Breaking free of the neoliberal paradigm: refocusing the lens for social work and the social work curriculum in Aotearoa New Zealand (part I)

ABSTRACT

This article is the first of two detailing the outcomes of a study into a largely unrecognized role for social workers as educators in their everyday practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. The study explored social workers’ understandings of an educator role and their perception of its significance in their work with service users. A key finding was that this role is indeed undertaken regularly and is considered important in achieving successful outcomes. Despite these findings, the study also showed that it is rarely acknowledged in the New Zealand literature, is not included in social work job descriptions, and educational theory is not explicitly included in the Social Work Registration Board’s requirements for curricula for professional qualifications. The results indicate that there is potential for social work practice in this country to be enhanced through formal recognition of an educator role and an extension of the social work curriculum to incorporate education frameworks. This study adds to the growing body of international literature addressing the potential of education theory for social work’s practice and knowledge base.

KEYWORDS:

• Practice teaching
• skills teaching
• evidence-based practice
• quantitative methods
• theory
• inter-professional perspectives
• curriculum development
• social pedagogy social work role
• tasks
• education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Jo Campling Social Work Education Research Scholarship Fund. [unknown].

Notes on contributors

Sarah Fraser

Dr. Sarah Fraser currently holds the position of Programme Coordinator for Social Work at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology in Aotearoa New Zealand. She teaches professional practice, theory and skills papers on the 4-year Bachelor of Social Work. Her research interests are in the areas of social work professional practice, the history of social work and in social education and social pedagogy. Sarah is a registered social worker, a current full member and Past President of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers, and a current member and immediate Past-President of Council of Social Work Educators, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Lynne Briggs

Dr. Lynne Briggs is an Associate Professor and Head of School at Griffith University. Her main research focus is on health and mental health outcomes with a specific interest on the impact of resettlement on refugee and migrant mental health and social work practice in natural disasters. A primary goal has always been to make research and evaluation a much more lively activity in education and clinical settings. Professionally, Lynne is a New Zealand registered Social Worker, a member of ANZASW and in Australia is a board member on ANZSWWE