Onboard newsletter – September 2026

New Tribunal website brings key information together for social workers

The Social Workers Tribunal, Rōpū Whakawawao Tautohe Tauwhiro, website went live last week, making it easier for social workers, employers, educators and the public to find information about the Tribunal’s role, decisions and hearings.

For social workers, the Tribunal is an important part of the professional accountability system. It deals with serious disciplinary matters involving registered social workers, after concerns have been considered through the complaints and disciplinary process.

The Tribunal has been operating since 2003. It is independent from the Social Workers Registration Board and follows a formal, court-like process. Hearings are considered by a panel that includes social workers, a layperson, and an experienced barrister as chair or deputy chair.

This helps make sure decisions are fair, balanced and informed by an understanding of social work practice. It also supports public safety, strengthens professional standards, and helps maintain trust and confidence in the social worker profession in New Zealand.

The new website brings Tribunal information together in one place. You can read published decisions, check upcoming hearings, learn more about how the Tribunal works, and contact the Tribunal directly with an enquiry.
Published decisions can help social workers, supervisors, educators and employers understand how professional standards are applied in serious cases. They can also be a useful learning resource for reflection, supervision and professional development.

If you would like a refresher on how concerns and complaints are handled before a matter reaches the Tribunal, information about the complaints process is available on concerns and complaints webpage.

Visit the new Tribunal website to learn more about its role, view published decisions, see upcoming hearings, or make an enquiry.

E te rangatira, nau mai whakatau mai – Michael Hollings (KSO)

Photo credit: Monique Ford / The Post

We are pleased to welcome Mike Hollings (Ngāti Raukawa, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi) to the Board.

Mike brings extensive leadership experience across education, public service, governance and Māori development. He served as Chief Executive and Principal of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, a state distance education provider where he championed equitable educational outcomes for students.

His career includes Chief Executive of Te Māngai Pāho and senior positions within the Ministry of Education, Education Review Office, and University of Waikato. Michael has also made significant contributions to Māori education, including helping establish a Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori in the Wairarapa.

In 2024, Mike was made a Companion of the King’s Service Order (KSO), acknowledging his services to education and Māori.

An experienced governor and community leader, Michael has chaired the boards of Volunteer Service Abroad, Makoura College, and Taki Rua Productions, supporting the growth of te reo Māori and Māori performing arts.

We look forward to his contribution to the Board and the valuable perspective he brings through his extensive leadership, governance, and community experience.

Tautoko for ANZASW Conference 2026

L-R: Dr Andrew Thompson RSW, Krystiarna Jarnet-Phillips and Natasha Emery RSW

We were proud sponsors of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers Conference, held in Wellington on 12–13 August, and were pleased to stand alongside the sector as part of the Kotahitanga: Stand Together kaupapa.

Our kaimahi valued the opportunity to listen, learn, connect and reconnect with social workers, sector leaders and colleagues from across Aotearoa at the Tiakiwai Conference Centre. The conference was a meaningful space to share whakaaro, strengthen relationships and reflect on the important mahi happening across the profession.

Ka rawe to ANZASW for hosting such a successful wānanga, Thank you for your manaakitanga, leadership and commitment to bringing people together in the spirit of kotahitanga.

We also want to acknowledge all social workers across Aotearoa. We appreciate the care, skill and dedication you bring to supporting tamariki, whānau and hapori every day. Mauri ora.

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā!  2025/26 CPD audit is nearly here 

The 2025/26 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) audit opens on 5 October and will run until 31 October. We’re looking forward to supporting social workers as they showcase their learning and professional growth.

CPD is an important part of maintaining safe, competent, and effective practice. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the knowledge, skills, and experiences that help us grow as practitioners and strengthen the services we provide to whānau, hapū, iwi, and communities.

If you are selected for this year’s audit, you will receive an email and a text message with information about what you need to do. Please remember to check your junk or spam folders if you haven’t seen the email arrive.

Need a refresher on how to upload your CPD log? Visit our CPD webpage where you’ll find guidance, resources, and a short video that takes you through the upload process step by step.

