Social Workers Celebrate Social Workers Day Today

Wednesday, 24 September 2008, 9:28 am
Press Release: Aotearoa NZ Association of Social Workers

MEDIA RELEASE / Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers

Social Workers Celebrate Social Workers Day Today

Social Workers around the country are meeting today – at breakfasts, lunches and special events – to celebrate their national Social Workers Day.

“Our professional association began this event five years ago and every year it builds to a higher level of activity,” says Rose Henderson, President of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW).

“The theme we chose for Social Work Day this year is ‘We Stand Beside You – Nga Pou Tukutahi’. This describes the daily dedication that social workers demonstrate in standing beside the people they work with every day, and their ethical commitment to standing up for human rights and social justice”.

“Social work in New Zealand is an incredibly diverse profession, with social workers employed across all sectors. Our members are engaged in every possible type of social work practice, including child protection and family services, probation and prison work, children’s health camps, hospital-based health services, primary healthcare, almost every type of non-government social service, as well as social work education and private practice,” says Rose Henderson.

“Social Workers Day is an opportunity to reflect on the strengths of our profession and to celebrate the personal and professional achievements that go with or balance out the often difficult and demanding work that we perform”.

“Amongst recent examples of the achievements of our members are the honours that have been awarded to Merv Hancock, the inaugural President of ANZASW and a life member, who is often described as a founder of the social work profession in Aotearoa New Zealand, and to Trish Hanlen of Tauranga”.

“This week Trish, an ANZASW member for the last 14 years, is being invested as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, awarded to her in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. This recognises her social and community work in the Bay of Plenty region over more than two decades”

“Next Tuesday, September 30, Merv is being honoured with a Civic Award by the Palmerston North City Council. The citation records that Merv is recognised in Palmerston North as a person of vision, conviction and courage. Those three values being values we can all aspire to!”

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