Social worker?

Nikki, My MIL is. I if you dont get any other replies ill ask her about it.

I know there was a pathway for this at teachers college when I was there. It was something I considered briefly, way back when I was doing my psych degree. If I was you I would look carefully at it for a number of reasons:
* sometimes there are restrictions on the cultures accepted on to the course - pakeha isn't where they need the numbers (that may have changed now, but my cousin was one of very few pakeha accepted, due to the relative numbers of clients etc).
* get employment figures from the institute you intend to study at - most places get stats of how many people are emplyed in a related field in the year following completion of each course.
* It is a high pressure stressful job with a fairly high burn out rate. I know that I personally would not have the strength to do it, that is why I didn't continue with psychology, as I found the mistreatment of children really emotional. There are days my experience with the children I teach in a pretty well off (middle NZ, not wealthy) area upsets me and frustrates me.
* Be aware that in many cases social workers are frustrated by the system. We have a few come to us through cyps referrals - if the children have been coached by parents (as I know in one case) then they have their hands tied - while they believe something is going on, without 'proof', they can do nothing.

Ok, those are what I see to be the down sides - on the upside, you can make a real difference, you can positively change children's lives and you can get rewarded emotionally. Those probably outweigh the bad stuff, just make sure you are really aware of what you are in for!

'There endeth the novel!'

My mum is, and she has worked in many different fields of it, from Care and Protection, Youth Justice and as an advocate with the Childrens Commission. She is just about to start working as a supervisor with Adoption Services. I know HEAPS of stuff about her work so if you like I can give you some info

Yes Andie used to work for CYPFS, if she doesn't see this topic it might pay to PM her.

I used to work in a law office (PA) that dealt with all those same types of clients... it IS really hard emotionally. I wouldn't want to do it with my own family/child to go home to at night, I think I would be so exhausted emotionally that I wouldn't be able to give out to the ones who need me most.

But then, we're obviously different so if that's really where your heart is, go for it!

Hrmmmm... interesting.

And yeah, don't know if I'd want to sign up to another 4 years study. I think I might contact a university to see if they'd let me into a postgrad programme from an hons degree.

Failing that I will stick with the previous plan of doing an MA in Development.

i know that the cyfs ones do burn out easily - might pay to talk to some ex social workers to get their perspectives on reality if youwant to aim in that direction?
Hopsital social workers and those with the elderly etc are a different kettle of fish.
good luck on your decision making....

Yep, I practiced social work for 5 years after graduating from the BSW (Massey Uni), and might return to it part-time later on.  Most of that was spent doing care and protection work for 2 different agencies (CYFS and the Open Home Foundation... really good employers, OHF were), then I ran a children's group for another local agency.  I don't regret the career choice one bit!  But if/when I return to it, it wouldn't be in the field of care and protection - for a lot of people (me included), that's the sort of work that you do for a season, and you know when you've had enough and it's time to move on. 

Getting the BSW was the best thing I could have done to get into this career - it's been very easy to get social work jobs with that under my belt.  That said, it's changed since I did it, fewer people apply for it and I gather the qual doesn't have the same high reputation it used to have once upon a time.  It's accepted a fair bit overseas, and NZ is seen as a bit of a world leader in care and protection work, so if you're thinking of going Euro-styles or anything, it's an easy job to travel with. 

But like someone else already said here - it doesn't have to be care & protection work.  But once you've done some decent time in that sort of work, you feel like you can tackle any other job! (and it's good experience).  The cultural thing hasn't been a problem for me (Pakeha) - certainly wasn't a consideration for who could and couldn't get into the BSW as far as I know (and their numbers are down now so that makes it easier to get in!).  People of different ethnicities did have quite different experiences of the BSW, but that can just be chalked up to experience. 

Crikey what a novel!!  But wait, there's more...!  I'm glad I chose it for a career, although if I'd done teaching that'd be heaps easier to work part-time later on for a decent wage.  But people don't really choose social work for the money!  CYF and Hospitals pay social workers the best rates, and from then on, the wage scale only goes downhill!  It still pays more than an "unskilled" position (dontcha hate that phrase!), it's just that the pay doesn't reflect the amount of effort that goes into doing the job well.  Really satisfying some days, though.  Heartbreaking too, but the pro's outweighed the con's for me.  It's certainly provided some experiences I'll never forget, and I've seen some people make inspirational changes. 

Good idea - the degree is 4 years long!!  A friend did their postgrad programme and he's been pretty blimmin successful in getting good jobs with that qual.  Social workers without qualifications have to really prove themselves to get registered (or sign up to get a qual if they've been practicing for less than 10 years), but the postgrad dip is recognised for registration, so no worries there.