workers’ attitudes and beliefs on environmental justice and sustainable practice. It also examined what factors support them to consider environmental issues in social work practice.

METHODS: A survey using an online portal was conducted with qualified social workers to assess their attitudes and knowledge. Descriptive, correlation and regression analyses were used to analyse the data.

RESULTS: A total of 102 questionnaires were analysed. The results indicated moderate levels of pro-ecological perspectives and awareness of sustainability attitudes, high level of agreement including Māori and other indigenous tradition and wisdom in ecological justice, strong belief in climate change and the importance of factoring environmental issues in social work practice. While over 80% of the participants thought that environmental issues should be part of social work practice, there are still gaps in translating these into practice. Participants would like to see more environmental issues being integrated into social work education to better prepare graduates entering the profession.

CONCLUSIONS: Social work education is urged to incorporate the natural environment, environmental justice and values and skills across the curriculum to advance the social justice mission to reduce the disparity among those who are vulnerable and marginalised.

Experiences of rural poverty in Stratford district, Aotearoa New Zealand: A qualitative study with implications for rural social work

Lesley Pitt — 2024-10-06

INTRODUCTION: People experiencing poverty who live in rural communities may have complex needs as rurality exacerbates their issues. Isolation, stigma, transport difficulties and a lack of services contribute to the challenges experienced by people living in rural communities who experience poverty. For social workers, responses need to be creative and flexible to counter the lack of services or people being unable to access services due to distance and/or a lack of transport.

METHODS: I conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 28 participants. Participants self-identified as experiencing poverty and ranged in age from teenagers to over 65s. Transcripts were analysed using applied thematic analysis.

FINDINGS: Four themes were identified: stigma, isolation, transportation and access to services. Issues in these areas exacerbated participants’ experience of poverty.

CONCLUSION: The findings of the study suggest that there is a significant advocacy role for social workers in rural communities regarding access to services and service development, transportation and challenging stigma to improve the lives of people living in rural communities who experience poverty. Further investigation is suggested to explore specific groups experiencing poverty in rural communities, particularly Māori, and to consider other marginalised identity groups and different geographical areas.

Journeys into palliative care: Social workers' narratives of mobilising and sustaining practice

Ruth Choi Lee — 2024-10-06

INTRODUCTION: With Aotearoa, New Zealand's increasing diversity and ageing population, social work has a vital role in palliative care practice. This study advances the understanding of palliative care social work and its implications for practice, education and support from a practitioners’ point of view.

METHODS: Utilising a constructivist case study approach, in-depth data was collected from social work practitioners about their pathways and practices in palliative care. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed, resulting in 12 individual semi-structured interviews and a focus group with 5 participants.

FINDINGS: The participants' voices illustrate current social work practice and its implications from personal, pedagogical, and professional perspectives. Participants were often drawn to palliative care social work through career embeddedness and personal experiences of loss and grief. The study revealed how past, present, and future considerations shape palliative social work practice, including journeys to palliative care, mobilising social work practice, and sustaining support. Participants used various assessment tools based on service context, with limited exposure to palliative care in tertiary curricula. Most participants continued to seek post-qualifying professional development opportunities working in this field.

CONCLUSION: The study underscores the importance of team support, ongoing education, and self-care for effective social work practice in palliative care. Recommendations include enhancing educational emphasis on palliative care, developing a New Zealand-based assessment tool for palliative care social work, and improving professional encounters related to death and dying. These insights can guide efforts to enhance palliative care social work practice in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Older Chinese migrants’ social connectedness in Aotearoa New Zealand during Covid-19

Matt Rankine — 2024-10-06

INTRODUCTION: The Covid-19 pandemic potentially increased loneliness among older Chinese migrants. There is a paucity of literature on the use of digital technology by this older population in Aotearoa New Zealand. Computer-mediated communication may assist in ameliorating loneliness through maintaining connections.

METHOD: Using semi-structured interviews, two groups of participants were recruited from a social work agency serving older adults in a small study conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand. Three community social workers who work with this population were interviewed along with five older Chinese migrants.

FINDINGS: Community social workers recognised the potential for digital technology to enhance connectedness for older migrants, although they were concerned by the barriers posed by skills, confidence, and language. The older migrants did not report loneliness and reported good social connections. Having time available to learn new skills, most older participants embraced digital technology, with some concerns about the possible risks of using digital platforms, a concern shared by social workers.

IMPLICATIONS: The impact of Covid-19 globally changed how people could interact with one another and carry out daily routines. This small study confirms the potential for enhanced connections for older migrants, particularly under pandemic conditions utilising communications technology.

Their stories, our history: Ken Daniels

Barbara Staniforth — 2024-10-06

INTRODUCTION: This article forms part of the “Their stories, our history” series which provides information regarding some of the major contributors to the profession of social work in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ken Daniels is featured in this article.

METHODS: A life history methodology is used to document some of the contributions made by Ken Daniels. Life history is a qualitative methodology where various forms of data are used to piece together a narrative. Interviews, documents, articles and other historical artifacts have all contributed to the development of this article.

FINDINGS: Ken Daniels has pioneered a number of social work advances in the areas of mental health, social work education and the professionalisation of social work. He has also made outstanding contributions nationally and internationally in the field of assisted human reproduction through a time of rapid change. Using a calm, compassionate and determined approach, Ken has been able to navigate through the complexities of practice, policy and education.

CONCLUSIONS: Ken Daniels has exemplified a practice which has centred a generalist social work approach, working in different ways and at different systems levels to achieve desired outcomes.