Focus Areas

PROF CARLIEN VAN WYK (CHILDREN’S PARTICIPATION)

According to South African legislation, there is a commitment to ensure that children’s human rights are advanced, promoted, protected and developed.  Participation is an ongoing process of children’s expression and involvement in decision-making at different levels in matters that concern them.  It entails showing respect for children’s views on matters affecting their lives, taking into account the child’s age, developmental phase and maturity.

The focus of the research is therefore children’s participation in different contexts.  It is guided by a children’s rights perspective as well as other social work theories: strengths-based perspective, ecological systems approach.  It is contextualised within the diverse realities of Africa.

The ultimate goal of this research is to promote children’s participation in the context of social work in Southern Africa.  It further aims to use the findings of the research to partner with children, youth, families and communities to encourage and promote children’s participation.

DR SUSANNE JACOBS (SUPPORTIVE AND NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS)

Dr Susanne Jacobs (SL) holds a PhD in Education and has been involved in teaching and facilitating learning from ECD to tertiary level.  She also holds a master’s degree in Play therapy. She is a lecturer at the Centre for Child, Youth and Family Studies (NWU from 2009, Centurion office) and is responsible for postgraduate supervision (both distance and contact) of research undertaken by master's and doctoral students in the fields of Education, Social Work and Psychology.

Her interests focus on themes that employ a positive psychological approach to supportive relationships, which have an impact on the psycho-social well-being of learners, peers, teachers, parents, and families, thereby influencing relational well-being within families, society, and schools. Appreciative Inquiry, utilised with individuals or groups in communities, is firstly used as an appreciative perspective (strength-based constructivist approach which simultaneously facilitates change); and secondly, as a method of inquiry. 

The relational well-being perspective assumes that the individual, family, community and society are interconnected and inseparable. A person cannot be in existence in the absence of the other and hence it is important to ensure that all the systems in the South African context are taken care of, as for instance poverty which causes vulnerabilities which then again influences the family (maltreatment, substance abuse, AIDS, bereavement, single parent families, adoption and child headed households, amongst others). The White Paper on families in South Africa (2013) emphasises the importance of ensuring that families are empowered, strengthened and preserved.

Research project for interested students: To look into ECD towards advancing ECD development; mapping the gaps in SA in order to support good early development; thus developing and moving towards capacity-building activities designed to facilitate students’ central research focus towards community development, creating positive relationships and developing and implementing supportive strategies. Findings from the research will be highly relevant and beneficial to organisations/systems employees, parents, teachers, lecturers and relevant stakeholders.

DR ISSIE JACOBS (ECOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORK AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND ADAPTATION)

This research area focuses on the growing field of ecological social work and its critical role in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. It explores how social workers, communities, and institutions can work together to understand and respond to environmental challenges that affect people’s wellbeing and livelihoods. By integrating social, environmental, and community-based approaches, this research aims to strengthen resilience, promote sustainable practices, and support vulnerable populations who are most affected by disasters and environmental change. The research contributes to developing innovative frameworks, policies, and practical interventions that enable social workers to play a meaningful role in building safer, more resilient, and environmentally responsible communities.

PROF MARIETTE VAN DER MERWE (WORKING WITH ASSETS AND RESOURCES IN THE CONTEXTS OF TRAUMA AND POVERTY)

This research focuses on the interplay of material, interpersonal and personal resources in the contexts of trauma and poverty by using qualitative research. Data collection is primarily conducted using visual data collection techniques, such as mapping. Poverty is conceptualised as more than absolute poverty. Max-Neef’s outline of poverty in areas of fundamental human needs is a significant framework. The research is guided by bio-ecological systems theory and strength-based approaches.

Students with a keen interest in trauma and poverty can apply to get more information.

DR LIZANE WILSON (PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION IN THE FIELD OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE)

Child abuse in all its forms is a worldwide problem, and child sexual abuse, especially, is a growing concern in South Africa. This phenomenon has a negative impact on the victim, the family, and society in the long term. The emotional, psychological, and physical traumas that sexual violence victims experience can last for months, years, and for some, even a lifetime. Children living in high-risk areas face elevated risks of child sexual abuse. Therefore, this research focuses on the prevention of child sexual abuse, specifically in high-risk areas, as well as interventions with victims of child sexual abuse.