Annual District Highlights

District Highlights 2024-25

Building a Caring Community

In collaboration with various social welfare service units in the district, a series of community activities were launched to promote messages of mental well-being and positive living among residents. These initiatives fostered a culture of neighbourhood mutual support across different sectors of the community, strengthening the district support network, and furthering the spirit of care embodied in the Green Ribbon Campaign. To complement the Care the Carers Campaign, “Walk with the Carers” was organised together with social welfare service units and community groups to consolidate community strength, raise public awareness of carers’ physical and psychological needs, and extend care and compassion to every corner of the community.

Caring for Family and Children

Service units in the district were engaged to train Caring Family Ambassadors and organise a wide range of support groups and activities for parents, with the aim of identifying and providing early assistance to families potentially at risk. Besides, workshops were conducted to enhance frontline social workers’ counselling skills in facilitating effective communication between divorced parents, thereby promoting the concept of co-parenting. To support the implementation of the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, a series of professional training sessions and sharing forums were convened to enhance frontline social workers and relevant personnel’s understanding of the statutory requirements, and strengthen their professional knowledge.

Supporting the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities, Caring for the Carers

The “Sha Tin District Carer Support Scheme” was launched to promote cross-organisation and cross-sectoral collaboration in the district. “Sha Tin District Carers Cafes” were established jointly with social welfare service units to provide carers of elderly persons and persons with disabilities (PWDs) with support, space and opportunities to build peer networks. The Sha Tin District Commendation Scheme for Carers was also held to recognise the selfless contributions of carers. A wide range of professional training workshops was organised for frontline social workers and healthcare personnel to enhance their knowledge of elder protection and dementia, and to foster inter-professional collaboration in providing effective support to elderly persons and their carers. Furthermore, the District Social Welfare Office partnered with rehabilitation service organisations to introduce mental health services through roadshows, and to showcase the artistic talents of PWDs at arts fairs, thereby promoting inclusivity, and fostering a more supportive community atmosphere.

Supporting Youth to Reach their Potential and Nurturing their Growth with Care

In collaboration with the Education Bureau’s Sha Tin District School Development Section and The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong, professional training activities were organised to enhance the capabilities of frontline social workers, educators, and counsellors in identifying youths’ psychological and emotional issues, and deepen their knowledge of crisis intervention. Moreover, the job shadowing programme for young people in the district continued to help them better understand career opportunities in the elderly and rehabilitation care service sector, thereby broadening their employment horizons and encouraging diverse career development pathways.