Public Service Association
Media release 5 February

Recognition of the demands on social workers welcomed - PSA

The PSA said today it was keen to lessen the dangers front-line social workers face but equally was ‘glad there was, at long last, a clear and increasing recognition about the demands and reality of the work these people do.’

The reported ‘danger money’ payment was included in a report, organised jointly by the PSA and Child Youth and Family Services, which looked at all aspects of social worker pay levels.

‘This was a well-researched response to the reality facing our front-line people,’ PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff said.

‘Any extra money would be an overdue recognition of the stress and demands of the job but a corresponding objective is improving the on-the-job safety of social workers,’ he said.

‘As part of our response we should be working together to reduce as much as possible the real issues and dangers our members face.’

‘It is about getting good work practices and controls in place which firstly lessen, and then hopefully serve to eliminate as much of the danger as possible,’ he said.

‘The public probably still has all too little idea of the stress, pressure and yes, danger, social workers face on a daily basis,’ he said.

For more information please call
the PSA media officer, Colin Williams on 04 917 2039 or 025 575839

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