Huge Gender Imbalance in CYF

Family First NZ is stunned by revelations today by the Public Service Association that female CYF social workers outnumber male colleagues by 4 to 1, despite the males being paid on average 9.5% more.

“This is a huge gender imbalance in a profession that demands balance and objectivity in working with families,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“We would question the ability and effectiveness of CYF to intervene in families where there are issues relating to both the mother and the father, and the need to objectively assess the role and functioning of both mums and dads.”

“Why are there so few male social workers in CYF despite a better pay rate? Is there a shortage of male social workers in the whole profession and if so, why?”

“Social work cannot afford to be feminised, because the families they are working with certainly haven’t been.”

“The claim by various fathers’ groups of bias becomes more credible when the social agencies working with families are so gender imbalanced,” says Mr McCoskrie.

Family First says that the government must address the imbalance and the urgent need to create an environment within CYF which will attract more male social workers.

ENDS

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