Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 1) | Page 8

Social Work Scene in Singapore: From its Beginnings till Present

Outstanding Social Worker Award
In the same year, the most prestigious award for Social Workers in Singapore
was also inaugurated. Today, we have more than 50 who have received the
Outstanding Social Worker Award. The Award is now expanded to include
the Promising Social Worker Award.
In the recent decade, the number of scholarships for Social Work has also
increased and the credentials of the candidates have included outstanding
achievements in both academic and community service.

Professionalism…
A high level of professionalism is a mark of a mature profession. It is marked
by the ability to take charge and to be in control and accountable for what
is a professional judgement and opinion. It involves a systems approach at
viewing issues and goes beyond the individual cases.
It is a professional wisdom that is drawn from, among other things, the
collective experience of intervening in many individual cases. Social work in
Singapore is relatively young in comparison to many of the other professions
such as engineers, lawyers or accountants. Even among the human services,
social work is a more recent discipline compared with the doctors, dentists
and nurses.

Publishing writing
Key to the standing of a profession is also its ability to produce and publish
knowledge about its professional expertise. The sharing of that knowledge
through journals and other publications are hallmarks of a profession and
adds to the public face of a profession. Writing and publishing writing are a
reflection of the profession’s capacity to produce knowledge and apply it to
improve services to citizens.
Today, social workers in Singapore share their unique experiences and
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