Announcements

Research Request: Enhancing treaty partnerships with Tāngata Whenua: insights from Tāngata Tiriti social service professionals

Research Summary:

Kia ora, my name is Shana Sygrove-Savill and I am a Massey University Masters’ student of Applied Social Work, supervised by Dr Kathryn Hay. I am conducting research for a mini thesis on the topic: how Tāngata Tiriti can be effective treaty partners to Tāngata Whenua and pursue indigenous justice within the contemporary context of social services.   If this resonates with you and you have an hour to spare, please get in touch. I am not seeking 'experts'. If you have an interest in the topic and meet the below criteria, you are welcome to participate.

Participation Criteria:

I am looking for people who are: 

1. Tāngata Tiriti: ‘ people of the treaty’ - migrant settlers to Aotearoa (New Zealand).
2. Currently employed in the social service sector. 
3. Passionate about working in partnership with Māori.

Ko wai au? / Who am I?

I tipu mai au i Te Tau Ihu o te Waka Maui, i te rohe o Whakatū. Nā reira, ko Maungatapu te maunga, ko Mahitahi te awa, ko Ingarani, ko Kotirana, ko Aerana ngā whenua o ōku tūpuna. He tāngata tiriti au.

E mihi ana ki ngā tangata whenua o te rohe i tipu mai tēnei kākano, ko Ngāti Tama, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Toa Rangatira.

Ko Shana Sygrove-Savill tōku ingoa.

Kia ora, my name is Shana Sygrove-Savill. I grew up in Nelson, therefore, acknowledge in my pepeha the landmarks and iwi of the area. However, my ancestors are from England, Ireland, and Scotland therefore, I identify as a Tāngata Tiriti: a person of the treaty and I am a migrant to Aotearoa

My research:

I am currently a Massey University Masters’ student in Applied Social Work supervised by Dr Kathryn Hay. I have had the privilege of studying te reo Māori and working in a Kaupapa Māori social service and this ignited my personal passion for indigenous justice. Upon entering the field of social work, I began reflecting on how I could improve my practice in working with Māori and become a better treaty partner. This reflection led me to choose the following topic for my research report:

How Tāngata Tiriti can be effective treaty partners to Tāngata Whenua and pursue indigenous justice within the contemporary context of social services.

I have included an interview schedule to help you get a better grasp of the focus of my research. You are welcome to contact me with any questions using the details provided below or if you would like to participate in an interview.

It is expected that involvement in the project will take about one hour. This would include time for the interview and time to review the information sheet and interview transcript. Interviews can be conducted in person if the participant resides in the Nelson Tasman region; otherwise, they will be
conducted online. The platform being used will be Microsoft Teams. This programme will also function as the transcription tool.

Kaitiakitanga / Care of Participants

You are under no obligation to accept this invitation. If you decide to participate, you have the right to:

• Decline to answer any question.
• Withdraw from the study (any time prior to the 30 May)
• Ask any questions about the study at any time during participation.
• Provide information on the understanding that your name will not be used unless you give permission to the researcher.
• Be given access to the research report after it has been examined.
• Ask for the recorder to be turned off at any time during the interview.

It will be your decision whether you would like to identify yourself as a participant or if you prefer to keep this information confidential. I will ensure that the information you provide to me is securely stored using a password protected laptop and Onedrive, which will only be accessible to myself and my supervisor.

Once your interview is completed and the transcript checked, you will be provided with a copy and welcomed to give feedback. The interview recording will be deleted once the research report for Massey is examined.

This project has been evaluated by peer review and judged to be low risk. Consequently, it has not been reviewed by one of the University’s Human Ethics Committees. The researcher named above is responsible for the ethical conduct of this research.

If you have any concerns about the ethical conduct of this research that you want to raise with someone other than the researcher, please contact Massey University Human Ethics by email: humanethics@massey.ac.nz 

Contacts

If you have any questions regarding this research, please contact Shana Sygrove-Savill in the first instance.
Researcher: Shana Sygrove-Savill
Contact details: 02102608469 or shana.sygrove-savill.1@uni.massey.ac.nz 

Supervisor: Associate Professor Kathryn Hay
Contact details: k.s.hay@massey.ac.nz 

Ngā manaakitanga,
Shana Sygrove-Savill

Date published: 06 May 2024
Date closes: 30 May 2025

Research Request: The SHInE project: Injuring oneself, injuring others: Distinctions and commonalities in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and outward-directed injury (ODI)

Research Summary:

The SHInE (Self Harm and Injury Exploration) project is investigating the differences, commonalities and relationships between NSSI (self-harm) and ODI (‘lashing out’). If there are commonalities in function, risk and protective factors, then prevention and intervention strategies developed for NSSI could be applicable to ODI. We’re undertaking research with young people (16-25), and professionals who work with them.  Professionals may participate in an online survey, and/or in-depth interviews. Young people may participate in: an online well-being survey, interviews, and/or a momentary survey. This project will lead to better understanding of two leading causes of health problems in our young people.

Participation Criteria:

Professionals (key informant) group: works with young people who engage in injurious behaviour (e.g. social workers, youth workers, counsellors). Young people group: aged 16-25, has engaged in injurious behaviour.

Invitation to Participate:

Tēnā koe, Talofa Lava, Bula Vinaka, Malo e Lelei, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Nihao, Namaste, Kia orana, as-salām alaikum.

This research is about injurious behaviours that some young people engage in. The project is led by Dr Cate Curtis, of the School of Psychology at Waikato University. Cate has worked at the University for 15 years, and was a youth worker before going to university. She’s NZ-born of Dutch descent.

This information sheet is to tell you more about one aspect of the research, an online survey. You can find out about the other aspects of the research, such as interviews, here: https://theshineproject2023.wordpress.com/

Who could take part?

Professionals such as youth workers, social workers, psychologists, school counsellors, and allied professionals, who work with young people who engage in deliberately injurious behaviour. Cate’s previous research has been on selfharm, anti-social behaviour and suicide among young people, and these are the sorts of problems we’re particularly interested in finding out more about. We hope that through better understanding problems and the ways young people cope with them, it will be easier to offer helpful services and support.

The overarching aim of this project is to better understand the overlaps and differences between deliberate nonsuicidal self-injury (often referred to as ‘self-harm’) and outward-directed injury (e.g. lashing out at other people or objects). You can find out more about the project here: SHInE Project website. The project will help shed light on injurious behaviours that young people engage in and help us to better understand how to provide support – we’re also collecting information from young people who engage in injurious behaviours.

What does the survey involve?

As a key informant, you will be asked about a variety of related issues, such as your understanding of underlying factors, the functions of injurious behaviours, and treatments, therapies and other ways of supporting young people who engage in injurious behaviours. It will take you 10 - 15 minutes to complete the survey. Depending on your responses, any questions that aren’t relevant to you will be skipped.

This survey addresses a number of topics that may be uncomfortable to think about. Please keep in mind that you may choose to not answer a question or questions and may stop your participation at any time by simply closing your web browser.

The information gathered will be analysed (anonymously) and written up for publication in academic journals and conference presentations and presentations to interested people and groups.

If you have any further questions about the nature of this research please email the research administrator, Dr Nicky Kanade: nkanade@waikato.ac.nz  or the research leader Dr Cate Curtis: cate.curtis@waikato.ac.nz 

Confidentiality:

It is up to you whether you give us any identifying information, however, there are a number of reasons why you might choose to do so. In each case, your identifying information will be stored separately from the survey data:

• If you would like to receive a summary of findings upon completion of survey analysis (this will be available later this year)
• If you would like to receive a copy of the full project report (this will be available in 2026) and/or request a presentation of the findings for your organisation
• If you would like to receive a gift-card as an acknowledgement of your time
• If you would like to take part in an interview to elaborate on the information provided in the survey.

If you prefer not to give identifying information, you are still very welcome to complete the survey. Please note that it will not be possible to withdraw your information later, because it will not be possible to identify it.

Who are the researchers?

There are several people on the research team in addition to Dr Curtis, including an Honours student, Eden Worsley, who will be involved in this survey.

Eden was born and raised in Tauranga and has had an interest in psychology from a very young age; reading psychology books in the library at 12 years old. She has a Bachelor of Social Science; Double Majoring in Psychology and Sport Health and Human Performance, and is currently studying a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology at Waikato University. Eden is passionate about helping others be the best versions of themselves, and plans to use her academic studies to do this in a clinical setting.

Abby Parsons will be conducting interviews, to go into issues raised in the survey in more depth. Abby is studying for a Masters in Community Psychology at the University of Waikato. 

Some other things you should know:

You can contact the research team by emailing: shine.project@waikato.ac.nz

This research has been approved by the University of Waikato Health Research Ethics Committee; application number: HREC(Health)2024#09. If you have concerns about the ethics of this research, you can contact the committee secretary: humanethics@waikato.ac.nz 

The first screen of the online survey contains key information about the project, similar to the material above. By continuing past this initial screen, you will be indicating that your understand and give your consent for the information you enter to be used for this research.

Date published: 06 May 2024
Date closes: 06 June 2025

Please see the project website for additional information: https://theshineproject2023.wordpress.com/ 

Creating Transformational Change: exploring the place of social service NGOs in the abolitionist movement in Aotearoa

Research Summary:

This project examines the potential for social service NGOs to contribute to a prison abolitionist movement in Aotearoa. Across Aotearoa over 8000 people are incarcerated and many more are impacted by our criminal justice system. We see hyper-incarceration of Māori, a lack of effective rehabilitation, and failure to address underlying issues. These features have led to calls for a transformational change away from our current system of justice. Many Social Workers believe there is a need for change, though embodying this in practice can be challenging. This research seeks to understand the opportunities/barriers for us to make meaningful contribution.

Participation Criteria:

We are currently seeking participants for this research who:

•  Are currently working at/managing social service NGOs in Ōtākou and/or Murihuku
  OR
• Have worked at/managed a social service NGO in Ōtākou and/or Murihuku for at least
  1 out of the last 3 years
• Identify themselves as someone who would like to see change in our justice system change in our justice system
• Are available for an 45-90 minute interview either in person or via Zoom
• Are 18 years or older. 

Participants do not need to work directly with the justice system, as we recognise that transformational change can and does occur outside of direct contact with the system.

What will Participants be Asked to Do?

Should you agree to take part in this project, you will be asked to participate in one 45-90 minute interview. The interviews will be organised at your convenience. They will take place in semi-public space (such as a café or booked room at Otago University), on Zoom, or at your
place of work. Location will be based on your preference.

