As part of your application for registration, we assess whether you’re a fit and proper person to practise social work. This is a legal requirement under section 6 of the Social Workers Registration Act 2003 (the Act). It helps protect the public and maintain trust in the social work profession.
Most applications proceed smoothly. In some situations – particularly where there are criminal convictions – we need to take a closer look. This doesn’t mean you won’t be registered. It means we need to carefully consider your individual circumstances.
When we need to look more closely
If your police vetting shows any criminal convictions with a maximum penalty of three months’ imprisonment or more, the Board is required by law to assess whether those convictions reflect adversely on your suitability to practise as a social worker, under section 47 of the Act.
This threshold covers a wide range of offences – from drink driving to minor theft – even if you did not receive a prison sentence.
What matters is:
- the nature of the offence
- how long ago it occurred
- what you’ve done since the conviction
- whether it is relevant to social work practice.
The Board considers each situation individually, taking your full circumstances into account.
Past convictions and registration
Having convictions from the past does not automatically prevent registration. Lived experience of the justice system can be viewed as valuable in the social work sector. A few social workers have successfully registered after the Board has considered the complexities of their application.
If concerns are raised
If concerns are raised during your application, we will let you know and give you the opportunity to provide information before any decision is made. This is an important part of natural justice.
How decisions are made
For straightforward matters our Registrar can often make the assessment.
More complex situations are considered by the Board at their bimonthly meetings. This means your application will likely take longer to process. We understand this waiting period can feel stressful, but it helps ensure decisions are fair and properly considered, and that we take your full circumstances into account.
If you have questions about how this process applies to you, please contact our team – we’re here to help you understand what happens next. Email us at applications@swrb.govt.nz
The SWRB Fit and Proper policy is available on our website.
