Social Dimension Singapore

The Context of Social Welfare in Hong Kong: History, Economics, and Politics

 By Ng Guat Tin, PhD

 
Assistant Professor,

Department of Applied Social Sciences

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

email: [email protected]

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

During my current stint of teaching in Hong Kong I have received various enquiries from Singapore delegations and individual social workers regarding social services and social work education in Hong Kong. An often heard expression is that “Social work in Hong Kong is more dynamic than in Singapore.” I do not know if anyone has sought to measure or compare professional dynamism but certainly the number of registered social workers in Hong Kong is impressive, when compared to Singapore: 17,615[1] as of 18 April 2013 (http://www.swrb.org.hk). However, not all of them were practising social work, as the social work manpower requirements system indicated smaller staff strength of only 12,011[2] as at 31 March 2011 (Joint Committee on Social Work Manpower Requirements, 2011).

The Inaugural ASEAN Social Work Consortium (1 - 3 March 2011)

By Amran Jamil

In March 2011, Social Work EXCO member Amran bin Jamil represented the Singapore Association of Social Workers in the first ever ASEAN Social Work Consortium held in Manila, Phillipines. 

 

The ASEAN Social Work Consortium (ASWC) held its first meeting from 1 to 3 March 2011 in Manila, the Philippines, attended by more than 70 social work practitioners, educators and policy makers from all ten Member States. ASWC represents a platform for social workers, social work educators and schools of social work to enhance quality of social work practices and policies in the region as well as to synergize ideas and initiatives to further address fellow ASEAN people’s welfare, especially the underprivileged, marginalized and disadvantaged.

The EBP (Evidence Based Practice) Spirit

By Firdawati Masri, Wong Liling & Yum Sin Ting

 

   

We carved this pumpkin!!!

Halloween is around the corner and in the midst of all our papers and mid-term exams, we still made time to soak in the ghostly atmosphere and celebration in St. Louis. Baking pumpkin muffins and roasting pumpkin seeds, carving jack-o-lanterns, decorating the house and stocking up on sugary treats.

 

2010 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development: The Agenda

* Together we build the AGENDA * Together we face the challenges * Together we thrive

 

By Hayley Chau & Ong Pei Ni

In 2010, Hayley and Pei Ni attended the Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development in Hong Kong. They report their experiences. 

Hayley with Mr John Ang, President, International Federation of Social Work (IFSW) Asia-Pacific Region and Senior Fellow, National University of Singapore

The “2010 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development: The Agenda” was the first such conference jointly organized The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), International Council of Social Welfare (ICSW) and international Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), supported by eight local hosts. Held in Hong Kong from 10-14 June 2010, the conference saw over 2900 participants hailing from 114 countries and regions participating in 12 symposiums, 4 plenary sessions, 130 workshops, 60 field visits and numerous poster presentations.

 

My Hanoi Experience

By Deidre Chong Ee May

A team of 7 medical social workers in Singapore partnered with the Singapore International Foundation to conduct  training to Healthcare Workers in Vietnam. Senior Medical Social Worker Deidre Chong Ee May tells her side of the story.

 

It was a thrill to know that I was invited to conduct the Palliative Care Training to doctors and ancillary staff or Healthcare Workers (HCWs) at K2 Hospital.  I have a special interest in getting involved in International Social Work as I feel that it is wonderful to be able to share one’s knowledge and make it applicable to other settings. K2 Hospital is located about 45 minutes from Hanoi City.  For 5 days, the dedicated driver of K2 Hospital chauffeured the team of 4 Medical Social Workers to different hospital institutions.  It was a view to watch the multitude of motorcycles whizzing past our van.

 

 

REFLECTIONS: YEP Trip to Noida, India

By Benjamin Chengxin Yeo

 

 The Society of Social Work Students (National University of Singapore) and NUS Humanitarian Affairs jointly organised a youth expedition (YEP) trip to Noida, India from 5th December to 21st December 2010. The project was named rockNOIDA; an overseas community outreach effort aimed at educating underprivelaged children. 13 social work students participated in this project and were involved in planning, conducting classes, and community profiling in Prayas (a slum community).

REFLECTIONS: Social Work Fellowship in New York

by Peh Cheng Wan

 

2008 was the year I finally found what I needed, to embark on a 6-month journey to New York to complete a Social Work Fellowship with the Department of Pain Medicine & Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center through the joint sponsorship of Assisi Hospice and the Ministry of Health (MOH) Health Manpower Development Programme (HMDP).  It felt almost impossible to be away for so long because there are always manpower concerns or “this ah pek”, “that popo”, “uncle joe” or “auntie julie” and their families who are going through a very difficult period of time where my professional intervention and support are most needed.  In that previous state of mind, I never found a good enough time to be away.  And in a different state of mind, things happened and in a blink of an eye, they became part of my memories.  A powerful internal resource that has been integrated to serve me well as a professional helper as well as a person…