News

The Law Awareness Committee conducted its 1st Legal Workshop 2003 for social workers on 11 January 2003 at the Ministry of Community Development and Sports (‘MCDS’). This event was jointly organised by the Rotary Family Service Centre, MCDS and the Law Society of Singapore.

Mr Foo Say Tun

Mr Foo Say Tun, the immediate past Chairman of the Committee, talked on the legislative provisions governing the Children and Young Persons Act, whilst, Mr Christopher Woo, Vice-Chairman of the Committee, delivered on the Destitute Persons Act. There were two other speakers from MCDS; Ms Fong Wai Mian, Assistant Director of the Children Protection Service and Ms Parvati Chitty, Assistant Director of the Destitute Persons Service.

The workshop was attended by social workers and members from the various social service agencies such as Social Service Providers (Family Service Centres and Elder Service Centres ), Welfare Homes, Special Interest Groups (MINDS, Down’s Syndrome Association, Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped, Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme and Spastic Children Association of Singapore), and Special Schools. The overwhelming response to the workshop has sparked tremendous zeal on the organisers’ part to put together more of the same. The benefit gained by all present and the sense of satisfaction and worthiness over social work that was in the air formed the twin engines of delight felt by the organisers.

Mr Christopher Woo	Further to this, Mr Foo and Mr Woo must be thanked for the manner in which they allowed those present to appreciate the legal mechanics of the work they carry out on a day to day basis. The question and answer session at the end of the workshop bore testament to this, and motivated the organisers to arrange for more workshops in a similar vein to be conducted in the future.
The Legal Workshop saw an encouraging turnout by social workers	We cannot make special mention of gratitude to any one particular group at the workshop. Those who attended made the workshop a success, and hence everyone deserves a pat on the back. Thanks all; let’s look to more such meetings in the near future.