Professionalisation of social work in Malaysia: 1969-2010

• Main Author: Teoh, Ai Hua
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
• Online Access: https://etd.uum.edu.my/10547/1/depositpermission_s96110.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/10547/2/s96110_01.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/10547/

Social work has been recognized as both an academic discipline and a profession internationally. However, social work continues to struggle to attain its professional status in Malaysia. This study aims to analyse the professionalisation of social work in Malaysia from 1969 to 2010, as well as to identify the efforts of the Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW), the Department of Social Welfare Malaysia (DSW) and tertiary social work education in advancing the profession. This research utilized qualitative method using semi-structured and face to face interviews with 12 past leaders of the MASW, DSW and tertiary social work education programmes as the primary source of data. In addition, annual reports and supporting documents were collected as secondary source of data. Thematic analysis was used to analyse both the interview transcripts and secondary data. The findings identified two stages emerged in the professionalisation of social work in Malaysia, namely the infancy stage (1969-1989) and the expansion of social work education and the drive for professionalism stage (1990-2010). Key features of social work as a profession have developed during the infancy stage. However, the professionalisation stalled in the 1980s. The idea of caring society and Vision 2020 stimulated the expansion of social work education after the 1990s, and the drive for professionalism received greater attention from the government post millennium, which encapsulated the second stage of professionalisation. Despite all these progresses, this study found that social work in Malaysia has yet to establish itself as a professional occupation. This study proposes for greater synergy between the MASW, DSW and social work education, and underlines the importance of legislation and policy in shaping the profession and its practices. This study contributes to the field of professionalisation research and serves a reference for comparative study of social work in the global context