Strategy and Action Plan

Your voice matters

We’re developing Aotearoa New Zealand’s first cross-system Social Worker Workforce Strategy to address the sustainability challenges facing the profession. This isn’t something any one organisation can do alone – it requires all of us working together. 

What’s this about?

Sustainable Social Work Pathways | Tauwhiro Ararau recognises that there are many pathways to building a sustainable social work workforce. We’re bringing together social workers, employers, educators, and government agencies to create coordinated solutions to shared challenges. 

We know the issues:

  • too few social workers to meet growing demand 
  • difficulty recruiting and retaining skilled practitioners 
  • students struggling to complete social work qualifications and enter the workforce 
  • workplace pressures affecting social workers’ wellbeing and effectiveness. 

Why now?

With significant unfilled social worker vacancies nationally and 16% of current practitioners planning to leave within five years, there is a mismatch in demand for social work services and supply of qualified registered social workers, that no single organisation can solve alone. We’ve built the evidence and insights and now it’s time for action. 

This strategy is about working smarter with existing resources – better coordination, reduced duplication, and evidence-based representation of workforce needs and actions to address them.

Recorded hui

We hosted some webinars with SSPA and ANZASW asking probing questions about the workforce Strategy and Action Plan.

Watch a recording of the webinar with SSPA asking questions (YouTube)

Watch a recording of the webinar with ANZASW asking questions (YouTube)

Draft documents

Overview – social worker workforce strategy – July 25

Draft – A3 workforce strategy on a page – July 25

DRAFT – Social Worker Workforce Strategy – July 25

DRAFT Social Worker Workforce Action Plan – July 25

We welcome your feedback

Consultation closed on 19 September 2025. However, we welcome your ongoing feedback please email comms@swrb.govt.nz

What happens next?

Your input has directly shaped the Strategy and Action Plan. In December 2025, we will report back to the sector on the feedback we received. Any ongoing changes or development with the Strategy and Action Plan will be shared with the profession and stakeholders.

If you wish to receive regular updates, please email us at comms@swrb.govt.nz and ask to be added to the mailing list for our regular newsletter.

If you have any pātai, please email us at workforce@swrb.govt.nz