SOCIAL WELFARE
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as being a training ground for nursery and creche workers. A total of 50 courses, seminars and workshops were organised during the year.
The section contributes to the general training of social workers by providing field work placement and supervision to social work students from the territory's two universities, the Hong Kong Polytechnic, the Hong Kong Baptist College and Shue Yan College. Sixty-seven students were supervised and placed in the Social Welfare Department in 1978.
To assist young people who want to obtain social work training, a number of bursaries and scholarships are available from the Social Work Training Fund, the government, and the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and other private donors.
Research and Evaluation
A number of studies were conducted during the year by the Social Welfare Depart- ment's Research and Evaluation Unit on the possible demand for various services. Data was collected and analysed to show trends in social security schemes, child care services and to gauge the use of community centres. A joint venture, by the depart- ment and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, was a study of the social service needs of the elderly.
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