Pair recognised on Social Worker Day

A LOVE OF HUMANITY: Child Youth and Family social workers Anne Aburn (left) and Lynnette Stutz, recognised for their years of service on Social Worker Day today.

Child Youth and Family recognised Social Worker Day today with a presentation to recognise two of their long-time stalwarts.

Lynnett Stutz, Longbush, and Ann Aburn are both members of Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers.

In fact, Ms Aburn is one of the founding members, having started in social work as a "social science cadet" in the early sixties.

She said she took a 25-year break to raise a family, then was asked to form an association branch in Wairarapa in 1986.

"I came to social work as a young person, and the work has changed over the years.

"I started off in Maori Welfare, I'm now into caregiving work."

Ms Stutz came to social work in her fifties, after being made redundant in Wellington.

"I had left school when I was 14," she said. "I decided to go to UCOL, spent a year there, then went to Victoria University, then on to Otago for a masters."

She has retired, but still works because of "a love of humanity with all its foibles - including my own.

"It's very good to walk alongside people who, for whatever reason, at that time, require a bit of assistance.

"If I can go to uni at 52, after leaving school at 14, there's nothing to stop you."

She said the ANZASW serves a vital purpose in speaking out for change, since individual social workers are on employment contracts and not able to speak.