MoIPA invests approximately $300M to improve social services across Hinterland.

─ Celebrates the Ministry’s Social Work Department on World Social Work Day

The Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs is on a mission to adequately address social and welfare issues in villages and communities by improving access to quality social services, in particular, health and welfare for all Indigenous Peoples. Over the past three and a half years, the Government through the Ministry has invested in excess of $300 Million to ensure this objective is met.

The Ministry in collaboration with sister ministries and agencies has developed a creative and artful approach to effectively working with individuals, families, groups, and communities that are struggling with problems.

The Health and Welfare Department attached to the ministry, is headed by Senior Social Worker-Health and Welfare, Pauline Welch, and is supported by Social Worker Onika Bishop and two welfare officers Juliet Kissoon and Silochanie Singh, a staff nurse and a nursing assistant.

The staff has been working with the Indigenous residents led by respective village Toshaos to facilitate late Birth Registration for persons who were never registered and those who do not have Birth Certificates. They have also collaborated with the Administration and the Medical Social Work Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital and other Public Hospitals to provide support to indigenous persons seeking medical attention.

They have collaborated with the Ministry of Social Protection for the provision of care and counselling services to Indigenous persons visiting the Ministry for assistance and the provision of financial assistance for burial, medical treatment in difficult circumstances.

The Ministry through the Hinterland Scholarship Department also continues to play a critical role in providing support to students residing at the student dormitory with individual and group counselling sessions.

Counselling sessions are also conducted with immediate family members of students based on the gravity of the situation.

Social Workers representing students also attend school meetings, in order to monitor their academic and social progress. Community outreaches such as regional visits, also allow Social Workers to ‘stand in the student’s shoes’ to comprehend why some positive or negative behaviours are exhibited. Positive reinforcements are also a part of daily activities and students are rewarded when necessary.

Senior Social Worker at the Hinterland Student Dormitory, Rosamond Daly emphasised that “networking with other organisations is critical to the daily work especially in situations where the Social Worker is unable to help the students’ competently and is therefore referred to agencies that are equipped with efficient staff. Such as health care professionals, the police, probation officers among others.”

Daly noted that providing mentorship through motivational speakers allows for interactive communication on what is trending in order for students to be well rounded and adapt to any environment.

As World Social Work Day is being observed on March 19, under the theme ‘Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships’, the hardworking staff of the Ministry’s Social Work Department are being recognised for their efforts.

On this day Social workers worldwide, stand together to celebrate the achievements of the profession and take the theme’s message into their communities, workplaces and to their governments to raise awareness of the impact the profession has made worldwide.

Story and Image: Aletha Grant.

Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs.