Readiness to practice social work in Aotearoa New Zealand: perceptions of students and educators

ABSTRACT

The readiness to practice of newly qualified social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand is a contested subject. In recent years, criticism by public figures including government ministers and the New Zealand government-appointed Children’s Commissioner have stimulated debate within the profession. Media critique of social work practice has highlighted many of the challenges faced by social workers. Significant policy developments, in particular a substantive government review of child protection services, have also increased the scrutiny of the capabilities of social workers.

A timely 3-year multi-phase project ‘Enhancing readiness to practise’ is the first large study of social work education to be funded in Aotearoa New Zealand. The findings reported here have been derived from data collected in a series of focus group interviews with social work educators and students, in which they reflected on curricula in their programs and explored their perceptions of readiness to practice. Overall, educators were positive about the preparedness of their graduating students but held concerns over the organizational environments they would enter. Students were more ambivalent about their readiness, but hopeful and committed to ongoing learning. Development of programs to support graduates to transition to employment is recommended.

KEYWORDS:

• Social work education
• readiness to practice
• Aotearoa New Zealand

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by a National Project Grant, Ako Aotearoa National Centre For Tertiary Teaching Excellence, New Zealand, National Project Fund.

Notes on contributors

Liz Beddoe

Liz Beddoe is an Associate Professor in the school of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Kathryn Hay

Kathryn Hay is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Field Education in the School of Social Work at Massey University, New Zealand.

Jane Maidment

Jane Maidment is a Professor of Social Work in the College of Arts, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Neil Ballantyne

Neil Ballantyne is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the Open Polytechnic, New Zealand.

Shayne Walker

Shayne Walker is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Gender and Social Work at the University of Otago, New Zealand.