Join our CPD information sessions. Following positive feedback from last year, we are once again offering two online CPD information sessions. These sessions are open to audit participants and to any social worker interested in learning more about CPD requirements and making the most of their professional development records. Hui will take place on:

• Thursday 8 October, 1.00 pm
• Thursday 15 October, 1.00 pm

Click here to join either session.

Even if you’re not selected, it’s a great time to update your CPD.

If you’re not part of this year’s audit, we encourage you to take this opportunity to log in to MySWRB and update your CPD record. Recording your learning as you go makes it easier to keep track of your professional development and creates a valuable record of your growth over time. Whether you’ve attended training, participated in supervision, undertaken cultural learning, or developed new practice skills, your CPD record tells the story of your ongoing commitment to the profession.

Updating your CPD can be done easily from your phone, tablet, or computer, and taking a moment to reflect on the past year’s learning may help identify new goals and opportunities for the year ahead.

Ngā mihi
Emily Ranginui
Kākaho Arataki Niho Taniwha Māori Professional Lead Social Work Advisor Māori

New Zealand-qualified social workers registration

New Zealand-qualified social workers registration application process changes

The Social Workers Registration Board is improving the registration application process for New Zealand-qualified social workers.

The changes are designed to make the process clearer, easier to use, and more complete before an application is submitted.

From 14 August 2026, applicants need to provide all required information and supporting documents, and pay the registration fee, before submitting their application. This will help applicants understand what is needed upfront and reduce delays caused by missing or incomplete information.

Visit our webpage for more information on these changes.

Strong collaboration supports a successful practising certificate round

The Social Workers Registration Board has completed its 2026 practising certificate round and reflected on the process through an internal debrief. The round was viewed as the most successful to date, supported by strong collaboration across the organisation and Authorised Employers, as well as practical improvements to planning, communications and operational support.

Each year, registered social workers who practise in New Zealand need to hold a current practising certificate. The annual round is an important part of supporting public safety and confidence in the profession and helps ensure social workers continue to meet their obligations as registered professionals.

This year’s round was supported by teams at the Social Workers Registration Board across registration, communications, finance, IT, professional standards, quality assurance and risk, as well as wider organisational support with enquiries and practical assistance.

The debrief recognised the positive contribution of staff and the value of having clearer processes, more coordinated communications and dedicated support for Authorised Employers.

The debrief also identified opportunities to keep improving. These include starting communications planning earlier, strengthening guidance for employers and social workers, continuing to improve system readiness, and ensuring information is clear, timely and easy to act on.

We will use the lessons from this year’s round to help guide planning for 2027. Social workers are encouraged to keep their contact details up to date, including a current personal email address, so they receive important information about future practising certificate renewals.

PC renewal round shows strong positive feedback

The latest practising certificate renewal round has received encouraging feedback from social workers, with early results from the PC satisfaction survey showing a positive experience overall.

While the survey remains open, the responses received to date indicate that the renewal process was clear, accessible, and well supported. The results provide a useful opportunity to close the loop with practitioners and share what we are learning from their experience.

Across the responses received so far, approximately 0.5% of respondents (1,101 in total) said they found it very difficult to renew their practising certificate, while approximately 57.2% said they found it very easy. Feedback also highlighted that the renewal process was easy to understand, straightforward to complete, and that support was available when practitioners needed it.

The most common reasons practitioners contacted us were to reset their password or to ask questions about employer payment authorisation. Some respondents appeared unsure about whether their employer had the option to register as an authorised payer. This feedback gives us a useful opportunity to consider how we can make information about employer payment arrangements clearer in future renewal communications, including explaining that employer registration is optional and must be arranged directly with us.

Practitioners also shared some areas where they would like to see improvements. The most common concern related to the move away from issuing physical ID cards, followed by comments about practising certificate fees. Other negative feedback tended to reflect individual experiences rather than broader themes. We will continue to review the survey responses and use this feedback to improve guidance, communications, and support for future renewal rounds.