An integral element in the training of SAWs lies in their mentoring by professionally qualified Social Workers, themselves short in numbers, who have been qualified for at least a year. Already saddled with high work caseloads, these Social Workers are called upon to find additional time to mentor up to five learner SAWs each; without them the SAWs cannot learn, get qualified and in turn help ease the overall burden on the delivery of vital community social welfare support services. CEFA supports these Social Worker mentors by providing free of charge training opportunities to help them adhere to their normally costly need to gain the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points they are required to achieve to renew their annual professional registrations.

On the national front there seems to be little to report. Politically, the education sector seems to be quiet. The main development is the Department of Social Development move to upgrade and enhance community development as a profession. Qualification will become available at NQF levels 5 to 8. CEFA is playing its part in this development, with level 5 training to be offered during the year. This will form another career path alongside that of our well known Social Auxiliary Worker (SAW) training. We are busy writing up this exciting development for our website.