Envisioning tomorrow: social work in PNG. Cameron Rose, Catherine Flynn & Kerry Brydon Social Work and Multimedia, Monash University

Transcription

1 Envisining tmrrw: scial wrk in PNG Camern Rse, Catherine Flynn & Kerry Brydn Scial Wrk and Multimedia, Mnash University

2 What we are presenting We have develped a shrt dcumentary that marks the three year milestne in a cllabrative relatinship between the scial wrk departments at Mnash University and the University f Papua New Guinea (UPNG) Our relatinship was initially funded and supprted thugh AusAid and Grup f Eight (G8) prject

3 Our aims While many reprts indicate that PNG is a cuntry cnfrnted by many challenges, ur experience is that there is a clear cmmitment t the delivery f strng scial wrk practice, with there being evidence f innvative lcal practice mdels that address scial prblems acrss a range f dmains HIV/Aids, literacy and gender based vilence. The dcumentary allws us t see evidence f best practice and t hear the vices f practitiners wh are delivering this practice.

4 Abut PNG Over 800 different cultures/languages. 85% f the ppulatin live in rural and remte settings and have a subsistence existence. Difficult terrain which increases the csts f service prvisin and develpment. Experiencing rapid scial change. Climate change and envirnmental issues.

5 Cntextual realities Sme debate abut whether PNG is rich in resurces but regardless there are difficulties in accessing resurces due t difficult terrain and lack f infrastructure (Allen, Burke & Gibsn 2005). 37% f peple live in pverty: Pverty is nt necessarily due t unequal market frces but envirnmental cnditins that prevent engagement with dmestic and internatinal markets (Ashwell & Barclay 2005). The frmal ecnmy is relatively small and arund 85% f peple fllw a subsistence lifestyle (Kwa, Hwes & Lin 2010)

6 Scial Wrk in PNG The University f PNG was established in 1965 and in 1971 the first lecturer in scial wrk was appinted (O Cllins 1973 nw Emeritus Prfessr). There is a cmmunity-based fcus fr scial wrk and the aim is fr students/graduates t return t the village. Typically, this has nt happened. Frm independence in 1975 ecnmic grwth has been slw and the emphasis has been in wealth nw, welfare later there are prly develped strategies fr scial develpment (MacPhersn 1996).

7 Scial wrk PNG scial wrk in PNG is cncerned with the scial welfare aspects f develpment and aims t enhance the quality f life f peple in bth rural and urban cmmunities thrugh the use f apprpriate scial wrk practices... (Scial Wrk Strand, 2010:3) Nevertheless, PNG is a challenging cuntry is which t undertake develpment wrk and engage in human services.

8 The dcumentary Envisining tmrrw: scial wrk in PNG

9 Reflectins Much has been written abut the varius activities f scial wrk educatin in cuntries ther than their wn. Our apprach has been shaped by: A cmmitment t cllabratin; A cmmitment t partnership; A recgnitin that ur clleagues at UPNG are experts in their wn cntext; A grund up, rather than a tp dwn apprach; and Infrmal relatinships rather than institutinalised relatinships

10 Achievements Sme utputs include: Mutual cmmitment t the maintenance f a partnership; Tw jint cnference presentatins and a third planned; Tw jurnal articles accepted; Three jurnal articles submitted r in press; A further cnference presentatin planned; and Pathways t educatinal/qualificatins upgrading in train with the lng term aim f increasing the number f UPNG staff with PhDs.

11 Acknwledgments We appreciate the nging supprt f Dean and Prfessr Betty Lvai at UPNG All f ur PNG clleagues wh assisted with the prductin f the DVD A particular thanks t Jhn Kamasua, Dunstan Lawihin and Jshua Ga wh are the UPNG stalwarts f ur cllabratin.

12 Acknwledgments G8 and Dr Mike Cksn (ANU) fr supprting us t get started Mr Camern Rse (Department f Multimedia and Digital Design, Mnash University) fr the wnderful camera wrk Ms Esther Grimes and Ms Tara Krnhauser, prductin assistants extrardinaire The cnference rganisers wh fund a lnger time slt fr us

13 References Allen, B, Burke, RM & Gibsn, J (2005), Pr rural places in Papua New Guinea, Asia Pacific Viewpint, 46(2), Ashwell, HE & Barclay, L (2009), Outcme evaluatin f cmmunity health prmtin interventin within dnr funded prject climate in Papua New Guinea, Rural and Remte Health, 9, Kwa, E, Hwes, S & Lin, S (2010), Review f the PNG-Australia Develpment Cperatin Treaty 1999, Canberra: AusAid. accessed 26 May Mac Phersn, S (1996), Scial wrk and ecnmic develpment in Papua New Guinea, Internatinal Scial Wrk, 39(1), O Cllins, M (1973), Intrducing scial wrk educatin at the University f Papua New Guinea, Internatinal Scial Wrk, 16(1), Scial Wrk Strand (2010), Student handbk, Prt Mresby: Schl f Humanities and Scial Sciences, University f Papua New Guinea.