The social inclusion of vulnerable groups in society is becoming an increasingly salient issue in a world grappling with the challenges of AI, ageing populations and climate change, which can exacerbate existing social inequalities and create new barriers to inclusion. In these circumstances, evidenced-based social work research is critical to identifying effective interventions and strategies to improve social services and policies.

Against this backdrop, the Department of Social Work at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences organised the Third Singapore Social Work Practice Research Conference themed “Social Inclusiveness of the Vulnerable” on 7 June. It gathered a diverse mix of about 250 representatives from the social service sector, voluntary welfare organisations, government ministries, and academic institutions to discuss their experiences and foster a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the socially vulnerable, and the implementation of inclusive practices in social work to improve their lives. The event was generously sponsored by the Mrs Lee Choon Guan Endowed Research Fund.

The importance of research and collaboration to inform social work practices

In his welcome address, Mr Keith Chua, Co-trustee of the Mrs Lee Choon Guan Trust Fund, emphasised the importance of investing in research and collaboration in advancing the social work sector in Singapore.

“I encourage all social service agencies to see [practice research] as investing firstly in yourselves, in your beneficiaries and your stakeholders, and along with this, the enhancement of training for future social work professionals, which will ultimately benefit current and future generations of Singaporeans,” he said.

In his speech, Guest of Honour, Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development, highlighted the government's commitment to fostering an inclusive society and the crucial role of social work in achieving this goal.

He stressed, “To help social work practitioners deliver effective interventions, research, including practice research, is invaluable. Research provides evidence-based insights into the needs of our clients. It offers tools to evaluate our practices and policies and to enable us to tailor our approaches to meet societal needs.”

Insightful discussions on social work practice research

A highlight of the day-long conference was the keynote address “Building a Research Programme on Social Inclusion: Implications for Practice Research” by Professor Irene Wong, S R Nathan Professor at the NUS Department of Social Work. She shared about a mixed-methods research programme that was conducted to enhance the social inclusion of persons living with mental illness in the US and China.

Prof Wong noted that social workers have an ethical responsibility and are in a unique position to promote the inclusion of the vulnerable. She also discussed the conceptual and methodological challenges in understanding and promoting inclusion, providing insights into incorporating inclusion as a fundamental aspect of social work practice.

Another highlight of the conference was the eight workshops which delved into topics such as enhancing mental health support for migrant workers in Singapore, the importance of employment as empowerment, sustainable caregiving, social services for sex workers, and divorce support for children. Participants engaged in lively discussions, exchanged best practices, and explored new strategies to enhance their work in the field.

“I saw how practice research removes the veil of invisibility of social impact and is able to enhance programme design and delivery, and even support macro-level service planning,” conference participant and Registered Social Worker Mr Khoo Yi Feng shared. “Through mixed methods with human-centric culturally-appropriate research methodologies, I am inspired by how many agencies were able to articulate their impact cases from the ground up with participatory voices from clients, and these hold much promise on how I can articulate the real-world impact of workplace mental health interventions like supported employment.”

In her closing speech, Head of the NUS Department of Social Work, Associate Professor Lee Geok Ling, expressed gratitude to all participants for their contributions. Emphasising the importance of continued collaboration and research in advancing social inclusiveness, she said, “The Department is excited about the long-term positive impact of such practice research as indigenous responses and creative answers are crucial in addressing the complex challenges faced by an ageing society, marginalised groups, and families in Singapore.”

This story by the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences first appeared in NUSNews on 27 June 2024.