Government Dragging The Chain On Social Worker Registration

The Social Welfare Minister's bid to have social workers registered is not moving nearly fast enough, says National's Social Services spokesperson, Bob Simcock.

"Steve Maharey's Social Workers Registration Bill, tabled in Parliament this week, is proof that the Government sees improving social work as a low priority.

"The Mick Brown report into the Child Youth and Family Service recommended that registration should be advanced urgently and that by the middle of next year, no social worker should be exercising statutory powers unless they are registered.

"Yet under the Government's programme, no social workers will be registered before 2004, and there is no commitment that Mick Brown's target will be met any time after that.

"The Government knows that social worker registration carries with it significant cost implications, so it is dragging the chain.

"If, as the Minister has repeatedly claimed, the registration of social workers is needed to build the credibility of the social work profession, he should be giving the issue top priority," Bob Simcock said.

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