Aroha, Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga: Social work educators’ reflections on the Covid-19 lockdown in Aotearoa New Zealand

Nathan Jaquiery,Susan Wason,Marissa Kaloga

doi:10.11157/anzswj-vol32iss2id744

Abstract

The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic which, as at the time of writing, is ongoing throughout the world, has far-reaching implications for the practice of social work. As Aotearoa New Zealand steadily moves towards declaring itself “Covid-free,” it is important to reflect upon and capture the complexities, challenges, and dynamics experienced during the lockdown. As the pandemic continues to expand, front-line experiences can serve to inform decision making and reflection on the future development of the social work profession in a post-Covid world. This article will discuss the experiences of three social work educators at the University of Otago’s Social and Community Work Programme. Each contributor will relate their pandemic teaching and learning experience by aligning it with a Value and Ethical Principle of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Work Code of Ethics (ANZASW, 2019). Each contributor felt that it was important to capture their experiences during this defining moment in our history and to consider how the nature of relationships may have changed, how boundaries shifted and learning has ensued as we have journeyed through a shared traumatic experience together. “He waka eke noa” (we are all in this together)

Highlights

The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic which, as at the time of writing, is ongoing throughout the world, has far-reaching implications for the practice of social work
I believe this willingness to continue to engage in placements is due to both the calibre of past students and the relationships established over many years between the University of Otago Social and Community Work programme and the social service organisations in our communities
Relationships have always underpinned placement practice, but a Covid-19 world reiterated their importance and value. Upon reflection of this semester, the values and ethical principles of social work practice outlined in the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) Code of Ethics underpinned and guided my practice throughout the lockdown situation and the period following (ANZASW, 2019)

Summary

Introduction

The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic which, as at the time of writing, is ongoing throughout the world, has far-reaching implications for the practice of social work. As a Field Education Coordinator for the Social and Community Work programme, I was in the midst of arranging placements for students when the first stirrings of Covid-19 began. Over the Level 4 lockdown period, both the university and the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) developed policies to address health and safety and to support and underpin student placements during the Covid-19 period (SWRB, 2020; University of Otago, 2020).

Results

Conclusion