1st November 2002

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The University of Ulster is advising officials in Croatia on how to restructure social care in that country following the collapse of Communism and the disastrous Balkan civil war in the early 1990s.

Dr Arthur Williamson, Director of the UU’s Centre for Voluntary Action Studies at Coleraine, recently visited the Croatian capital of Zagreb advising central and local government officials on the role of voluntary and nonprofit organisations in a wide range of social care work.

He outlined what structures need to be put in place to help and safeguard groups like children, people with mental or physical disabilities and the elderly.

He said: “Under Communism the state provided all services. Now the country is trying to reform its social care structures so that citizens can have a wider range of options available including state services and services provided by non-profit organisations.

“In Northern Ireland our social care policies have been transformed in recent years. For example, at one time care for elderly people was provided in old people’s homes run by the government. Under the reforms of the early 1990s that situation changed dramatically. As well as being a provider of services the Government is now a purchaser of services from the private and voluntary sectors”, he added.

“I was delighted to be invited to address the Croatian Government’s Council of Social Policy which was attended by representatives of the Croatian Institute for Social Research, the Government’s Office for Associations, by officials from the Department of Family and Youth and by the European Union’s delegation in Croatia and by other civil society organisations.

“It was not only a personal honour but also international recognition of the work of the University of Ulster in the field of social policy”.

The Croatian Minister for Labour and Social Care, Davorko Vidovic, said: “We are eager to exchange views about the role of civil society and voluntary organisations as we consider how to tackle a range of critical social policy questions here in Croatia. "

Dr Williamsons visit was arranged by the Centre for Development of NonProfit Organisations (CEREANO) at the University of Zagreb. It is part of a joint project between the University of Ulster and CEREANO.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk