Welcome to Dunedin and the SSPA Conference

Kia Ora Koutou

Working alongside people is an exciting and fast moving field. As the issues faced in the social service sector grow in complexity it becomes very apparent that people have a wide range of expectations and needs. Needs for choice and control of their own decision making about their lives.

To address this range of issues it is appropriate that SSPA has chosen the theme “Soar with the Dream: Resilient families- Healthy Communitie.  Our society is undergoing a significant social change and social change always challenges each of us to think about how we relate to one another. What attitudes do we have to people: as individuals, as workers, as communities and societies?

In what way do these attitudes shape services, policies, even the environments in which we all live?

This year the committee has adopted a different style for the conference and invited Mary-Alice Arthur to bring her skills and energy to this 2008 Soar with the Dream –Resilient Families: Healthy Communities conference

The conference format will be a mix of interactive forums and presentation of new initiatives in a poster format-we encourage you to think about what you can share with the group.

The invited speakers will be with us for the duration and act as a resource for the group in the work of the conference.

Nicola Taylor
Convenor SSPA 2008 committee