In: Academic murals: Social work research exemplars. MASW reports 2015 (pp. 370-425), edited by Blake Gardiner, Shirley Jülich and Kathryn Hay

"This research focuses on how Pākehā social workers can learn to fulfil the challenge of Pūao te Āta Tū,

the 1988 report of the Ministerial Advisory committee on a Māori perspective for the Department of Social Welfare, by improving their/our bicultural practice.

Since the release of Pūao te Āta Tū, there has been a greater awareness of the need for culturally responsive social services grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Social workers of all ethnicities are expected to demonstrate a commitment to Te Tiriti. However, there is still a lack of shared understanding about how tauiwi social workers can move towards better fulfilling this commitment.

This research aims to contribute to filling this gap by interviewing Pākehā social workers with a
strong commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi about their learning experiences and processes.

The findings of this research add a picture of lived experience and holistic learning to the existing literature on Pākehā professionals and biculturalism. Particular aspects of this include; acquiring knowledge and cultural skills, maintaining change over time, processing emotions and
one’s own cultural lens, reflection and discussion, and relationship, love, joy, and spirituality.

The research findings also add an increased emphasis on relational and whole-of-life learning, an understanding of the tensions involved in being a Pākehā practitioner who is committed to biculturalism, an awareness of the role silence and silencing play in maintaining institutional racism, and various specific ideas about how cultural competence can develop within a Treaty framework.." (Author's abstract).

This research report is included in the 2015 MASW research reports monograph. "This monograph has come about due to our reflections that the research undertaken by many of the Master of Applied Social Work (MASW) students is excellent and perhaps of considerable interest to others. Therefore, we decided to collate some of the best research reports from 2015 into a monograph which would enhance accessibility for those interested in the topics and future students seeking inspiration. (From the editors' introduction). Record #5629