The demise of the New Zealand Social Work Training Council : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Social Work at Massey University

Abstract

THE DEMISE OF THE NEW ZEALAND SOCIAL WORK TRAINING COUNCIL (N.Z.S.W.T.C.) This piece of research focuses upon the multiple reasons for the eventual review of the Social Work Training Council leading to its demise in 1985. Developmental theories of organisational change are used as a tool to analyse the Training Council in a macro-organisational context. Developmental theories suggest that unless certain goals are achieved then organisations will not proceed onto the next stage of development and growth. It is argued that the N.Z.S.W.T.C. never achieved the tastes of the third stage of development, the Stabilisation Stage and hence met its demise. This study also demonstrated that wider external conditions play a major role in the functioning of a body such as the Social Work Training Council. Implications for future such bodies are provided at the conclusion of this thesis.