The interviews do not have a set list of questions but are based around key themes. You will be asked to provide some basic demographic information, alongside some information

• Your view of our current justice system and your hopes for change.
• Your approach to your work -  This will include how your view of our justice system is present in your approach.
• Your experience embodying this approach - This will include the ways in which your work environment enables or constrains your approach. If you are a manager, this may focus on how macro level ‘work environments’ like available funding/contracts enables or constrains your approach.

Participants will receive koha of a $50 voucher at either New World or Z Fuel as an acknowledgement of their contribution to this project. They will also be reimbursed for any expenses if they have travelled to an in-person interview.

Please be aware that you may decide not to take part in the project without any disadvantage to yourself of any kind.

What Data or Information will be Collected and What Use will be Made of it?

You will be asked to provide some basic demographic information at the start of your first interview (gender, ethnicity, type of social service work you are/were engage in). All interviews will be audio recorded and kept securely on Erin Silver’s computer. If you are interviewed via Zoom, and audio-visual recording will be taken as this is the recording method facilitated by Zoom. These interviews will then be transcribed and once transcribed, will be de-identified by assigning a number to the transcript. Only Erin will know the original name from the transcript.

Sections of the transcribed interview will be used throughout Erin’s PhD thesis and for potential publications. All sections that appear in the thesis or publications will be deidentified using a participant number. The results of the project may be published and will be available in the University of Otago Library (Ōtepoti, New Zealand) but every attempt will be made to ensure that you will not be identified.

The assigning of a participant number is intended to make you unidentifiable for the general reader. However, some information you provide around your work type will be used to identify the relevance of your contribution to a particular theme. This will be reported in the study in generalised terms. For example, “Participant 1 is a social worker in adult mental health organisation.” We acknowledge that there is a possibility that this information, alongside specific knowledge you provide in the interview, may make you identifiable to someone working locally in this field. To address this, you will be informed about the language that will be used to describe you (e.g. “social worker in adult mental health organisation”), and you will have the opportunity request an adjustment to this language, and to read your transcribed interviews and withdraw comments for whatever reason, including any concern around
identification.

Can Participants Change their Mind and Withdraw from the Project?

You can stop any interview at any stage and ask for the audio/video recording to be stopped. Once your interview is transcribed, you will be provided with a copy of this transcript you will be given the opportunity to change anything or withdraw the data completely without any disadvantage to yourself.

Sharing Study Results with Participants

As a participant in this study, you will have the opportunity to opt into an emailing list to receive updates on the research. Participants on this emailing list will be notified when the thesis is completed and will receive a summary of the findings. This email address will only be used organise your interview and to communicate the study results with you.

What if Participants have any Questions?

If you have any questions about our project, either now or in the future, please feel free to contact either:-
Erin Silver: erin.silver@postgrad.otago.ac.nz or
Assoc. Prof Marcelle Dawson: marcelle.dawson@otago.ac.nz | PH: 03 479 8113
Department of Sociology, Gender Studies & Criminology

This study has been approved by the University of Otago Human Ethics Committee. If you have any concerns about the ethical conduct of the research you may contact the Committee through the Human Ethics Committee Administrator (ph +643 479 8256 or email humanethics@otago.ac.nz). Any issues you raise will be treated in confidence and investigated and you will be informed of the outcome

Date published: 1 February 2024
Date closes: 31 August 2024

Our student hardship petition in collaboration with Paid Placements Aotearoa NZ is now live on action station!

We think it’s high time our students earned a fair wage for a fair day’s work during placement. For too long students have been struggling to make ends meat and complete their placements, and it means social work qualifications are getting further and further out of reach for people who would likely make brilliant social workers. And it’s our communities that suffer when too few social workers mean whānau can’t access the support they need.

It’s time to end placement poverty.

Please, please, get behind our petition and fight for the future of social work in Aotearoa New Zealand!

Every signature makes a difference.

Research Summary:

Are you a registered social worker in Aotearoa New Zealand?

Social workers possess diverse identities, values, and beliefs and play a critical role in helping clients to obtain information and resources needed to make important life decisions, including ones pertaining to abortion, transgender and non-binary rights, and assisted dying. These contentious subjects require social workers to engage in situations that may clash with their personal values. This proposal is for a unique study of Aotearoa social work practitioners’ and educators’ perspectives on these politicised topics. The researchers aim to work with selected summer scholar students who will participate in three linked studies utilizing qualitative surveys to explore social worker perspectives.

Participation Criteria:

This study seeks to recruit New Zealand-qualified social work practitioners and social work educators. There are no age requirements for completing the questionnaire. However, participants must be qualified and registered social workers, which makes it extremely unlikely that any participants will be under 21.

You are invited to participate in an online questionnaire about social worker views on abortion, transgender rights, and assisted dying. The questionnaire is anonymous and it will take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete. Names and identifying information will not be collected. When you click on the link you will be taken to a Participant Information Sheet with full information and invited to participate. Submission of your questionnaire responses constitutes consent to participating in the research.

Abortion, assisted dying and the rights of transgender and non-binary people are considered by many to be controversial issues. In Aotearoa each of these areas have been subject to recent law change: abortion law has been decriminalised, self-identification for most transgender people is now legal, and assisted dying is permitted under certain circumstances.

The questionnaire will ask you about your thoughts on these topics, the law changes, and any education you may have had in these areas.

Access the survey here 

APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND HUMAN PARTICIPANTS ETHICS COMMITTEE ON 8/9/23 for 3 years, Reference Number 26344

Principal Investigator: Liz Beddoe e.beddoe@auckland.ac.nz

Date published: 14 September 2023
Date closes: 2 November 2023...

Research Summary:

Are you a registered social worker in Aotearoa New Zealand?

Social workers possess diverse identities, values, and beliefs and play a critical role in helping clients to obtain information and resources needed to make important life decisions, including ones pertaining to abortion, transgender and non-binary rights, and assisted dying. These contentious subjects require social workers to engage in situations that may clash with their personal values. This proposal is for a unique study of Aotearoa social work practitioners’ and educators’ perspectives on these politicised topics. The researchers aim to work with selected summer scholar students who will participate in three linked studies utilizing qualitative surveys to explore social worker perspectives.

Participation Criteria:

This study seeks to recruit New Zealand-qualified social work practitioners and social work educators. There are no age requirements for completing the questionnaire. However, participants must be qualified and registered social workers, which makes it extremely unlikely that any participants will be under 21.

You are invited to participate in an online questionnaire about social worker views on abortion, transgender rights, and assisted dying. The questionnaire is anonymous and it will take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete. Names and identifying information will not be collected. When you click on the link you will be taken to a Participant Information Sheet with full information and invited to participate. Submission of your questionnaire responses constitutes consent to participating in the research.

Abortion, assisted dying and the rights of transgender and non-binary people are considered by many to be controversial issues. In Aotearoa each of these areas have been subject to recent law change: abortion law has been decriminalised, self-identification for most transgender people is now legal, and assisted dying is permitted under certain circumstances.

The questionnaire will ask you about your thoughts on these topics, the law changes, and any education you may have had in these areas.

Access the survey here 

APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND HUMAN PARTICIPANTS ETHICS COMMITTEE ON 8/9/23 for 3 years, Reference Number 26344

Principal Investigator: Liz Beddoe e.beddoe@auckland.ac.nz

Date published: 14 September 2023
Date closes: 2 November 2023

Research Summary:

Are you a registered social worker in Aotearoa New Zealand?

Social workers possess diverse identities, values, and beliefs and play a critical role in helping clients to obtain information and resources needed to make important life decisions, including ones pertaining to abortion, transgender and non-binary rights, and assisted dying. These contentious subjects require social workers to engage in situations that may clash with their personal values. This proposal is for a unique study of Aotearoa social work practitioners’ and educators’ perspectives on these politicised topics. The researchers aim to work with selected summer scholar students who will participate in three linked studies utilizing qualitative surveys to explore social worker perspectives.

Participation Criteria:

This study seeks to recruit New Zealand-qualified social work practitioners and social work educators. There are no age requirements for completing the questionnaire. However, participants must be qualified and registered social workers, which makes it extremely unlikely that any participants will be under 21.

You are invited to participate in an online questionnaire about social worker views on abortion, transgender rights, and assisted dying. The questionnaire is anonymous and it will take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete. Names and identifying information will not be collected. When you click on the link you will be taken to a Participant Information Sheet with full information and invited to participate. Submission of your questionnaire responses constitutes consent to participating in the research.

Abortion, assisted dying and the rights of transgender and non-binary people are considered by many to be controversial issues. In Aotearoa each of these areas have been subject to recent law change: abortion law has been decriminalised, self-identification for most transgender people is now legal, and assisted dying is permitted under certain circumstances.

The questionnaire will ask you about your thoughts on these topics, the law changes, and any education you may have had in these areas.

Access the survey here 

APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND HUMAN PARTICIPANTS ETHICS COMMITTEE ON 8/9/23 for 3 years, Reference Number 26344

Principal Investigator: Liz Beddoe e.beddoe@auckland.ac.nz

Date published: 14 September 2023
Date closes: 2 November 2023

Research Summary:

Whether referred to as a practice educator, field educator, or placement supervisor, your role in social work education is essential for enabling social work students to connect theory to practice and develop their skills and knowledge before entering the profession. This project aims to map the training already access for fulfilling the role of a practice educator, the ongoing development needs practice educators faced, and any gaps in having these met. If you are a registered social worker currently supervising a social work student on placement or have supervised a social work student on placement in the past three years in Aotearoa New Zealand, we want to hear from you.

Participation Criteria:

Registered Social Workers who are currently supervising a social work student on placement, or who has supervised a social work student on placement within the past 3 years.

Invitation to Participate:

Dear colleagues, 

My name is Katheryn Margaret Pascoe and I am a lecturer at the University of Otago. I understand these are busy times, but I wanted to invite you to participate in a short survey exploring the continued professional development needs of practice educators in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Whether referred to as a practice educator, field educator, or placement supervisor, your role in social work education is essential for enabling social work students to connect theory to practice and develop their skills and knowledge before entering the profession. This project aims to map the training already access for fulfilling the role of a practice educator, the ongoing development needs practice educators faced, and any gaps in having these met.

If you are a registered social worker currently supervising a social work student on placement or have supervised a social work student on placement in the past three years in Aotearoa New Zealand, we want to hear from you.

