Opinion: A social worker’s manifesto

Aotearoa Social Workers Day this year occurs 53 days before a general election. For social workers, people's personal troubles are connected to the broader social, economic and political context.

The current cost of living crisis, the economic and human impacts of illegal and unjust wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Iran, the Nepal-China landslide floods, and the wild fires across Europe and the United States have increased the need for personal, emotional, ecological and social support facilitated by social workers. They work in the background with people who experience the social pressure and stress of inadequate housing, the impact of substance use, ruptured relationships, family violence, financial insecurity and poverty, food insecurity and the effects of climate change weather events. Social workers meet people on some of the worst days of their lives, when they are experiencing distress, grief, loss, discrimination, oppression and trauma. At these meetings they represent government, community and iwi organisations. In other words, they are there to show that someone in our society and community cares.

For social workers in a general election year, the best outcome would be movement towards policies and actions that respect human and Indigenous rights and promote a more socially just and caring society.

These would include ensuring people have affordable, adequate, healthy housing and eliminating homelessness. It would also include ensuring that people and families impacted by substance abuse are able to access the support they need, and that there are public health campaigns and education to reduce the harm of substance use. Relationships would be seen as important, and accessible support would be available for relationship ruptures. Every effort would be made to eliminate family violence and support those recovering from it.

In this society, financial insecurity, poverty and food insecurity would be eliminated and people would have their basic needs met. There would also be community-based planning to mitigate and respond to the effects of climate change and weather events.

For those who experience distress, grief, loss, discrimination, oppression and trauma, there would be accessible and appropriate help when and how they needed it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

In addition, health and social service workforce planning and support would ensure that society's health and social service needs are met responsively and responsibly.

This Social Workers' Day, as we head toward an election, take the time to imagine how we, as a society, could move toward achieving a society that respects human and Indigenous rights and is more socially just and caring.

Professor Kieran O’Donoghue is the Head of the School of Social Work at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University. He has published nationally and internationally in the areas of social work theory and practice, social work supervision and in relation to the social work profession. He is a registered social worker and a member of ANZASW (Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers).