Continuing professional social work education in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

The registration of social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand and other jurisdictions raises issues of cost, benefit, and equity of access to opportunities for further education. There is frequently lack of clarity or competition among employers, registration and examining boards, and professional associations about what continuing professional education is appropriate or valued. This paper is a report of a national survey of social workers: what they value and identify as barriers and bridges to continuing professional education. Almost all of the 285 social worker respondents in our study highly value continuing professional education, and would like clarity and increased support in order to carry it out.