Stipend for social workers doubles as profession is moved to 'high priority'
Students to receive €440 a month as government targets workforce shortages
Stipends for social work students will more than double from next month, as authorities step up efforts to attract recruits to the profession.
These students will see their monthly stipend jump from the current €196 to €440, as their profession is bumped up to “high priority” status – recognising the country’s need for more social workers.
Around 50 students, spread across the four-year social work courses offered by the University of Malta and the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), will benefit from the increase, Education Minister Clifton Grima said during the launch.
'I wanted to sow a seed of hope'
Roxanne Clarke said the increased stipend would be a great help, as social work students are required to complete a good number of placement hours, leaving little time to work and earn money.
“It will make a big difference,” the social work student said as her friends nodded in agreement and shared what attracted them to the profession.
“I wanted to sow a seed of hope,” said Jack Farrugia, while Francesca Coleiro said she wanted to give something back to society.
Her friend Beverly Gatt agreed, saying: “I always wanted to be with people and help and never wanted a desk job.” She added that her experiences so far had taught her that people really need someone to genuinely listen to them.
Jordan Gauci, who previously worked in customer care at Aġenzija Appoġġ, said seeing social workers around him inspired him to pursue the same path. He described it as a "unique job that allows you to grow as a person".
The students joined forces in encouraging people to seek support when needed and in urging others to consider a career in social work.
'A noble and important profession'
Meanwhile, minister Grima said the stipend boost follows recent changes to the system, allowing the Student Maintenance Grants Board to introduce a three-tier structure reflecting the country’s workforce needs.
The three tiers include the general tier, which most students benefit from and currently stands at just over €115; the prescribed tier of around €196; and the high-priority tier, which previously stood at €384.
All tiers will increase by 15 per cent under the latest budget measures, bringing the high-priority stipend to €440.
Social work students previously fell under the prescribed category and have now, for the first time, been moved to the high-priority tier.
Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) chief executive Alfred Grixti welcomed the move, saying it would help encourage more people to join the “noble and important” profession.
He said the foundation - the country’s largest employer of social workers - currently employs over 300 professionals who last year dealt with 25,000 service users.
Each year, around 15 students graduate from the University of Malta, prompting authorities to introduce incentives to boost numbers.
These include improved working conditions, the opening of the MCAST course — now in its second year — and the revised stipend system.
Grixti said that within the next three to four years, services would require around 130 additional social workers, with demand continuing to rise.
Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon said social workers would always be needed and could always find employment, as he encouraged more people to take up the profession.