Social worker training plan

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34031, 20 December 1975, Page 21

Social worker training plan

C.N’.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Teachers’ colleges will be used for training social workers in 1977 if the Social Work Training Council has its way. Mr Gallen said that the New Zealand Council for Social Services, formed only a few months ago, was also expected to regard the issue as a top priority matter. The social Work Training Council hoped to see the plan implemented by 1977, or. 1978 at the latest. The course would be a three-year one for school leavers, or two years for social workers. It will act in a com-

plementary way to courses available through Victoria and Auckland Universities,] and those to be introduced: next year at Massey and; Canterbury.

Of social workers at present employed by Government departments and Hospital boards, only 17 per cent or 149 out of 859 had any qualifications on March 31, 1974. he said. Most of those with training had taken the university course available at Victoria. The Government would be asked to consider the proposal. first put forward at the end of 1973, said the executive officer of the council (Mr E. C. Gallen). “The council is pushing hard for the introduction ot professional training and regards the use of teachers' colleges for this purpose as its top priority,” he said. “The Education Depart-

ment and other educational (authorities have scrutinised (the plan and are in favour lof it. I "The National Government will be asked to act quickly on its election promise of : increasing training for social workers.’’ I Mr Gallen said that teach(ers colleges were regarded ias the most suitable places (for training because trainee teachers shared many of the requirements for social work. Both were involved in human relations or working with people, so the aims of training were sympathetic land, to some extent, comIplementary.

Surfing.—Un Cairns of Perth was crowned champion of the eleventh annual Duke Kahanainoku Classic at W aimea Ba>, Honolulu. He won 52000 in an eight-man contest marked by 20ft waves.