New Zealander Rose Henderson elected to prestigious role in Social Work world
The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) is pleased to announce that Life Member Rose Henderson
has been elected to the role of President of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) in the Asia-Pacific
region.
For many years Rose served as secretary for the IFSW Asia Pacific region and in 2014 she was elected as the Regional
Vice President. She has been very active in the region in these roles and highly values the strong professional linkages
across this richly diverse region. She looks forward to continuing to strengthen these links and warmly acknowledges the
great work of her predecessor, Dr Mariko Kimura.
ANZASW has a long history of exemplary service to IFSW. Rose joins a number of high profile New Zealand social workers
who have represented our profession on the global stage, and we know she will do ANZASW and all social workers in
Aotearoa New Zealand proud!
Rose’s social work journey began in Invercargill / Waihōpai in the late 1970s, working as a social worker for the
Department of Social Welfare. The following decade was dominated by her family commitments, although she found time,
despite bringing up four children- to contribute to the NGO sector, most notably through establishing and co-ordinating
the Invercargill Women’s refuge, which made a big difference in the lives of many. Rose was also elected to the local
Area Health Board and served on a number of local community organisations.
In 1989, Rose returned to the paid workforce as a social worker in mental and women’s health. During this time, Rose’s
connection with ANZASW deepened, becoming a full member of the Association by 1993. She recalls her experience with the
face-to-face competency assessment process as being one of her professional highlights. By the end of the decade, she
completed her first social work professional qualification with Otago University.
In 1998, she relocated to Christchurch / Ōtautahi and began work at the Lyndhurst Day hospital in the field of women’s
health. As the new century dawned, Rose moved into mental health where she remains today having worked as a case
manager, clinical co-ordinator, Director of Allied Health and currently as the Director of Allied Health Special
Projects and Clinical Lead for Recovery and Wellbeing following the 2016 North Canterbury – Kaikoura earthquake.
In 2002 Rose was elected into the role of National Secretary within ANZASW; the following year she rose to the position
of President of the Association. She served with dedication and distinction for six years until 2009, representing the
Association at the national and international level; to date, she is our longest-serving President.
In 2004 Rose, despite her many commitments, completed her post-graduate Diplomas in Social Welfare and Māori from the
Otago University
In 2010 Rose was recommended for, and received, life membership of ANZASW in recognition of her exemplary service to the
profession and our Association.