Migrant Social Workers' Experience in New Zealand: Education and Supervision Issues

International Journal of Population Research

Fouché

et al. 2012

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This paper draws on research conducted in New Zealand from 2009 to 2011 with overseas-qualified social workers as members of a global profession experiencing both great international demand for their skills and unparalleled flows of professional transnationalism. In line with the international social work literature, this cohort of migrant professionals offers a range of needed skill and expertise as well as unique challenges to local employers, client communities, and the social work profession as a whole. With a specific focus on mixed-methods data dealing with participants' induction experiences and engagement with professional bodies, this paper argues that migrant social workers have created in New Zealand a transnational professional space that demands a response from local social work stakeholders.

Section: Social Work As a Global Professionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transnational Social Workers: Making the Profession a Transnational Professional Space

Bartley

International Journal of Population Research

Fouché

et al. 2012

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“…The lack of well-structured, accessible information available to migrant social workers when exploring their professional opportunities here is a significant finding and there was wide consensus among respondents that it was the ANZASW and the SWRB's responsibility to meet these knowledge gaps by developing some informative online resources to support migrant social workers' orientation to the NZ practice context. Research participants' views of the potential role of social work education in the support of overseas qualified social workers are reported in Beddoe et al (2011).…”

Section: Introduction To the Local Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strengths And Struggles: Overseas Qualified Social Workers' Experiences In Aotearoa New Zealand

Fouché

Bartley

et al. 2013

Australian Social Work

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A growing number of professionals practise in a country other than the one where they obtained their professional qualification. A mixed-methods study explored the experiences of one group of such professionals, overseas-qualified social workers practicing in New Zealand. This article reports findings from four key informant group interviews and an online survey (N 0294), including this population's satisfaction with their employment, their introduction to local practice, and experiences of mistreatment and discrimination. The study highlights migrant social workers' desire for better access to information and induction opportunities to orient them to the local practice environment and notes their experience of discrimination in the workplace. Such findings require a thoughtful response from practitioners and professional bodies and is worthy of further research and discussion. We argue that migrant social workers in New Zealand require orientation activities tailored to meet their needs and a more welcoming system of recognition of the skills and experience they bring.

“…Findings of the previous research have concluded that practising social work in a new context creates challenges and opportunities. Given the breadth of approaches and models of employment in social work across the globe and its accordingly distinctive shape in specific national settings, many elements of professional practice -for example supervision, pre-and post-qualifying education -are likely to be very different across these diverse contexts (Bartley et al, 2011;Beddoe et al, 2011).…”

Section: Abstract: Transnational Social Workers; Global Workforce Mobmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reviewing the benefits and challenges of overseas practice: Reflections upon coming home

Bartley²

2019

ANZSWJ

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INTRODUCTION: Given the diversity of practice and understanding of social work across the globe and its distinctive shape in specific national settings, practitioners working in a new country encounter different community, professional and workplace cultures which may pose challenges. This current study contributes to a larger programme of work undertaken to address the transnational nature of the social work profession in Aotearoa New Zealand and elsewhere. METHOD: The study aim was to explore the experiences of Aotearoa New Zealand qualified social workers who have practised in another country and have returned home. Participants in an online survey were recruited via an invitation to all members of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers. The questionnaire was designed to obtain broad data about the experiences of social workers in their overseas employment and perceptions on their return home. FINDINGS: Many participants had layers of transnational experience having practised as social workers in multiple countries. Participants reported overall satisfaction with overseas experiences which had provided professional opportunities for learning and development, and better pay and conditions. Coming home presented new challenges and interesting perceptions of social work in Aotearoa. IMPLICATIONS: Adjustment to new practice locations and, as shown in this small exploratory study, returning “home” can be disruptive to professional perspectives. While overseas practice is enriching, it carries with it both relocation benefits and costs, confirming earlier research. Better employer recognition of the challenges of returning social workers, and the enhanced skills they bring home may offset any dislocation experienced.