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SOCIAL WELFARE
Relief Fund (formerly known as the Community Relief Trust Fund), from which payments amounting to $2,652,180 were made.
Training
Trained social workers are an essential element in the development of effective social welfare services. While professional social work training is available at both the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, in-service training programmes for persons who are academically untrained but already em- ployed in social work, continue to be provided by the training section of the Social Welfare Department. In 1973 a total of 949 people from both government and voluntary welfare organisations attended the various training courses.
To meet the growing demand for trained supporting staff to fill those posts which do not require a university trained worker, the Institute for Social Work Training was established during the year under the Social Welfare Department to provide pre-service training in social work below university level. The institute's first two-year full-time course leading to a Certificate in Social Work started in October 1973 with an initial enrolment of 50 students.
To assist young people to obtain training at the two universities, a number of bursaries and scholarships are available from the Social Work Training Fund, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the American Women's Association and the government through the Social Welfare Department.
Research and Evaluation
The research and evaluation unit of the Social Welfare Department is responsible for formulating policy on research in the welfare field, assisting and conducting surveys and research projects in consultation with relevant organisations and assisting with the evaluation of the effectiveness of existing welfare services provided by subvented voluntary organisations. During the year, several research projects were completed by the unit. Two major projects were 'A Study on Profit-making Child Care Centres in Hong Kong' and 'A Study of Presenting Factors Leading to Dependency on Public Assistance' which revealed valuable information for the future planning of social welfare services.
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