Social Work in New Zealand Schools

Social work is relatively new to New Zealand schools. In the 1990s an increasing number of primary (year 1-8) and secondary (year 9-13) schools began to provide social work services to the children in their schools and their families. Often these programmes aim at integrating health and special need services, providing services to children and families and early intervention and preventative programmes.

A pilot programme run by Massey University on Auckland's North Shore in 1994, the International Year of the Child, became the basis for a  government initiative in 1999, now serving over 300 mainly primary schools and involving over 120 social workers. This successful programme uses the school to provide independent and professional social work services and programmes to children and families.

Given New Zealand's indigenous Maori population, there has been a particular emphasis on developing Maori models of practice that reflect the values, strengths and needs of indigenous communities.

The considerable number of Pacific and other migrant peoples in Aoteoroa New Zealand is also an important challenge in developing models of practice and delivery that are located in these communities.

Please see the links below for sites about children and young people.