Social Worker Day – 26 September 2007
Celebrating the courage of Social Workers on SOCIAL WORKER DAY Social Workers in New Zealand interact and engage every
day with individuals and families who need support or help or find themselves in situations where they are frightened
and have no where to turn. Social Workers are out there working tirelessly to achieve good outcomes for their clients.
Their efforts are often unrecognised and unrewarded, say Robyn Corrigan, Chairperson of the Social Workers Registration
Board.
Social workers are standing up, celebrating their achievements and challenging the vastly inaccurate portrayal of them
as interfering do-gooders. Social workers are committed skilled practitioners who work tirelessly and who have a high
level of personal dedication and passion for their work. The hours are long and the judgments they make require skill
and determination. The individuals who are attracted to social work are committed to the mission of helping others.
The continual shaming of these professionals contributes to an international and national shortage of qualified social
workers. Attracting individuals to a social work career is becoming more and more vital. Having quality Social Work
Education Providers to prepare social work students for this work is imperative. There are currently approximately 1700
registered social workers in New Zealand.
ENDS