The following survey is designed around both open and closed questions and should take approximately 10-12 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary and anonymous, and the survey will be open until 9pm on the 2nd of October 2023.

Please follow this link to access the survey or copy and paste the URL into your internet browser https://otago.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eKZXOw9IkDTgRme

More detailed information of the study is included at the start of the survey which can be accessed and read before you decide whether or not you wish to participate.

Thank you very much for your time, and please do not hesitate to contact me directly should you have any questions.

Katheryn.pascoe@otago.ac.nz

Dr. Katheryn Margaret Pascoe
Lecturer in Social and Community Work.
University of Otago.

Start date of research: 24 August 2023
End date of research: 2 October 2023

Research Summary:

Are you a registered social worker in Aotearoa New Zealand?

Social workers possess diverse identities, values, and beliefs and play a critical role in helping clients to obtain information and resources needed to make important life decisions, including ones pertaining to abortion, transgender and non-binary rights, and assisted dying. These contentious subjects require social workers to engage in situations that may clash with their personal values. This proposal is for a unique study of Aotearoa social work practitioners’ and educators’ perspectives on these politicised topics. The researchers aim to work with selected summer scholar students who will participate in three linked studies utilizing qualitative surveys to explore social worker perspectives. 

Participation Criteria

This study seeks to recruit New Zealand-qualified social work practitioners and social work educators. There are no age requirements for completing the questionnaire. However, participants must be qualified and registered social workers, which makes it extremely unlikely that any participants will be under 21. 

You are invited to participate in an online questionnaire about social worker views on abortion, transgender rights, and assisted dying. The questionnaire is anonymous and it will take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete. Names and identifying information will not be collected.  When you click on the link you will be taken to a Participant Information Sheet with full information and invited to participate.  Submission of your questionnaire responses constitutes consent to participating in the research.

Abortion, assisted dying and the rights of transgender and non-binary people are considered by many to be controversial issues. In Aotearoa each of these areas have been subject to recent law change: abortion law has been decriminalised, self-identification for most transgender people is now legal, and assisted dying is permitted under certain circumstances. 

The questionnaire will ask you about your thoughts on these topics, the law changes, and any education you may have had in these areas.

Access the survey here

APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND HUMAN PARTICIPANTS ETHICS COMMITTEE ON 8/9/23 for 3 years, Reference Number 26344

Principal Investigator: Liz Beddoe e.beddoe@auckland.ac.nz

Date published: 14 September 2023
Date closes: 2 November 2023

Research Request

Research Summary:

This study intends to explore the experience of interacting with WINZ from the perspective of Social and Community Workers. The study aims to investigate what is currently working well, what barriers (if any) there are to people receiving assistance, and how the experience of WINZ has changed over time. The study will also explore, how strategy and insider knowledge are used to navigate WINZ systems; whether WINZ is perceived as fair and ethical in their dealings with service users; and what could be done to improve the experience for both service users and advocates.

Participation Criteria:

Participants must engage in welfare advocacy as part of their role.

Invitation to Participate:

Kia Ora, my name is Rachel, and I am a Master of Applied Social Work student at Massey University.

I am undertaking a research project exploring the experience of interacting with WINZ, from the perspective of Social and Community Workers. With this research I hope to gain initial insight into:

• If experiences people have of WINZ are shared by others.
• What is working well.
• What are the problems or possible improvements worthy of further research.

The research will involve semi-structured interviews with Social and Community Workers. The data collected from these interviews will only be used for completion of this research project and any subsequent publications.

As the primary researcher I will conduct the interviews and report on the findings. Throughout the research project I will be under the supervision of Dr Nicky Stanley-Clarke, a senior lecturer in the School of Social Work at Massey University, in Palmerston North.

If you agree to be interviewed as part of this research, it will involve participating in one interview of approximately 60 minutes (at a time that is convenient to you), and revision of the interview transcript at a later date, which will take approximately 20 minutes. The interviews will be undertaken either in-person if you are based in New Plymouth, or online using Zoom.

With your permission the interview will be recorded using an audio recorder or Zoom. The audio file will be saved onto a password protected hard drive, and transcribed either manually or using Otter.ai transcription software (https://otter.ai/). All information will be treated confidentially, pseudonyms will be provided, and all information anonymised. You will receive a Countdown voucher to thank you for your participation.

You are under no obligation to participate in this process. However, if you decide to participate, you have the right to:
• Provide information on the understanding that your name will not be used;
• Decline to answer any particular question;
• Ask any questions about the study at any time during participation;
• Ask for the recording to be turned off at any time during the interview;
• Withdraw from the study at any time prior to completion of the project - this can be done via e-mail (Rachel.McDonnell.3@uni.massey.ac.nz);
• Be given access to a summary of the project findings when it is concluded.

This research has been evaluated as low risk and has the appropriate ethical approval from Massey University (MUHEC no. 4000027518). Feel free to contact myself (Rachel.McDonnell.3@uni.massey.ac.nz), or Nicky about any aspect of the research.

Nicky can be contacted through the School of Social Work at Massey University in Palmerston North on phone: (06) 356 9099 extn 83515 or by email at: n.stanley-clarke@massey.ac.nz.

Thank you for your assistance.
Rachel McDonnell

Date published: 16 August 2023
Date closes: 16 November 2023

What does the role of advocacy and support look like for Social Workers in Schools (SWiS) who are working alongside neurodiverse children in Aotearoa New Zealand?

Research Summary:

This research aims to gather data from three social workers who have experience working with neurodivergence in their practice. This is to get first-hand accounts of social work practice with neurodivergent children and what factors come into play that informs relationship building, application of interventions, assessing strengths and needs, working in partnership with other agencies and linking to community resources. This research hopes to contribute to the minimal data currently available and highlight any identified challenges and successes for neurodivergent children in school, from a SWiS lens. 

Participation Criteria:

I am inviting three participants for this study who are current Social Workers in Schools (SWiS) with at least two years of experience working in this role.

Introduction:

Kia ora, my name is Courtney Johansson, and I am a Masters of Applied Social Work student at Massey University. As part of my degree requirements, I am seeking participants for my research project on the experiences of Social Workers in Schools (SWiS) working with children who are neurodivergent and their whānau.

Purpose of the study:

This research aims to gather data from three social workers who have experience working with neurodivergence in their practice. This is to get first-hand accounts of social work practice with neurodivergent children and what factors come into play that informs relationship building, application of interventions, assessing strengths and needs, working in partnership with other agencies and linking to community resources.

This research hopes to contribute to the minimal data currently available and highlight any identified challenges and successes for neurodivergent children in school, from a SWiS lens. As this research will be small in scale, my hopes are that it may influence future social work research and practice considerations for other SWiS practitioners in this field.

Invitation to the study

I am writing to invite three participants for this study who are current Social Workers in Schools (SWiS) with at least two years of experience. A 60-minute semi-structured interview will take place over Zoom to allow participants from anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand to take part as well as flexibility in interview time.

The interviews will be video recorded and subsequently transcribed with participants receiving a copy of their transcriptions to make amendments if required. A consent form will be supplied to sign before the interview takes place. Consent can be withdrawn up until the signed interview transcripts have been returned to me which authorises the use of them in the written research report.

Participants' data will be stored in a secure and confidential manner. The information collected will be anonymised and assigned unique identifiers to ensure individual, school and agency identities are kept confidential. The collected data will be retained for the duration of the research project and will be securely destroyed after the designated period.

Participant’s Rights

You are under no obligation to accept this invitation. If you decide to participate, you have the right to:

• Decline to answer any particular question.
• Withdraw from the study up until you have signed and authorised your  transcript to be used.
• Ask any questions about the study at any time during participation.
• Provide information on the understanding that your identifying details as well as the identity of 
  your schools or agency will not be used unless you give permission to the researcher.
• Be given access to a summary of the project findings when it is concluded; and,
• Ask for the recorder to be turned off at any time during the interview.

Project Contacts

If you are interested in taking part in this research or have any questions, please contact me on;

21009785@massey.ac.nz

If you have any concerns regarding this research you can contact my supervisor;

Polu Samuelu f.samuelu@massey.ac.nz

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Kind regards,
Courtney Johansson
Student researcher, Massey University.

This project has been evaluated by peer review and judged to be low risk. Consequently, it has not been reviewed by one of the University’s Human Ethics Committees. The researcher(s) named above are responsible for the ethical conduct of this research.

If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research that you wish to raise with someone other than the researcher(s), please contact Prof Craig Johnson, Director, Research Ethics, telephone 06 356 9099 x 85271, email humanethics@massey.ac.nz

Research Summary

This qualitative research aims to explore experiences of human service workers (including front-line social workers, managers, policy analysts, researchers, and educators) and academics (of any discipline) who have concealable stigmatised identities in common with service users/clients, students, or topic areas in relation to research or teaching. The project will explore how participants make decisions about disclosure, their experiences of impacts of disclosure and non-disclosure, impacts of accidental outings, need for and availability of support, and other matters the participants consider important to address.

Participation Criteria:

Any member of ANZASW who considers themselves to have a concealable stigmatised identity that is relevant to their work. I will exclude close colleagues and ex-students within 4 years of my teaching them.

Invitation to Participate:

This qualitative research aims to explore experiences of human service workers (including front-line social workers, managers, policy analysts, researchers, and educators) and academics (of any discipline) who have concealable stigmatised identities in common with service users/clients, students, or topic areas in relation to research or teaching. Whether human service practitioners disclose or conceal stigmatised identities and to what extent and how they do so, has been written about in theoretical publications but is under researched, at least in part due to the sensitive 
nature of the topic. I will use a constructionist grounded theory methodology to explore how participants make decisions about disclosure, experiences of impacts of disclosure and non-disclosure, impacts of accidental outings, need for and availability of support, and other matters the participants consider important to address. My previous experience of sensitive research where confidentiality was of utmost importance includes workplace bullying and harassment of human service workers (in particular social workers); these problems sometimes arise as discrimination in relation to diversity.

Participants are sought nationally. Criteria for inclusion are that participants are aware of holding a concealable stigmatised identity and have had experiences of disclosure related dilemmas.

Your involvement in this project will entail partaking in a recorded ZOOM interview of approximately one hour duration. You will have the right to withdraw from the project at any time, including withdrawal of any information provided. The outcomes of the research are intended to be published but neither participant nor organisational identities will be disclosed.
I can be contacted by email or telephone at the address below. Any discussion will not commit you to participation and will be kept in confidence. You will receive a further letter of information and consent form if you indicate you are interested in participating.

