Introduction
1 As someone who began my journey as a social worker, it gives me great pride to be here today to celebrate the contributions of fellow social workers and honouring three exceptional colleagues who represent the very best of our profession. If we go around this room, I am sure you can recount countless stories of lives that you have transformed and impacted through your hard work and dedication.
Staying Ahead of an Evolving Society
2 Our social service sector has come a long way since Singapore’s pre-independence days. Today, you are part of a 20,000 strong vibrant community, each bringing unique expertise to serve individuals, families, and communities better. With 2025 being dedicated as the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals, this marks a fitting tribute to your contributions and impact.
3 As mentioned by Minister in his opening remarks, the social service sector needs to evolve alongside our society, embracing innovation, collaboration and deepening connections to keep pace with, and respond to the changing needs of individuals and communities. As social service professionals, we must broaden our competencies. In the digital age that we live in today, leveraging technology is one way in which we can grow.
4 Artificial intelligence, or AI, has revolutionised our work processes by offering solutions that not only enhance efficiency, but improve the quality of care. Take paperwork, for example – in the past, social workers spent hours transcribing voice recordings from client consultations. This meticulous process took up valuable time that could have been spent directly supporting clients. Today, I am glad to see colleagues in MSF and in the sector experimenting with AI tools to transform this process, cutting transcription time in half and enhancing accuracy, even when multiple languages are involved.
5 The significance of AI in social work goes beyond just saving time. AI allows social workers to do what they do best, that is to engage meaningfully with clients, empower families to build strong foundations, and foster greater good through collaboration with the community. Technology is also essential in moulding the profession through education and skills development.
6 But just as we leverage technology, we must not forget that the heart of social work is deeply rooted in human connections. The sector’s strength lies in empathy, collaboration, and community – not just between social workers and those they serve, but among social workers themselves. Let us continue to adopt a strengths-based, family-centred and proactive approach to empower families, harness their strengths and uplift them.
Outstanding Social Worker Award
7 Today, we come together to recognise not only the unwavering dedication of our social workers but also their remarkable contributions in spearheading innovative practice that create meaningful impact for the communities.
8 Our winners have served with compassion working with children and youth, the elderly as well as with vulnerable communities. We have two Outstanding Social Worker Award recipients this year, Genevieve Wong and Melissa Ler-Lim, whose devotion and leadership have left a lasting mark on the sector.
9 Genevieve, who is the Head of Medical Social Services at National Heart Centre Singapore, has made significant contributions to Singapore’s healthcare landscape over her 25-year career. Launched in 2019, her innovative approach through the Local Area Coordination and Empowerment model empowers patients to leverage personal strengths and talents to contribute to their communities as well as reduce readmissions and avoidable admissions. Genevieve also co-led the One Medifund Assessment Taskforce which significantly enhanced efficiency of healthcare policies and systems. Under her leadership, she steered her team towards a person-centred and community-driven philosophy when undertaking their initiatives.
10 Our second Outstanding Social Worker Award recipient, Melissa Ler-Lim, Principal Social Worker at SHINE Children and Youth Services has contributed significantly to uplift vulnerable children, youth, and families. Melissa pioneered the seconded School Social Worker model and was instrumental in developing the curriculum and providing clinical supervision for the pilot cohort of social work-trained Student Welfare Officers at the Ministry of Education. Her contributions also extend beyond Singapore through her consultations and publications – raising the profile of Singapore School Social Work globally.
11 Our Promising Social Worker Award winner, Louisa Bielig, is recognised for her impactful work in eldercare and dementia care. As a Medical Social Worker at Ren Ci Hospital, Louisa championed initiatives to create a more welcoming environment for new nursing home residents and promoted engagement through programmes like Get Active. With a heart for others to grow, Louisa designed trilingual training for dementia care and mentored team members. She also offered her knowledge and expertise by contributing to social work education, authoring a chapter on caregiver challenges and facilitating training for SASW.
12 Congratulations again to Genevieve, Melissa and Louisa – your selfless contributions and dedication to uplift the society is deeply valued and appreciated. You have shown us what it truly means to touch lives with care.
Conclusion
13 The impact of our award winners – Genevieve in healthcare, Melissa in youth development, and Louisa in eldercare – exemplifies the breadth and depth of social work in Singapore. As we mark our nation’s 60th year of independence and celebrate 2025 as the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals, their achievements reflect the larger story of our profession: how social workers have been instrumental in building a resilient society, strengthening families across generations. Their work, like yours, embodies the progress we have made and the possibilities that lie ahead.
14 I see tremendous promise for our future. Your empathy, resilience, and dedication tell me that whatever challenges emerge, our profession stands ready to adapt and innovate while holding true to our core mission of service.
15 Thank you for your commitment to this noble profession and for building a Singapore where every individual has the opportunity to succeed. Let us continue to work hand in hand to nurture lives and build communities together. I wish you an enjoyable morning ahead. Thank you.