SWiS: Secondary schools
The Social Workers in Schools (SWiS) programme places a social worker within secondary schools. We work with students to help them with social, health and family issues, which may be impacting their school life.
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We help students who may be at risk of becoming involved in gangs and other simaliar activities, before they make decisions that may negatively impact their lives. By working with a student in all areas of their life, we can help them make good decisions now so that they can have a great future.
"The students I work with are at risk, but they are also potential leaders." SWiS social worker, South Auckland college.
Social workers and young people
The social worker primarily works with the young person. It's up to the young person whether or not they want their family or whānau to be involved.
While we'd ideally include family in all decisions, we know that it may be easier to reach a student if they know they can talk to their social worker confidentially.
A young person's involvement with the SWiS programme is completely voluntary. The SWiS service is free for students and their families.
All-around help for young people
In addition to individual sessions with a social worker, students may be introduced to programmes and groups that could help them. These could include activity camps, cultural clubs and programmes dealing with drug and alcohol issues.
The social worker can help students with:
Education: Being based in school grounds, the SWiS service is an effective way to help students with issues that may be affecting their education or school life.
Health: Partnerships with health services mean that students can get help for any health issues.
Family: If it’s what the student wants, the social worker will work with the family to deal with any issues at home.
Social skills: The social worker will look at the variety of social needs which may be affecting the young person, to help them make good choices for their future.
Referring a young person to SWiS
If you know a young person who could benefit from SWiS and who attends a school with the SWiS service, tell them about the programme and how it can help. Download and print the SWiS brochure for them, and encourage them to contact someone at SWiS.
