Group photos with Ms Apinya CHOMPHUMATH, Director General of the Department of Children and Youth, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and two plenary speakers, Prof. Antoinette LOMBARD, Professor of Social Work at the University of Pretoria and the President of IASSW and Prof. Eric CHUI, Chair Professor of Social Work and Criminology and Head of APSS
Plenary session by Prof. Antoinette LOMBARD (Professor of Social Work at the University of Pretoria and the President of International Association of Schools of Social Work)
Plenary session by Prof. Eric CHUI (Chair Professor of Social Work and Criminology and Head of APSS)
On 11 January 2025, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), in collaboration with the Department of Children and Youth (Thailand), the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), The Social Work Professions Council of Thailand, the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), and the ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare (ATCSW), hosted a seminar on migration, family strengthening and alternative care for children at the MSDHS headquarters in Thailand.
This landmark event marked the first initiative following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between PolyU and The Social Work Professions Council of Thailand. The partnership aims to enhance the professional development of social workers and child protection practitioners in Thailand. Participants, who are policy-makers, senior social workers and child protection professionals, took part in the exchange of ideas and benefitted from insights shared by esteemed international experts.
Prof. Antoinette LOMBARD, Professor of Social Work at the University of Pretoria and the President of IASSW, discussed the needs and challenges of refugees and their children in South Africa.
Prof. Eric CHUI, Chair Professor of Social Work and Criminology and Head of APSS, delivered a presentation on “Alternative Care for Children,” highlighting innovative approaches to child protection in the context of Hong Kong.
The conference concluded with remarks from Ms Apinya CHOMPHUMATH, Director General of the Department of Children and Youth, MSDHS, who expressed her gratitude to the participants for recognising the contribution of social workers in child protection.
This collaborative reflects the shared commitment between PolyU and global organisations to improve child protection systems and foster regional knowledge exchange.
