BuaNews (Tshwane)
10 September 2007
Johannesburg — South Africa's social workers from across the public and private sector are to convene their first joint conference, with the aim of forming a unified professional association.
The Deputy Minister for Social Development, Dr Jean Swanson-Jacobs will officiate at the conference on Thursday and Friday, at the Birchwood hotel.
The historic meeting will be convened under the theme: "Towards establishment of a Unified Professional Association for Social Workers."
In addition to forming the first ever united, professional body of social workers, the conference delegates will present a draft constitution for the Unified Association.
In terms of a co-operation agreement signed with Cuba earlier this month, hundreds of unemployed South African youth are to be trained in this vital field of social work.
Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya signed the agreement in Cuba with his counterpart Minister of Labour and Social Security, Alfredo Morales Cartaya.
Amongst many areas of co-operation, the department will collaborate with the Cuban Ministry to train unemployed youth as auxiliary social workers.
The Department of Social Development has to train and absorb 9 360 auxiliary social workers by 2010.
Cuba has developed a two pronged work training programme comprising, a formal university level programme and a rapid 12 month social work training programme.
As part of the implementation of the agreement the Cuban programme will be replicated in South Africa to alleviate the shortage of social workers and create much needed jobs as part of the Expanded Public Works Programme.
A national recruitment programme will be embarked upon with a bias towards youth from rural and poor communities.
"The youth will be trained and on completion be deployed in their communities to help us deal with the various social challenges such as assisting orphans and vulnerable children, alleviating the HIV and AIDS impact, vulnerable youth support and others," said Minister Skweyiya at the time.
"A rapid auxiliary social worker training programme will surely help us deal with the critical shortages of social workers."
The co-operation with Cuba will also include study tours, exchange of technical expertise on policy development.
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Good day, I am currently studying towards a qualification in Social Services and would like to know more about the Rapid auxiliary social worker training programme that's in place or supposed to be in place, in South Africa.I will be grateful if you could also furnish me with the contact persons' details whether be in the Department of Social Services or any related institution. I look forward to receiving your favourable response. Regards: Gudiswa Matomela