The challenge with defining social work in Fiji

For Pacific Islands like Fiji, the dominance of Western social work approaches highlights stark resource disparities between the West and so called 'developing' nations. Western-centric codes and standards often undervalue local traditions and stages of development, risking accusations of imperialism and perpetuating colonialism. These approaches often conflict with collectivist values rooted in kinship, community networks, and extended family systems that characterize many non-Western cultures. The adoption of international standards may restrict the development of indigenous theories and practices. However, despite growing awareness of cultural relativity and indigenisation, uncritical adoption of Western methods in the Pacific Islands remains prevalent. This paper utlises talanoa, a Pacific qualitative methodology to explore the lived practice experiences and understandings of 61 social workers across the Fiji Islands. It highlights sites of contention as Fijian social workers grapple with informal, relationally driven and community imbued models in start contrast to individualised and case management approaches. Such narratives reveal a dichotomy between a drive for “Fiji style” and culturally informed practice and a push to enforce neoliberal ideals. These sites of contention within Fiji depict a microcosm of global debates within international social work and offer unique insights into the way social work continues to both unify and polarise its global community.