Pursuing Equity in Social Work Education: Democratising Practices in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Issues of equity, such as service user and student participation, are reinforced in global and national standards of social work education, along with themes of Indigeneity, culture, accessibility, gender, and sexuality. Although standards influence and guide practices in social work education the range and degree to which democratising practices are operationalised at the local level depends upon the actual program delivery within higher education. Semistructured interviews were undertaken with social work education leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand to explore how democratising practices were demonstrated within their programs. Leaders of social work education have a vital role to play in the operationalising of democratising practices within social work programs. Leadership was identified as key to supporting student representation and diversity, recruiting and sustaining a diverse workforce, advancing expressions of activism, and working through internal and external challenges that are paramount to leading an equity-focused social work program.IMPLICATIONS The pursuit of equity is a fundamental professional value in social work education programs that is achieved through democratising practices.Leaders have a key role in operationalising this equity focus, which can be reinforced through standards and regulatory frameworks.An equity-focused program is demonstrated through supporting student representation and diversity, developing a curriculum and a pedagogy that advances equity, and recruiting and sustaining a diverse workforce.

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