Professor Kate van Heugten
The School of Language, Social, and Political Sciences |Te Kura Mātāpuna Tangata
University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch
kate.vanheugten@canterbury.ac.nz
Telephone: (03) 3642 51

This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Canterbury Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). If you have a complaint about this research, please contact the Chair of the HREC at human-ethics@canterbury.ac.nz).

Date published: 27 July 2023
Date closes: 30 November 2023

Research Summary:

The University of Waikato Social Work Programme has started a community consultation process to identify needs and gaps in post-graduate social work education in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato region. We are wanting to hear from Social Workers and Practice Leaders about what they would like offered for their future learning needs. We will be running a series of focus groups across both regions to meet with our community. There is also an anonymous online survey for people to contribute their thoughts about post-graduate social work education learning needs and future course provision. - If you wish to attend a focus group please email Kelly Glubb-Smith directly (email: kelly.glubb-smith@waikato.ac.nz.

If you wish to complete the survey please click on the survey link at the end of the page.

Kelly Glubb-Smith and Karen Cherry are undertaking this research in their capacity as social work educators on the Social Work Programme at the University of Waikato. There is no funding or sponsorship  involved in the implementation of this research. 

Project Description

The research question underpinning this research project is: What are the post-graduate learning  needs of social workers in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato region?

The Social Work Programme staff at the University of Waikato are currently considering what post-graduate social work papers would be of benefit to the community. Engagement with social workers is central to understanding the existing knowledge gaps and challenges that social workers are facing in their work. 

This research project is designed to capture the anticipated engagement with social workers and social service agencies; to identify current post-graduate learning needs for social workers in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato region.

Invitation to participate:

The research requires participants to be Social Workers and/or Practice Leaders who can comment on the learning needs of social workers in the Bay of Plenty/Waikato region. You have been identified as a person who can speak to either your own learning needs as a practising social worker or the learning needs of social workers in your organisation/group. If you are unwilling or unable to participate, it would be appreciated if you could forward the invitation to other eligible participants. If you are interested in participating, please contact the researchers by email via the details provided to express interest in attending a focus group interview or 
completing a survey.

The research involves either attendance at a focus group interview or the completion of an anonymous online survey. It is anticipated that attendance at the focus group interview would  take a maximum of 90 minutes. The online anonymous survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Each person’s participation is voluntary, and they will be asked to provide consent prior to the focus group interview or survey. The participants can ask the researchers any further questions about the research that occurs to them during their participation in the research.

Focus Group Option

The focus group discussion would be held at the University of Waikato Campus (Tauranga or Hamilton), or at a mutually convenient venue such as a Social Service Agency Meeting Room. 

The focus group interviews will be conducted by the researcher/s and will be audio recorded. During the focus group interview, a participant can refuse to answer any question and/or leave the group at any time. The audio-recordings will be transcribed using software such as Otter.ai. As the focus group interviews will contain other participants’ information, the interview recordings or transcriptions will not be shared with members of the focus group.

To preserve the confidentiality of the focus group interview, participants will be asked to not disclose what was said by specific individuals in the focus group interview. While participants can leave the focus group interview at any time, they cannot withdraw their data as this could interfere with the flow of the interview. Due to the nature of a focus group interview, participants will not have the opportunity to edit the transcript. 

Survey Option

People who have been identified as a potential participant will be sent a link to the survey. For the participants who choose to complete the survey, they will be anonymous to the researchers. Survey participants will have the right to decline to answer any question and they can leave the survey at any time.

Data storage/retention/destruction/future use

The named researchers will be the only people handling the interview transcriptions and survey  data. Electronic data and transcripts will be stored on a password protected computer at the 
University of Waikato. All hard copy data will be stored in a locked cabinet at the University of  Waikato. The consent forms will be kept separately from data in different locked cabinet. All data will be stored for six years, after which all hard copy data will be shredded and electronic files deleted. 

Results will be used primarily for considering the design of postgraduate teaching in social work, for teaching purposes and may be published in peer reviewed publications or presented at 
conferences. A summary of findings of the study will be made available by email. 

Anonymity and Confidentiality

The survey is an anonymous online survey and participants names will not be attached to their individual responses. Each focus group participant will have the opportunity to choose a pseudonym to protect their identity. All participant information will be constructed in a way as to disguise the identity of the participants. However, due to the small size of social work community in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato region there is still a slight possibility that someone could recognise a participant’s comments. 
The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) (2019) Code of Ethics and the Social Workers Registration Board (2016) Code of Conduct require social workers to not unnecessarily disclose personal information about the people that they work with. Focus group 
interviews and the survey will be conducted in a manner that supports participants to preserve client and organisational integrity through avoiding information that could disclose any identifying client information when discussing learning needs.

Participation in the focus group interview or survey is unlikely to cause harm to the participants. However, the participation could bring up memories or instances of complex practice situations that may feel unresolved. Participants will be advised to use supervision to reflect on the practice 
issues relating to this research, or to access support through their professional association (Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers) or organisational supports.

Please contact the researcher Dr Kelly Glubb-Smith (email: kelly.glubb-smith@waikato.ac.nz) for more information, or to express an interest to participate in either the focus group or the survey. 
A copy of the information sheet should be retained by each participant.

"This research project (FS2023-26) has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Any questions about the ethical conduct of this research may be sent to the Secretary of the Committee, email alpss-ethics@waikato.ac.nz , 
postal address, Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences , University of Waikato, Te Whare Wananga o Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240." 

Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Ngā mihi nui

Researchers:

Dr Kelly Glubb-Smith, 
Senior Lecturer
Social Work Programme Convenor
University of Waikato 
Email: kelly.glubb-smith@waikato.ac.nz

Karen Cherry, 
Teaching Fellow
Social Work Programme
University of Waikato
Email: karen.cherry@waikato.ac.nz

Research Summary:

Research in support of completion of MASW. The aim of this research is to identify both challenges and opportunities for sole parent families in getting support put in place for their children with disability. It seeks to identify areas of strength and weakness in the allocation of services for these families.

Use of semi-structured interviews. It is expected the participants will need to spend approximately 90 minutes in completing commitment.

Participation Criteria:

The criteria for participation are that you are a social worker currently employed in an organisation that is involved directly with, or organising the placement of, support for children with disability under the age of 18.
It is also required that you have been employed in the same or similar positions for at least two years.
More information:

Hello, I am Barry Crosbie, and I am second year Master of Applied Social Work student at Massey University. I am currently undertaking a research project which is looking at Social Workers’ Perspectives of parents’ ability to access supports for children with disability.

The aims of the project are to:

a) To identify both challenges and opportunities for sole parent families in getting support put in place for their children with disability.

b) To identify areas of strength and weakness in the allocation of services for these families.

By identifying what has and hasn’t worked for families it is hoped that strategies can be identified that will mean that families are able to access needed support more often and in a timelier manner.

If you are a registered social worker has at least 2 years experience in an organisation that is involved with supporting children with disability and their families then I would like to invite you to participate in this research.

The time required to participate in the research will be approximately two hours: 15 minutes on initial contact; one - one and a half hours for the semi-structured interview; and approximately 30 minutes to review the interview transcript. 

I will conduct the interview, either face to face (if you live in Hamilton) or by Zoom. Interviews will be digitally recorded. All information you give me, including the consent form and the interview recording and transcript, will be kept in a secure location that is not accessible to anyone other than myself and my supervisor. You will also be able to have a copy of your audio recording and your interview transcript if you wish. All the data for this research report will be shredded or deleted once the report is marked.

You are under no obligation to accept this invitation. If you decide to participate, you have the right to:

decline to answer any question.
 withdraw from the study before October 2023.
 ask any questions about the research at any time during participation.
provide information on the understanding that your name will not be used and all identifiable information will be anonymised.
be given access to a summary of the project findings when it is concluded.
ask for the recording to be turned off at any time during the interview.

This project has been evaluated by peer review and judged to be low risk. Consequently, it has not been reviewed by one of the University's Human Ethics Committees. The researcher(s) named in this document are responsible for the ethical conduct of this research.

If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research that you want to raise with someone other than the researcher(s), please contact the Research Ethics Office, email humanethics@massey.ac.nz.

This is a supervised piece of research overseen by Dr Nicky Stanley-Clarke who can be contacted at N.Stanley-Clarke@massey.ac.nz

Please contact me if you have any questions about this project or if you would like to participate in the focus group:

Barry Crosbie
11254659@massey.ac.nz
021 024 83115

Thank you for your consideration of my request.

Date published: 1 August 2023
Date closes: 30 September 2023

Research Summary:

Research in support of completion of MASW. The aim of this research is to identify both challenges and opportunities for sole parent families in getting support put in place for their children with disability. It seeks to identify areas of strength and weakness in the allocation of services for these families.

Use of semi-structured interviews. It is expected the participants will need to spend approximately 90 minutes in completing commitment.

Participation Criteria:

• The criteria for participation are that you are a social worker currently employed in an organisation that is involved directly with, or organising the placement of, support for children with disability under the age of 18.
• It is also required that you have been employed in the same or similar positions for at least two years.

More information:

Hello, I am Barry Crosbie, and I am second year Master of Applied Social Work student at Massey University. I am currently undertaking a research project which is looking at Social Workers’ Perspectives of parents’ ability to access supports for children with disability.

The aims of the project are to:

a) To identify both challenges and opportunities for sole parent families in getting support put in place for their children with disability.

b) To identify areas of strength and weakness in the allocation of services for these families.

By identifying what has and hasn’t worked for families it is hoped that strategies can be identified that will mean that families are able to access needed support more often and in a timelier manner.

If you are a registered social worker has at least 2 years experience in an organisation that is involved with supporting children with disability and their families then I would like to invite you to participate in this research.

The time required to participate in the research will be approximately two hours: 15 minutes on initial contact; one - one and a half hours for the semi-structured interview; and approximately 30 minutes to review the interview transcript. 

I will conduct the interview, either face to face (if you live in Hamilton) or by Zoom. Interviews will be digitally recorded. All information you give me, including the consent form and the interview recording and transcript, will be kept in a secure location that is not accessible to anyone other than myself and my supervisor. You will also be able to have a copy of your audio recording and your interview transcript if you wish. All the data for this research report will be shredded or deleted once the report is marked.

