A Damned Good Job

By focussing on a single complaint of sexual abuse made by an 11-year-old girl against her mother’s partner, this docudrama examines the work done by social workers at the former Department of Social Welfare (now Child, Youth and Family). The victim and her family are actors but the social workers are real people who talk frankly about the confronting situations they face in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” job. The issues are canvassed sensitively by Pamela Meekings-Stewart; Former Māori Language Commissioner Haami Piripi plays the victim’s father.

The media portrays social workers as taking children away from people, or we haven’t done the right job or we’re not doing this, that or the other thing. I think we do a damned good job.

– Social worker Lenis Katavich

Key Cast & Crew

Pamela Meekings-Stewart

Producer, Director

Cheryl Cameron

Writer, Researcher

Wendy Tara Bergin

As: Kiri

Rebecca Mitchell

As: Gail

Margaret Mortimer

As: Mihi

Tamar Much

As: Amy