The PNG Social Workers Association formed on 15 March 1993 on behalf of social work implementers in the country but there is no legislation to govern its members’ activities.
On Thursday 8th of December, the executives announced their intention to work towards a legislation that will protect and discipline practitioners.
PNG Social Workers Association President, Dunstan Lawihin, in a media conference said that since 1974, there have been graduates from UPNG under Social Works but there is no legal record of who they are and where they are, because there is no relevant legislation to govern and monitor them.
“Those who are at the national level developing social policies, at the provincial level coordinating, at the district and LLG level implementing those policies as CPOs, Welfare Officers, Community Liaison Officers, monitoring and evaluation officers, there is no such thing as social workers,” Lawihin said.
He said this is because there is no legislation to recognize social work as a professional practice in PNG.
“Social work is contributing in a context where social work is not recognized as a profession but is part of a government system and part of a civil society system; and of course part of a corporatize system. We are making a contribution to the country and we need to be recognized,” Lawihin said.
Vice President Leonnie Rakanangu said the association is moving from a membership-based to a policy driven entity and law will regulate practice standards and govern the conducts of the practitioners.