You are under no obligation to accept this invitation. If you decide to participate, you have the right to:

• decline to answer any question.
•  withdraw from the study before October 2023.
•  ask any questions about the research at any time during participation.
• provide information on the understanding that your name will not be used and all identifiable information will be anonymised.
• be given access to a summary of the project findings when it is concluded.
• ask for the recording to be turned off at any time during the interview.

This project has been evaluated by peer review and judged to be low risk. Consequently, it has not been reviewed by one of the University's Human Ethics Committees. The researcher(s) named in this document are responsible for the ethical conduct of this research.

If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research that you want to raise with someone other than the researcher(s), please contact the Research Ethics Office, email humanethics@massey.ac.nz.

This is a supervised piece of research overseen by Dr Nicky Stanley-Clarke who can be contacted at N.Stanley-Clarke@massey.ac.nz

Please contact me if you have any questions about this project or if you would like to participate in the focus group:

Barry Crosbie
11254659@massey.ac.nz
021 024 83115

Thank you for your consideration of my request

Addressing historical intergenerational trauma for whānau Māori: The practice experiences of Māori Social Workers.

Research Summary: Kia ora, my name is Lisa Witton and I am a Social Work Masters student at Massey University. I am currently undertaking a research project which is exploring the practice experiences of Māori Social Workers in relation to addressing historical trauma for whānau Māori.

The aims of the project are to:

a) To explore the practice experiences of Māori Social Workers in relation to historical intergenerational trauma for whānau Māori; To explore how such trauma presents and is addressed in Social Work practice.

b) To identify what aids or poses barrier to addressing historical intergenerational trauma for whānau Māori.

c) To identify recommendations for the way forward. 

Participation Criteria: The criteria for participation is that you are a registered Māori Social Worker who is currently employed in an organisation that provides support to whānau Māori. This can be any organisation that provides support to whānau Māori and does not necessarily have to be a Kaupapa Māori organisation. It is also a requirement that you have at least two years’ experience as a registered Social Worker.

 If you wish to participate, a mutually convenient time and place will be agreed for an interview to take place. I will conduct the interview either face to face or by Teams/Zoom and you are welcome to indicate your preference for this. The interview will be approximately 60 minutes in length and will be audio recorded and transcribed. The transcriptions will be sent to you following the interview for you to review and amend as you see fit. 
 
 Researcher responsibilities:

• I will ensure that all information you provide, including the consent form and the interview recording and transcript, will be kept in a secure location that is not accessible to anyone other than me.
• If you wish, I will provide you with a copy of your audio recording and your interview transcript. 
• I will provide you with a copy of any publications that relate to this project.
• The identity of participants will only be known by me and my supervisor unless your permission is given to be identified in the final research report.
• Participants will be given a pseudonym in the final written report to protect their identity if they do not wish to be identified.
• The employing agency of the participant will not be identified in the research; However the employing agency may become identifiable if the participant agrees to be identified in the final research report.
• All data relating to this research will be deleted or destroyed upon completion and assessment of the research report. 

Participant’s Rights:

 You are under no obligation to accept this invitation.   If you do decide to participate, you have the right to:

• Withdraw from the research up until the reviewed and edited transcription is approved and signed by you.
• Ask that the interview be ended at any time.
• Decline to answer any particular question during the interview.
• Ask questions about the study at any time prior to or during participation. This includes questions about the scope and agenda of the research.
• Provide feedback or raise concerns if you feel any questions are inappropriate and/or have the potential to cause harm.
• Advise that your name will not be used unless you give permission to the researcher.
• Be provided with an electronic copy of the report upon completion of the project.

A copy of the interview schedule is attached to give you an idea of the key themes I wish to discuss in the interview. If this research interests you or if you have any questions, please contact me directly.
 
 My supervisor for this project is Ange Watson  

Email:  A.M.Watson@massey.ac.nz

Nga mihi,

Lisa Witton
Email: llwitton@gmail.com
Phone: 0226461576

 
This project has been evaluated by peer review and judged to be low risk.  Consequently, it has not been reviewed by one of the University’s Human Ethics Committees.  The researcher named above is responsible for the ethical conduct of this research. If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research that you wish to raise with someone other than the researcher, please contact Dr Brian Finch, Director, Research Ethics, telephone 06 356 9099 x 86015, email humanethics@massey.ac.nz

Date published: 09 July 2023
Date closes: 09 October 2023 

Addressing historical intergenerational trauma for whānau Māori: The practice experiences of Māori Social Workers.

Research Summary: Kia ora, my name is Lisa Witton and I am a Social Work Masters student at Massey University. I am currently undertaking a research project which is exploring the practice experiences of Māori Social Workers in relation to addressing historical trauma for whānau Māori.

The aims of the project are to:

a) To explore the practice experiences of Māori Social Workers in relation to historical intergenerational trauma for whānau Māori; To explore how such trauma presents and is addressed in Social Work practice.

b) To identify what aids or poses barrier to addressing historical intergenerational trauma for whānau Māori.

c) To identify recommendations for the way forward. 

Participation Criteria: The criteria for participation is that you are a registered Māori Social Worker who is currently employed in an organisation that provides support to whānau Māori. This can be any organisation that provides support to whānau Māori and does not necessarily have to be a Kaupapa Māori organisation. It is also a requirement that you have at least two years’ experience as a registered Social Worker.

 If you wish to participate, a mutually convenient time and place will be agreed for an interview to take place. I will conduct the interview either face to face or by Teams/Zoom and you are welcome to indicate your preference for this. The interview will be approximately 60 minutes in length and will be audio recorded and transcribed. The transcriptions will be sent to you following the interview for you to review and amend as you see fit. 
 
 Researcher responsibilities:

• I will ensure that all information you provide, including the consent form and the interview recording and transcript, will be kept in a secure location that is not accessible to anyone other than me.
• If you wish, I will provide you with a copy of your audio recording and your interview transcript. 
• I will provide you with a copy of any publications that relate to this project.
• The identity of participants will only be known by me and my supervisor unless your permission is given to be identified in the final research report.
• Participants will be given a pseudonym in the final written report to protect their identity if they do not wish to be identified.
• The employing agency of the participant will not be identified in the research; However the employing agency may become identifiable if the participant agrees to be identified in the final research report.
• All data relating to this research will be deleted or destroyed upon completion and assessment of the research report. 

Participant’s Rights:

 You are under no obligation to accept this invitation.   If you do decide to participate, you have the right to:

• Withdraw from the research up until the reviewed and edited transcription is approved and signed by you.
• Ask that the interview be ended at any time.
• Decline to answer any particular question during the interview.
• Ask questions about the study at any time prior to or during participation. This includes questions about the scope and agenda of the research.
• Provide feedback or raise concerns if you feel any questions are inappropriate and/or have the potential to cause harm.
• Advise that your name will not be used unless you give permission to the researcher.
• Be provided with an electronic copy of the report upon completion of the project.

A copy of the interview schedule is attached to give you an idea of the key themes I wish to discuss in the interview. If this research interests you or if you have any questions, please contact me directly.
 
 My supervisor for this project is Ange Watson  

Email:  A.M.Watson@massey.ac.nz

Nga mihi,

Lisa Witton
Email: llwitton@gmail.com
Phone: 0226461576

 
This project has been evaluated by peer review and judged to be low risk.  Consequently, it has not been reviewed by one of the University’s Human Ethics Committees.  The researcher named above is responsible for the ethical conduct of this research. If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research that you wish to raise with someone other than the researcher, please contact Dr Brian Finch, Director, Research Ethics, telephone 06 356 9099 x 86015, email humanethics@massey.ac.nz

Date published: 09 July 2023
Date closes: 09 October 2023 

Research Summary:

Transitioning to parenting – embrace, educate, empower – a pathway to supporting perinatal mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand.  

Tēnā Koē
Ko Waitakere tōku pae maunga
Ko Waitemata tōku moana
Ko Patrick Donovan te rangatira o runga Ko Aerana tōku iwi
Ko Hall tōku whānau I nāianei kei Tauranga Moana tōku kainga noho
Ko Michelle tōku ingoa

My name is Michelle Hall. I am undertaking a research project as part of my Masters of Applied Social Work degree at Massey University, which aims to explore how we embrace, educate and empower parents and support their perinatal mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand.

I have a passion for the field of perinatal mental health and believe that if we embrace, educate, and empower parents it will nourish stronger tamariki, whānau, communities and our collective society. For the past five years I have been delivering perinatal mental health support services in Aotearoa and this mahi (work) has initiated this research which intends to explore preventative pathways which support parents and their mental health. This research will complete my final year of The Applied Master of Social Work degree at Massey University.

Research Purpose

The aim of this research is to explore the perceptions of perinatal care professionals regarding the preparedness and education of new parents and the implications for parental mental health. The research seeks to understand these care professionals’ assessment of the current efficacy and delivery of antenatal education in Aotearoa New Zealand. It will identify gaps and make recommendations for further development and improvement to support the transition to parenting for all whānau in bringing through the next generation.

Who and what is involved?

For the purposes of this study, “care profession” is defined as any profession that provides guidance, education or support services to parents throughout the perinatal time (from pre-conception through to one year postnatal). I am hoping to recruit five perinatal care professionals from diverse backgrounds which could include social workers, nurses, antenatal/childbirth educators, midwives, doulas, parenting coaches, and healthcare professionals.

Specific criteria:

• Professionals must be currently employed within the perinatal sector with a minimum of two years’ experience working in the field and / or a lived experience of parenting.
• professionals must have a knowledge of mental health issues relating to the perinatal period.
• to avoid conflict of interest, participants may not be a past or current client or have a shared client with the researcher.

People who are interested and meet the above description will be invited to participate in an individual interview with me at a mutually agreeable time and venue. Where feasible kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) meetings will be arranged but if impractical, online (Zoom, Teams, Messenger) or phone interviews can be arranged.

Project process

Each interview will run between 45-90 minutes in length, with first part of the session dedicated to whakawhanangatanga (relationship building) including discussing aspects of the information sheet, and, if participation is agreed, signing of the participant consent form. The rest of the time will be an individual audio-recorded interview, covering the interview questions. These digitally recorded interviews will be transcribed by me, and all information will be stored securely on a password protected device. After the interview is typed up, you will have an opportunity to review the written record and amend anything you wish, or you can choose to withdraw your entire interview record. We will mutually decide on a timeframe and method of returning the checked written interview record and signed Authority for the Release of Transcripts form.

