The Social Worker Workforce Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2036
Purapura Whetū symbolises the stars and the vast multitude of people within a nation, reflecting navigation and the interconnected collection of the data and evidence to illuminate future pathways for the social worker workforce planning and policy development. Purapura symbolises the seeds of policy, while Whetū represents the guiding stars of our workforce. Together, they form a powerful pattern, weaving ideas with the collective potential to shape regulatory and operational policies and system-wide workforce planning strategies.
Current status
The Social Workers Registration Board has submitted Sustainable Social Work Pathways: Tauwhiro Ararau – The Social Worker Workforce Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2036 to Hon Louise Upston, Minister for Social Development and Employment for consideration. Subject to Ministerial approval, the final documents will be published here.
We would like to thank the many individuals, organisations, agencies, educators, employers, and sector representatives who contributed to the development of the Strategy through consultation and engagement activities. Ka nui te mihi.
Further information, including links to the final Strategy and Action Plan, will be published on this page once publication arrangements have been confirmed.
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.
Upcoming next steps
Following publication, we will work alongside government agencies, action owners, sector partners, and stakeholders to support implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan, with an initial focus on progressing the foundational actions identified for the initial implementation phase.
If you have any pātai, please email us at workforce@swrb.govt.nz
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.
