Taranaki DHB hosts international social workers on exchange programme

18 November 2016

Taranaki DHB will host four international social workers this week as part of the Council of International Fellowship (CIF) Aotearoa New Zealand exchange programme.

The Council aims to foster peace and tolerance between different cultures and this CIF programme provides the 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 and Secretary of CIF Aotearoa NZ Sarah DeSouza said, “The programme provides a great learning opportunity for our guests, and also for us as hosts, as we will learn about Social Work from different perspectives and contexts”.

Taranaki DHB’s guests include Hubert Jull from Germany, Linda Paap from Estonia, Jemish Acharya from Nepal and Eva Strandman from Sweden. They are all experienced practitioners whose areas of expertise include refugees, prison prevention and rehabilitation, marginalised communities and supporting people with disabilities.

The social workers will be hosted at Taranaki Base Hospital on Wednesday 16 November, where they will meet the Maori Health team, colleagues at the Alcohol and Drug Service, and social workers from throughout the DHB. 

Ms De Souza said “While our guests learn about social work in Aotearoa, we have the opportunity to learn about the fields of practice in their countries, and the issues facing them.”

“The success of the programme is due to the collaborative effort among the CIF team in Taranaki with the Aotearoa/New Zealand association of Social Workers, the local social work community, social service agencies and support from Taranaki DHB colleagues.”

The social workers will also spend time with a variety of local agencies including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Women’s Refuge, WITT, Child Youth and Family, the Probation Service, CCS Disability Action, Idea Services, Oakura Marae, Marfell Community Trust and Marfell Primary School, Riding for the Disabled, Tu Taki Youth, the START programme, Bishop’s Action Foundation, the Salvation Army Bridge Programme and the Family Court.

“These agencies have all given of their time to share the work they do with the CIF participants. Without the support of these agencies, and the families who host our guests, the programme would not be possible,” adds Ms DeSouza.

The CIF Branch in Taranaki offer opportunities for social workers and related professionals to experience programmes overseas and can be contacted via their Facebook Page or website for more information.

ENDS

For more information please call:
Greer Lean
Communications Advisor

Last updated: Friday, November 18, 2016