Each participant will be treated with respect, be informed and consulted, with confidentiality assured throughout the duration of the research. Participants will be given a pseudonym for anonymity and organisational information will be removed from the data. Access to raw data and transcripts will be restricted to the researcher and her supervisor. The digital and hard copies of all collected data and signed documents will be permanently deleted and destroyed after the completion of the Masters degree. Please note that excerpts from your interview summary may be used as quotes or sentences but no identifiable information will be released in the final report. They may also be included in further articles, conferences or professional presentations as an outcome of this research; however, neither you nor the other participants will be named in such publications.

Due to the mental health component of this research, care will be taken to minimize risk of harm; interviews will be conducted in a safe, sensitive and conscious manner spending time building whanaungatanga, exchanging stories and kōrero about our background and whakapapa. I would like to offer acknowledgement of your time and wisdom via a koha (gift) if you choose to be part of this project.

Participant’s Rights

You are under no obligation to accept this invitation. If you decide to participate, you have the right to:

• decline to answer any particular question;
• ask for the recorder to be turned off at any time during the interview.
• withdraw from the study (until signing the authority to release the transcript);
• ask any questions about the study at any time during participation;
• provide information on the understanding that your name will not be used unless you give permission to the researcher;
•  be given access to a summary of the project findings when it is concluded.

This project has been evaluated by peer review and judged to be low risk. Consequently, it has not been reviewed by one of the University’s Human Ethics Committees. The researcher(s) named above are responsible for the ethical conduct of this research. If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research that you wish to raise with someone other than the researcher(s), please contact Prof Craig Johnson, Director, Research Ethics, telephone (06) 356 9099 extn 85271, email humanethics@massey.ac.nz

Project Contacts

Student Researcher
Michelle Hall
Master of Applied Social Work
Massey University
Palmerston North
Phone: 021 541 440
Email:
MichelleHall.Hall.1@uni.massey.ac.nz

Research Supervisor
Lareen Cooper
School of Social Work Massey
University Palmerston North
L.Cooper@massey.ac.nz

Course Coordinator
Associate Professor
Kathryn Hay
School of Social Work
Massey University
Palmerston North
k.s.hay@massey.ac.nz

Thank you for considering this mahi
Ngā mihi nui
Michelle Hall

Date published: 09 June 2023
Date closes: 09 August 2023

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā hau e whā, ki ngā rau rangatira mā, tēnā koutou katoa

The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Nathan Chong-Nee (Māori - Te Rarawa, Samoan, Chinese, Australian Pākehā) to the position of Chief Executive. 

“The appointment of Nathan as the new Chief Executive is a very important step for the ANZASW, as we continue the strategic direction and momentum that was ably implemented by the previous Chief Executive” says its Perehitana-President Sharyn Roberts.  “We are confident that Nathan represents the future of the Association and will lead with integrity and humility”, says Sharyn.  In a fast-changing sector, the ANZASW must remain agile and constantly improve what it delivers to members through its suite of professional development options, quality standards, representation, and sector advocacy.  Members also deserve to continue to be informed and have their voice heard in the right forums as proposals for social sector change are put forward for consideration.   

Nathan is currently the Clinical Manager at Genesis Youth Trust in Tamaki Makaurau and has his own emerging private practice. He is a social work leader with sixteen years’ practice experience in Aotearoa and across the Pacific, including with the Government of Samoa. Nathan continues to maintain these relationships through his involvement with the Obama Asia Pacific Leaders Programme and the Young Pacific Leaders Initiative of which he is an active alum. Nathan is a passionate social worker with the proven skills to lead this next phase of the ANZASW and will take up the Chief Executive position in Whanganui a Tara, Wellington on 17th July 2023. 

About ANZASW:

Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers is a membership-based organisation for social workers that has been operating in Aotearoa New Zealand for almost 60 years.  It provides professional development opportunities, practical directions on practice and standards, information on the social services developments and an independent voice for social workers in the public arena.  It is acknowledged as a leading voice for the profession in Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as an effective movement for social justice within the sector.  The Tangata Whenua Takawaenga o Aotearoa – the Māori Caucus of ANZASW, provides representation for the Tangata Whenua members of the Association.

See more on https://www.anzasw.nz/

For ANZASW enquiries please contact the National Office by phone: 03 349 0190 or email: members@anzasw.nz 

Research Participant Request - 

Tēnā koe, 

My name is Rebekah Tapp, and I am working towards my Master in Applied Social Work through Massey University. As part of this, I am conducting a research project.  I have chosen to explore the experiences of practitioners working alongside participants (offenders) of specialist Criminal Courts in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
 

Research purpose

This project will focus on hearing the challenges and opportunities of these Courts from an experienced practitioners perspective. The aims of this research are: 
•  Examine and explore the opportunities of these Courts.
•  Examine and explore the challenges of these Courts.
•  Analyse these opportunities and challenges in the broader context of Aotearoa to identify how these Courts can be improved.

Invitation to the study

The criteria for participating is that you must have worked in one of the specialist Courts in Aotearoa, New Zealand, for at least 6 months. This must be in a professional capacity, such as a lawyer, social worker, or social service practitioner. 
The Courts included are listed below:
 •    Alcohol and other Drug Treatment Court/Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua 
•    Family Violence Court 
•    New Beginnings Court/Te Kooti o Timatanga Hou 
•    Matariki Court
•    Court of Special Circumstances
•    Young Adults List
•    Personal Individual Needs Court
•    Sexual Violence Pilot Court

There will be 3-5 participants in this research overall. My research project is restricted to gathering data from 3-5 participants due to the nature of the course. Your participation would be expected to be less than two hours overall. This is made up of an initial 15 minutes for contact, up to an hour for the interview, and 30 minutes to review the interview transcript. 

I would like to invite three to five participants to participate in semi-structured interviews. These will be conducted either face-to-face or online via Zoom. These will run for 45 to 60 minutes. 

All information provided will be kept in a secure location that is not accessible to anyone other than me. This research report may be published, but you will not be identifiable. A transcript of the interview will be provided for you to review and approve. 

I will destroy all the data on the final examination of the project. 

You are under no obligation to accept this invitation.   If you decide to participate, you have the right to:
•    Decline to answer any particular question.
•    Withdraw from the study at any time up until you have reviewed and approved the transcript. 
•    Ask any questions about the study at any time during participation.
•    Provide information on the understanding that your name will not be used.
•    Be given access to a summary of the project findings when it is concluded.
•    Ask for the recorder to be turned off at any time during the interview.        

This project has been evaluated by peer review and judged to be low risk.  Consequently, it has not been reviewed by one of the University’s Human Ethics Committees.  The researchers named above are responsible for the ethical conduct of this research.
 
If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research that you wish to raise with someone other than the researchers, please contact Prof Craig Johnson, Director, Research Ethics, telephone 06 356 9099 x 85271, email humanethics@massey.ac.nz.
Please contact me or my supervisor if you have any questions or would like to participate: 

Student Researcher                          
Rebekah Tapp                     
Master of Applied Social Work 
School of Social Work
Massey University         
Palmerston North            
Becky.Tapp.1@uni.massey.ac.nz  

Research Supervisor
Senior Lecturer Lareen Cooper
School of Social Work
Massey University         
Palmerston North 
L.Cooper@massey.ac.nz

Ngā mihi nui, 
Rebekah Tapp

Date Published: 26 May 2023
Date Closes: 9 June 2023

·       

Date Published: 19 May 2023

Budget 2023 was released yesterday, signalling some welcome improvements in how whānau, tamariki and young people will be supported in Aotearoa New Zealand. There is a need for greater focus on addressing systemic inequities.

“This wellbeing budget clearly recognises some of the hardships and impossible decisions whānau in Aotearoa are currently facing and provides some helpful stopgaps. But it fails to address the upstream reasons why people are falling behind, such as inequality which largely affects Māori and Pacifica.” says Braden Clark, Kaiwhakahaere Chief Executive of ANZASW.

Mr Clark notes that promising initiatives are included, such as extending the 20 hours ECE subsidy to 2-year-olds, which will allow women to re-enter the workforce earlier, continued investment in the School Lunches Programme which reduces hardship for children living in poverty and removing prescription co-payments which remains a significant barrier for lower-income whānau accessing the medication they need. 

ANZASW is also heartened to see attempts to improve equity for the disability community with the introduction of wage supplements to replace minimum wage exemptions and half-price public transport fares. 

However, these initiatives provide band-aid solutions to hardship rather than working towards the vision of an Aotearoa New Zealand where everyone is valued, has endless opportunities and what they need to thrive.
Importantly for social work, the allocation of resources to ‘Grow a Diverse and Resilient Social Sector’ misses key issues behind building our workforce and retaining social services staff. We call on the Government to meaningfully address issues relating to student hardship while studying, including paying students whilst they are on placement, as well as pay and work conditions across the sector. We are pleased to see an allocation of budget to family and sexual violence providers to support service delivery, however investment in the workforce is needed.

ANZASW will continue to advocate for resourcing in these key areas, particularly building our workforce and supporting students to enter our profession so that social workers can continue to support whānau, tamariki and rangatahi living in hardship to imagine and attain a future where they thrive.

Date Published: 19 May 2023

The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers supports the petition and call for the Aotearoa New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine as a state delivered to Parliament this week.

For more than 75 years, Palestine has been illegally occupied by Israel, resulting in the loss of lives of thousands and the displacement of many more. The human rights of the Palestinian people need to be upheld. The violence and occupation of Palestine must end. Restoration of and adherence to international law by Israel is needed.

The United Nations is promoting a two-state solution where both Israel and Palestine are recognised. The majority of UN member states recognise Palestine as a sovereign state but Aotearoa New Zealand does not yet do so. The ANZASW supports this solution and calls on the Government to formally recognise Palestine as a sovereign state.  

ANZASW urges for there to be an urgent peaceful end to the occupation, recognition of the rights of Palestinians to form their own state and live in their own democracy. 

The ANZASW endorses the statement of the International Federation of Social Workers. You can read the statement here: https://www.ifsw.org/towards-peace-and-self-determination-in-israel-and-palestine-a-statement-from-ifsw/

Date Published: 12 April 2023

Yesterday, the Government announced that social workers have been added to the immigration Green List in recognition of the critical shortages in the health services workforce. From the end of May, overseas social workers can apply to enter New Zealand via the Straight to Residence pathway.

The ANZASW calls on the Government to invest in training a more diverse social work workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand which reflects the whānau and communities we serve. We need to train more tangata whenua and Pasifika social workers, through partnering with tangata whenua and Pasifika to design appropriate training programmes and address the barriers to training as a social worker.

