Opinion: Social Work Graduates Must Question Their Motives Before Entering Profession
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Key Points
- Lam So-wai, a registered social worker for over ten years with frontline, middle management, and Legislative Council experience, has expressed growing concerns about new practitioners' professional readiness in Hong Kong's social welfare sector
- Major social welfare organizations' management consistently report that some new graduates lack adequate professional foundations, language proficiency, writing skills, and communication abilities required for frontline work
- Social work programs have expanded significantly beyond traditional universities, now including associate degrees, higher diplomas, and various self-financing courses with higher tuition fees than conventional universities
- The professional "iron triangle" requires mastery of knowledge, skills, and attitude — social workers must understand professional theories, counseling techniques, social policies, psychology, sociology, ethics, and applicable laws
- Documentation standards in social work are demanding: case records, service plans, funding applications, and tender documents may be submitted to courts in cases involving child protection, domestic violence, mental health, and care arrangements
Why It Matters
This commentary highlights a systemic issue beyond individual graduates: whether Hong Kong's expanded social work education maintains sufficient quality control to protect vulnerable service users . The call for coordinated oversight of curriculum standards, admission requirements, practicum arrangements, and graduate competency reflects broader concerns about professional accountability in a sector handling increasingly complex cases .