International Social Work research perspective through the Fijian Case: The theoretical research on the Indigenous Social Work International Social Work Research

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K02275
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 08020:Social welfare-related
• Research Institution: Shukutoku University
• Principal Investigator: Matsuo Kana 淑徳大学, その他部局等, 准教授 (60727478)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: インディジナス・ソーシャルワーク / 国際ソーシャルワーク / フィジー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study analyzes the differences in the transmission of the Western-rooted Professional Social Work education in the Republic of Fiji, and the activities of people without social work education, such as supporting each other.
The research is based on literature stored at the University of the South Pacific and interviews with practitioners and educators. It found that there was much discussion on the indigenization of social work education in the whole Asia Pacific region when Fiji became independent in 1970. In the beginning, SPC and other international organizations conducted social work workshops as a human resource development program, and social work educators from Aotearoa, New Zealand, also significantly contributed to developing social work education in Fiji. On the other hand, mutual support activities for people without social work education have been implemented as part of social work practice.

Free Research Field

国際ソーシャルワーク(社会福祉）

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

オセアニア圏域ではオーストラリアやニュージーランドの社会福祉研究文献は多くあるが、フィジーは地域研究が盛んであるが社会福祉領域では文献が極端に少ない。本研究は日本国内の社会福祉研究領域で数少ない南太平洋のフィジー共和国のソーシャルワーク教育・実践の資料である。