Whilst we welcome the Government’s recognition that social workers are critical to the delivery of health services in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Government’s focus on addressing the current workforce pressures for social work. We are concerned this is simply a band aid solution which does not address the true issues creating pressures for the workforce.

We need the government to support students better and remove barriers to becoming a social worker in Aotearoa New Zealand. They are the future of our profession yet are facing incomprehensible hardship. Many students are dropping out before they graduate simply because they can’t afford to live and study. We are seeing reducing numbers of students entering social work training and only 55% of students who start a social work degree complete it. 

“We have heard from many students who are facing incredible financial pressure as a result of studying social work. They are getting into debt, working extremely long hours whilst studying, and facing burnout as a result of studying social work. The Government needs to provide adequate financial support for students” says Braden Clark, ANZASW Kaiwhakahaere Chief Executive.

The ANZASW also calls on the Government to improve financial support for students and to introduce a payment for students who are on placement. Social work students complete 120 days of unpaid placement as part of their degree and with the cost of living it is extremely difficult for social workers to complete their studies.

“We want to see eligibility for student allowance widened, rates which are liveable, and placement payments to be introduced for students, just like the many male-dominated professions with apprenticeships already have” says Mr Clark.

The Government also needs to continue to address the underinvestment in social services which has resulted in gender-based pay inequity for social workers. We welcome the Government’s announcement last year to extend pay equity to iwi and community social workers funded by Government contracts. However, there is more work to be done to address inequities in the sector, for example in organisations who are not funded by Government, Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora social workers, and social work educators.

Aotearoa New Zealand trained social workers develop or enhance skills in working with tangata whenua and Pasifika throughout their four years of tertiary study. The Government needs to consider how it can honour Te Tiriti through partnering with iwi to consider how we can grow our tangata whenua workforce. 

Importing overseas social workers as the solution to our workforce shortages is a short-term solution which does not address the underlying issues in Aotearoa New Zealand. Local solutions are needed to address our workforce challenges. 

Notes to editor

Social workers complete a 4-year degree, which includes 120 days of unpaid placement (typically completed full time).
We have prepared a briefing to the Government on social work student hardship. You can read this here: https://www.anzasw.nz/public/150/files/Advocacy/221111%20-%20Briefing%20to%20Minister%20Sepuloni%20-%20student%20hardship%20FINAL.pdf

Date Published: 10 December 2022

Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All

As Social Workers, human rights are fundamental to our practice and both our personal and professional values. We have often been drawn to social work because of deeply held beliefs that every human holds inherent worth, and all are entitled to live lives of dignity, freedom and justice. Yet we too often witness situations where these rights are exploited or ignored.

One of our professional values is kotahitanga. This is about building a sense of community, solidarity and collective action for social change, challenging injustice and oppression in all its forms. We reflect upon kotahitanga today, being International Human Rights Day, and how the concept of human rights is so commonly thought about in terms of individual and human-centred rights rather than collective rights of whānau, hapū, iwi, hapori, considering what our tūpuna have given us and Papatūānuku and Ranginui as the givers of life. It is when individual human rights take priority that oppression, entitlement, and exploitation have occurred. We must remember these injustices to prevent them from happening again.

We as social workers recognise the importance of collective rights within this discourse which prioritises individual. It is in this context that we strive towards achieving whānau ora for all, including our global community, and tino rangatiratanga for tangata-ō te whenua here in Aotearoa. We would like to see a world where kotahitanga around human rights recognises both individual and collective rights, the rights of humans and the rights of all living things and our environment in which we are so interdependent. All deserve dignity, freedom and justice.

Date Published: 1 December 2022
Moe mai rā e te taonga, Malachi. Our thoughts and condolences are with Malachi’s whānau at this incredibly challenging time. The findings from the reviews released today show Malachi and his whānau were let down by the numerous systems that should have protected him.

Our tamariki/children are taonga/precious treasures. We need to do better by them as a country. No single Government department or person can be solely responsible for the safety and wellbeing of our tamariki. It truly takes a village. We welcome the reports released today.

Every person, organisation, and Government department in Aotearoa have a responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our tamariki. This means working together collaboratively. We are hopeful these reviews will spark a new dialogue and sense of urgency to bring about a new way of working in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Child protection social work is incredibly complex. Social workers work incredibly hard every day with whānau, making decisions based on limited information and need to be fully supported in their mahi. We welcome the acknowledgement of Oranga Tamariki that they did not provide an environment where quality social work practice can occur. We are committed to continuing to work with Oranga Tamariki to ensure social workers are fully supported in this incredibly challenging mahi.

We welcome the recommendation to accelerate collaborative decision-making to enable iwi, communities, and agencies to partner together to ensure the safety and wellbeing of tamariki. This must be a priority and must be approached with a clear strategy in place.

We need to ensure there is support available to tamariki and their whānau. There is an urgent need for the Government to increase building the capability and capacity of iwi and community organisations to provide preventative and supportive services. 

In recent months, Oranga Tamariki has reduced funding for some key preventative services, for example social workers in schools. We call on the Government to urgently increase the funding for Oranga Tamariki to enable the building of capacity of these necessary community-based preventative and supportive services. 

The Oranga Tamariki practice review highlights key enablers to support quality practice were not present in this case. Oranga Tamariki social workers need to have quality support, including caseloads that are manageable, access to timely training and development, and quality social work supervision. We are committed to partnering with Oranga Tamariki to work on these issues.

There are significant numbers of social work vacancies across the sector, including in Oranga Tamariki. There is a need to build and ensure the retention of our social work workforce, and a need for greater Government investment in social work training, including support for social work students.

Date Published: 24 November 2022

ANZASW celebrates another major step forward for social work pay equity. Community and iwi social workers will all now be meaningfully paid and recognised for the work they do, through Cabinet agreeing to extend the recent social work pay equity claim settlement to the broader sector.

Today’s announcement sees the Government committing to lifting the wages of community and iwi social workers and ensuring they receive professional support required to complete their role such as professional development, supervision, and professional membership fees. 

Registered social workers working in the community and NGO sector will likely receive an increase in their salary of around $20,000-30,000 per year.

This money will make a meaningful difference in the lives of social workers. One moving story we’ve heard is a social worker say: “This payment means I can take care of my children AND myself”. Another was excited about finally being able to afford to buy new shoes.  

“Social workers work incredibly hard on a daily basis with some of our most vulnerable people, whānau, and communities. They deal with a range of complex social problems and are now being paid fairly for the mahi they do” says Braden Clark ANZASW Kaiwhakahaere Chief Executive.

Mr Clark says, “Social work is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, but at times very challenging, career. Social workers make a significant, often unseen, contribution to improving the wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Social workers deal with complex issues such as mental health, family violence, drug and alcohol, housing, and poverty.”

“Social workers are registered professionals with significant training – typically a four-year degree. This pay equity decision is another step forward to recognising social workers as professionals and as a financially viable career prospect” says Mr Clark.

“We acknowledge the Government’s commitment to addressing pay inequity for social workers. This announcement means approximately 75% of social workers are being paid fairly for the work they do! There is further work to do to ensure the remainder of the sector receives fair pay” says Mr Clark. 

ANZASW looks forward to the day when inequities do not exist within Aotearoa New Zealand because of gender, ethnicity, or any other form of discrimination. 

ANZASW wish to acknowledge and thank the hard work of those who have worked tirelessly to achieve this fantastic outcome, in particular the Public Service Association, Social Service Providers Aotearoa, Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission, and the five representative employers (Barnardos, Christchurch Methodist Mission, Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services, Stand Tū Maia, and Wellington Sexual Abuse Help). 

More information about the extension of the claim can be found on Te Kawa Mataaho - the Public Service Commission's website

To support with gathering the information required to complete the pay equity extension, employers of social workers are asked to register with Te Kawa Mataaho by sending the name of their organisation and the email address and phone number for a contact person to payequityextension@publicservice.govt.nz

Date Published: 25 October 2022

ANZASW celebrates a step forward for social work pay equity. Community and iwi social workers will now be meaningfully paid and recognised for the work they do, through Cabinet agreeing to settle the social work pay equity claim for the five representative employers (Barnardos, Christchurch Methodist Mission, Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services, Stand Tū Maia, and Wellington Sexual Abuse Help).

As a predominantly female profession, social workers have been historically underpaid significantly for their mahi due to gender-based biases. The settling of the pay equity claim will see a significant increase in the pay of registered social workers employed by the five representative employers. It is hopeful that this pay equity claim will be rolled out to the broader community and iwi social services sector.

“Today, we celebrate this significant achievement for our community and iwi-based social workers. Paying them fairly for the mahi they do is really important and it is great to see that the Government values social workers” says Braden Clark ANZASW Kaiwhakahaere Chief Executive.

Mr Clark says, “Social work is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, but at times very challenging, career. Social workers make a significant, often unseen, contribution to improving the wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Community and iwi social workers often work with the same whānau as their Oranga Tamariki colleagues. They deal with complex issues such as mental health, family violence, drug and alcohol, housing, and poverty.

“Social workers are registered professionals with significant training – typically a four-year degree. This pay equity decision is another step forward to recognising social workers as professionals and as a finically viable career prospect” says Mr Clark.

“There is more work to be done to ensure the remainder of the social work workforce is paid equitably for the work they do. We now look forward to working with Government to hopefully roll out pay equity for the remainder of the community and iwi sector and for social workers employed by Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora” says Mr Clark. 

ANZASW look forward to the day when inequities do not exist within Aotearoa New Zealand because of gender, ethnicity, or any other form of discrimination. 

ANZASW wish to acknowledge and thank the hard work of those who have worked tirelessly to achieve this fantastic outcome, in particular the Public Service Association, Social Service Providers Aotearoa, Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission, and the five representative employers (Barnardos, Christchurch Methodist Mission, Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services, Stand Tū Maia, and Wellington Sexual Abuse Help).

Date Published: 26 August 2022
ANZASW are calling for a paradigm shift in the way we care for tamariki in Aotearoa New Zealand to ensure the hauora (wellbeing) of all tamariki. 

The Royal Commission has heard significant stories of abuse and neglect in the care of the State, which has failed to keep them safe. The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care is currently looking at the failings of various Government departments, including Oranga Tamariki. What has become clear is the failings of the State span many years.

