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Social workers plan to designate a day in October to improve their image in the community.

Social Workers Association chairman Chua Hoi-wai  said the profession needed a day to celebrate, get together and discuss their work.

Various events, including  exhibitions, forums and seminars, will be organised  for Hong Kong Social Work Day.

'We have not yet fixed a day but it will be sometime in October,' Mr Chua said.

The news came before social workers worldwide mark the first World Social Work Day  on Tuesday.

The theme is 'Social Work: Making a World of Difference'  and it will highlight how social workers try to help people make positive changes in their lives.

Mr Chua said the image of the city's 13,000 social workers was declining and it was hoped the  October events would improve it.

The negative spotlight fell on the profession  recently when a social worker  on leave threw  acid  on his wife in Tin Shui Wai.

Mr Chua said one reason for the poor image was because social workers in the past few years had protested against  funding cuts.

'That made the public believe that we were interested only in ourselves,' he said.

'Also conflicts broke out between social workers because some worked for the government while others worked for NGOs. So we can sit down on that day in October and discuss  work. This could be the start of improving things.'

Mr Chua said the public sometimes had unrealistic expectations of the profession.

'People tend to think that we can resolve all their problems,' he said. 'When we face a jobless family, they   think we can arrange a job but we can't.

'All we can do is to help people look for jobs. We hope a series of community events  will help change that perception.'



Social  workers  want their own day