SOCIAL WELFARE
Training
109
One of the most important factors--perhaps the most vital factor-in the deve- lopment of social welfare is the availability of trained young men and women willing to devote their careers to this work. Professional social work training at the academic level is available at both the Hong Kong University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. To assist young people to obtain training at the universities a number of government bursaries and scholarships of various kinds are available from the Social Work Training Fund, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and the American Women's Association. The Training Section of the Social Welfare Depart- ment organises in-service training programmes for persons who are academically untrained but already employed in social welfare work; refresher courses, and pre- service training for staff of voluntary agencies and government departments. In addition the Training Section organises fieldwork placements for social work students from the two universities. During 1972 a total of 1,066 people attended the various training courses.
While the demand for professionally qualified workers from the universities will continue, there is a growing demand for trained supporting staff to fill those posts which do not require a university trained worker. To meet this demand the government proposes to establish an Institute of Social Work Training providing two-year courses. The institute is expected to take in its first students in the autumn of 1973.
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