International Social Workers have learning opportunity at Taranaki DHB

13 November 2012

During November Taranaki becomes home to three international social workers as part of the Council of International Fellowship (CIF) Aotearoa New Zealand exchange programme.

CIF programmes are an opportunity for Social Workers and related professionals such as psychologists and youth workers to learn about Social Work in a different country, as well as meeting social workers from around the world.

Taranaki DHB Social Worker Sarah De Souza said, “It will be a wonderful learning experience for our guests, but also for us as hosts, as we will learn about Social Work from different perspectives and contexts”.

Taranaki’s three guests include Maria Johannson and Lisa Sandstrom who are from Sweden, and Virginia Pinto from Argentina.

They are all experienced Social Workers whose interests include domestic violence, social work in judicial areas, child protection, family counselling, and social work in schools.

“All of them have chosen Aotearoa as a place to visit because they are particularly interested in Maori, and models of practice such as Family Group Conferences,” said Ms De Souza.

While in Taranaki the three social workers will be attending sessions at Taranaki Base Hospital on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 November with the Taranaki DHB Maternal Mental Health Social Worker, Domestic Violence Coordinator, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Paediatric Ward and Play Therapist, as well as TDHB Maori Health. The programme’s success is due to the collaborative effort by social workers at Taranaki DHB working with social workers across other sectors.

There will be an opportunity to meet our three visitors while at Base Hospital for a photo on Wednesday at 2.00pm. If you wish to attend please contact me.


For more information please call
Sue Carrington
Media Adviser
Ph 021 367 789

Last updated: Tuesday, November 13, 2012