Navigating the territories of transition: An exploration of the experiences of transnational social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand

Peter, Shajimon; Beddoe, Liz; Bartley, Allen

doi:10.1177/0020872820956261

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Differences in approaches to practice, the lack of supportive supervision, restrictions to the social work role and lack of autonomy and the negative public perception of social work, contributed to social workers' experience of cultural dislocation (Fouche ´et al, 2014). International practitioners can enrich and enliven social work practice globally if host countries recognise the skills they bring (Bartley et al, 2012;Peter et al, 2020). Our participants expressed the feeling that whilst their labour is needed, their unique potential contribution through integrating models of practice used in South Africa is discouraged and they are expected to assimilate to local practices quickly.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…. The lack of support in terms of orientation (Peter et al, 2020) leaves migrant social workers often feeling judged (Staniforth and Connor, 2021). Hunt (2007) and Lillis et al (2006) also reported that overseastrained health professionals experience both discrimination and a lack of equal recognition in the workplace.…”

Section: Experiencing Racism In the English Social Work Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘People Here Are Their Own Gods’: The Migration of South African Social Workers to England

Hakak

Onokah

Shishane

2022

The British Journal of Social Work

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The migration of social workers has become an established trend internationally. Existing research largely ignored the impact of culture on this migration. The study presented here focused on the experiences of social workers who were trained in South Africa and migrated to England. South African-trained social workers had to adjust to significant cultural differences, ranging from the place of religion, the characteristics of the family and parenting, forms of interpersonal communication and what is considered polite and impolite behaviour. Whilst these issues have a wide societal impact, they also shape the daily reality of practising social workers. Implications for practice are discussed, and pre-migration education about the host country’s structures, a systemic induction process, mentorship and supervision with an emphasis on culture, is recommended.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Experiencing Racism In the English Social Work Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘People Here Are Their Own Gods’: The Migration of South African Social Workers to England

Hakak

Onokah

Shishane

2022

The British Journal of Social Work

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“…Without this structure and oversights, variations in what programs emphasize can create problems of alignment between social work education, and alignment with licensure examinations and expectations (Zeng et al, 2020). Additionally, as Peter et al (2020) opine, social work is unique because it is considered a global profession, enabling practitioners to move between countries to live and work. Where social work programs are not accredited or social workers are not licensed, could result in complicated and lengthy processes for obtaining licensing or registration outside of where one is qualified.…”

Section: The Uae Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Work Regulation in the United Arab Emirates

Tedam

Wagner

Mitchell

2022

Research on Social Work Practice

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is currently developing a social work licensure process to serve as a quality assurance mechanism and enhance the quality of care for service beneficiaries. This article outlines the opportunities, challenges, and contextual issues associated with the UAE regulation such as differing licensing processes and structures in three of seven emirates that are progressing licensure. With a paucity of information about this process in the UAE, this article reviews a range of international literature to situate the status and development of UAE social work licensure regionally and internationally. The UAE is currently utilizing a social work regulatory process similar to the United States in which regulation is implemented at the Emirate level and licensure is the primary regulatory process. Benefits and risks of the current UAE regulation process are provided that include recommendations for culturally relevant supervisory frameworks and regulation processes.

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“…As practitioners, managers, educators, professional bodies and the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB), we all share in the reciprocal responsibility of ensuring that our manuhiri (visitors) have ample opportunity to seek out cultural encounters on the path to ethically ground their practice. (p. 166) Peter et al (2020) conducted focus groups with migrant social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2017. They conceptualised the process of acculturation as moving between territories.…”

Section: Bicultural Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

The koru model: The stages of biculturation for foreign-trained social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand

Staniforth

Connor

2021

ANZSWJ

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INTRODUCTION: This article reports on a project which explored the process of “biculturation” (settling into a country with a bicultural mandate for social work practice) for 20 foreign-trained social workers who moved to Aotearoa New Zealand. This article details the particular theme of stages that the participants navigated in new terrain working within a bicultural framework with Māori.METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 20 foreign-trained social workers who had moved to Aotearoa New Zealand to practise social work. A thematic analysis was undertaken with the use of NVivo software.FINDINGS: Participants reported negotiating phases consistent with the international literature on acculturation. Particular challenges were noted regarding coming to terms with the impact of colonisation and the difference between bicultural and multicultural approaches.CONCLUSION: These stages have been represented by the various phases of growth of the fronds of a ponga tree described as the koru model. The stages described should be of use to social workers (or other professionals) who have shifted from one country to another, orare thinking about such a move. This is especially relevant when moving to a country where an indigenous group has experienced the negative impact and trauma of colonisation. The information will also be of use to social work agencies, employers, professional associations and regulatory bodies in understanding the process of acculturation for transnational social workers.

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Navigating the territories of transition: An exploration of the experiences of transnational social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand

Cited by 9 publications

References 28 publications

‘People Here Are Their Own Gods’: The Migration of South African Social Workers to England

‘People Here Are Their Own Gods’: The Migration of South African Social Workers to England

Social Work Regulation in the United Arab Emirates

The koru model: The stages of biculturation for foreign-trained social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand

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