Frequently Asked Questions about the
SWRB Fees Consultation
This guide is intended for social workers and the general public.
This fee consultation is about maintaining the quality of social work education, which
strengthens the social work profession and protects the public social workers serve.
• The fee proposal ensures new social workers entering the profession are
properly prepared.
• Quality education regulation protects public trust in social work.
• While fees don't directly affect individual social workers, the quality of education
does.
• Strong education standards support our professional standing.
• Your views on maintaining education quality are valuable to this consultation.
These questions are listed in order of popularity/frequency.
Will these fee changes affect me as a social worker or someone wanting to become
a social worker? No, these fees are paid by tertiary education organisations (TEOs) - universities,
polytechnics, wānanga, private training providers - not by individual students or social
workers. Your registration fees and professional obligations remain unchanged. These
fees ensure the quality of social work education programmes. The proposed changes
are designed to create more efficient and predictable regulation while maintaining
quality standards.
Why should I care about education fees if they don't affect me directly? These fees fund the regulation that ensures social work programmes meet high
standards and prepare graduates properly for professional practice. This protects the
public, maintains confidence in our profession, and ensures new social workers
entering the workforce are well-prepared and competent.
Will this improve the quality of social work education? Yes. The new Education Standards and monitoring framework provide clearer
expectations for social work programmes, more consistent quality across providers,
and better preparation of graduates for professional practice. This strengthens public
confidence in social workers and enhances the profession's standing.
How does this protect the public and strengthen the profession? Regular monitoring and clear standards ensure that all social work graduates meet the
same high standards regardless of where they studied. This means employers and the
public can have confidence that all newly qualified social workers have the knowledge,
skills, and attributes needed for safe, competent practice.
Will this affect how long it takes to get new social work programmes approved? The new framework is designed to provide more predictable and efficient processes.
Adequate funding through these fees ensures sustainable, timely processing of
applications and assessments.
How can I find out more or provide feedback? While these fees don't directly affect individual social workers, your views on
maintaining education quality are valuable. Consultation closes at 5pm on Monday, 22
September 2025. You can provide feedback via the online survey at
surveymonkey.com/r/SWRBEdFees2025 or email
[email address].
What if I have queries? Emai
l [email address] with any questions.
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