ANZASW calls on the State to devolve its power and resources to iwi, hapū, whānau, and communities. The State’s role must be significantly minimised within our care and protection system and enable Māori to lead the much-needed transformation.

The Waitangi Tribunal recommended the establishment of a Māori Transition Authority to lead the paradigm shift for our care and protection of tamariki, with Māori exercising tino rangatiratanga. The Government has ignored this recommendation. We call on the Government to follow the Waitangi Tribunal recommendation and give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

We are also extremely disappointed the majority-Labour Government passed the Oversight of the Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People’s Commission Bill into law on Tuesday. There has been strong opposition to this Bill by the community, social sector, survivors of State care, and all other political parties in Parliament, as it is not fit for purpose and creates a disjointed oversight and monitoring system.

“The irony does not slip by us that Parliament passed this piece of legislation on the same day as Oranga Tamariki appeared before the Royal Commission of Inquiry” says Braden Clark, ANZASW Kaiwhakahaere. 

ANZASW is deeply concerned that the Government has chosen to ignore the voices and concerns of those with lived experience and to proceed with passing this piece of flawed legislation. The State has yet again (ab)used its power saying it knows better than the voices of those who are directly impacted by the system. 

We will continue to support and advocate for our tauwhiro (social workers) as they continue to work to awhi (support) tamariki and whānau, despite the complex and challenging organisations they practice in.

We must do better by our tamariki and their whānau. We need transformational change for Oranga Tamariki and the oversight system. This transformation cannot be led by the State.

Date Published: 1 July 2022

We acknowledge the profound tensions felt by many in relation to the practice of abortion, however despite individual positions on the issue, as a profession founded on the principles of social justice and human rights, we are unable to reconcile the US Supreme Court’s decision with our professional value base.

This decision has in practice resulted in the removal of a basic human right; it prevents people who can get pregnant from exercising autonomy over their body and making informed choices regarding their medical care and future. It belittles these people by asserting that state lawmakers know what’s best for them, with no regard to personal and social factors which are carefully considered by those accessing abortion, such as their physical health, mental health, financial security, available support, personal safety and existing responsibilities. 

Women and other genders who already face hardship through marginalisation will be disproportionately harmed by the US Supreme Court’s decision which will further perpetuate cycles of disadvantage and widen inequities across society.

The prospect of our US colleagues facing criminal charges simply by doing their jobs and promoting self-determination and supportive decision-making around reproductive health is unfathomable. The prospect of abortion services being driven underground resulting in entirely preventable death and injury is heart-breaking.

It is on this basis that we simply cannot support the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortion. We stand with all people who can get pregnant, and our social work colleagues in the US to condemn this injustice. 

We will continue to advocate for reproductive rights and justice to ensure that such a decision does not undermine the critical progress we have achieved in Aotearoa New Zealand by decriminalising abortion in 2020. We urge social workers to stay vigilant against attempts to reduce access to abortion care through legal, funding, and/or regulatory methods.

Date Published: 6 June 2022

ANZASW congratulates all of those named today on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. In particular, we congratulate and celebrate our life member, Robyn Corrigan, for being made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to social work.

Ms Corrigan has been President of ANZASW, was the inaugural chair of the Social Workers Registration Board, and a founding member of the Tangata Whenua Social Workers Association. Ms Corrigan was the first iwi social worker in Aotearoa.

More recently, Ms Corrigan has been instrumental in the establishment of the International Federation of Social Workers Indigenous Commission after years of lobbying.

In speaking to the New Zealand Herald, Ms Corrigan said “My surprise and my pleasure, I think, is that it acknowledges the profession of social work. My first thought was yay, social work’s getting a mention at last because it’s not the most popular of professions”.

ANZASW congratulates and acknowledges Ms Corrigan for her tremendous contribution to the profession of social work.

Date Published: 15 March 2022

Today, ANZASW celebrates World Social Work Day. We join colleagues and social work employers across the globe in celebrating the unique and special contribution every social worker, social work educator and social service provider makes in the lives of the people they work with.

Social workers work in many fields and settings and are unsung heroes: from Women’s Refuge, palliative care, hospitals, community and iwi organisations, homelessness, mental health, to child protection and more. Social workers work to improve wellbeing and challenge the structures that cause inequity and injustice.

The theme for World Social Work Day is ´Co-building a New Eco-Social World: Leaving No One Behind´. Rose Henderson (ANZASW Life Member and International Federation of Social Workers Asia-Pacific Region President) explains more about the theme:

“As the world grapples with growing inequality, marginalisation, racism, fear, natural and man-made disasters and a global pandemic, ‘Co-building a New Eco-Social World: Leaving No One Behind’ invites us all to actively participate in global discussions that will develop shared values, policies and actions to advance a socially just and sustainable future for all people."

“‘Co-building’ values everyone’s diverse strengths, recognising humanities interdependencies and the need to respectfully work together in designing and planning the kind of world we want to live in and the kind of future we want for the next generations. 

“‘New eco-social world’ highlights the global need to refocus our energies on ecological sustainability and preserving national resources for now and the future. Further, it promotes the need for new social relationships that provide all people with access to opportunities that will address current inequities, in order that people can achieve their full potential and be recognised as valued and thriving members of our community.  

“‘Leaving no-one behind’ includes the importance of the relationships and social protection agreements between people and their governments. Such agreements should include accountability to all, dependability for all, as well as people’s responsibilities to one another and the planet. Leaving no one behind compels us to consciously value the richness of diversity and inclusivity.”

We acknowledge all social workers throughout Aotearoa and the world today – thank you for the hard mahi you do.

Today, we also acknowledge and remember those who lost their lives, those who survived, their loved ones, and our wider Muslim whānau on the 3-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Ōtautahi/Christchurch.

Today, we remember them.

Kia kaha, kia kotahi ra. As-salaam alaikum.

Our strength is our unity. Peace be unto you.

Date Published: 8 March 2022

Today, ANZASW celebrates International Women’s Day. We acknowledge all the women of Aotearoa and the world. Around 85% of social workers are women and we especially celebrate them today. 

The theme for International Women’s Day is Break the Bias. There is much work done to break the bias towards women and to address the gender pay gaps.

Social work is a female dominated profession and as such faces the persistent challenges of pay inequity. Social workers typically get paid significantly less than comparative male-dominated industries. Social workers have had to lodge pay equity claims and fight for pay equity.

There are 2 outstanding pay equity claims awaiting settlement, which affect approximately 70% of social workers. The Government either directly funds or employs these social workers. We call on the Government to urgently address and settle these pay equity claims. The Government must take steps to ensure it pays equitably and fairly for its employees and those positions it funds in the community. 

We also acknowledge the work of Mind the Gap who are the first pay gap registry. We support the call for organisations, especially Government departments, to publish company information on gender pay gaps.

Date Published: 7 March 2022

Yesterday, Chris Luxon (Leader of the National Party) presented his first State of the Nation speech. National’s economic plan targets the rich and continues a neoliberal, trickle-down philosophy that, history shows us, simply does not work. 

Mr Luxon shared his mother was a social worker, adding “in seeing mum's social work, I learnt how challenging life can be. And the role that we all need to play to support people when they are struggling”. For ANZASW, there is a significant disconnect between Mr Luxon’s words here and his plan.

Mr Luxon’s speech attacked the welfare system and he failed to meaningfully acknowledge or address the many challenges currently facing Aotearoa. The answer is much more complex than simply putting in an honest day’s work or providing people with more opportunities. Mr Luxon has not truly understood the challenges and systemic drivers that result in people being trapped in poverty. Poverty is rarely a choice.

We would have welcomed insight into National’s plans for: how the Crown will honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations to reduce inequity for Māori; growing inequality and poverty; the housing crisis; mental health; substance abuse; family violence; our health and education systems; addressing the divide that exists in Aotearoa New Zealand; or climate change.

These are (some of) the issues that social workers work with and see the impacts of daily. 

Tax cuts, as National proposes, will make a marginal difference ($16.73 a week) for those on the average wage yet risks making access to essential public services even more challenging over the long-term. National’s plan will mainly benefit those who are well-off. The removal of the bright-line test and interest deductibility will make first home ownership even less achievable, with housing investors continuing to buy property. The repeal of the Regional Fuel Tax removes a key policy lever in our national and global fight against climate change.

We’d welcome the opportunity to meet with Mr Luxon to discuss the issues social workers see daily and to support in developing solutions that actually address these challenges facing many New Zealanders.

Date Published: 1 March 2022

Last week, ANZASW challenged the Social Workers Registration Board's (SWRB) decision to increase the cost of social work registration by filing a complaint with Parliament’s Regulations Review Committee. The Committee considers complaints about regulations (such as SWRB's fees notices) against a number of criteria. They have the ability to recommend to Parliament that a regulation is disallowed.

For many social workers, their employer pays the cost of registration and so this decision is unlikely to impact on them. However, we know for many in the community and iwi sector, employers often don't pay (or if they do, their funds are tight). We've heard clearly the impact the increases will have on our members. The cost of social work registration has increased by 64% since 2019 (to $605 per year). Community social workers are unable to afford this increase and it will add increased pressure to the, already stretched, sector.

The registration fee increases will have a significant impact on the social work profession and social workers may no longer be able to afford to practice. Our members have told us: “I will not earn enough to continue to practice” and “the proposed new fees are going to be 4 weeks’ worth of groceries for my whānau. This is going to cause a lot of financial stress”.

The SWRB 2021 workforce survey (released this week) showed 13.3% of respondents were planning to leave the social work profession or reduce their hours in the next 5 years. Pay and conditions and workload were key drivers behind the intention to leave. Increasing the cost of registration will only drive this trend further. 

We're calling on the Government to fund the SWRB until the pay equity claim and sector funding issues can be resolved. The Government already pays for the cost of registration for those social workers it employs and so it is only fair they pay for the social workers who it funds in the community.

The Government chronically underfunds community social services, creating significant inequities between Government-employed social workers and their community counterparts. Social workers in the community and iwi sector earn an average of 34% less than those employed by the Government. NGO social workers are still waiting for the settlement of a pay equity claim.

We've heard that some NGO employers may replace social workers with other workers due to the cost of hiring registered social workers. “When I resign, I have been told that they will not fill my position with a social worker due to these fees”.

Social workers have worked hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. We need the Government to recognise our importance and take the pressure off these vital services through paying for the cost of registration.

We're advocating strongly for the social work profession and putting pressure on the Government to urgently address the disparities that exist. We want to see Fair Funding and Pay Equity for our sector this year.