Session 9

Social Work Practice and Research in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

P69  Research on the Practical Path and Ethical Norms of AI Empowered Local Community Social Work in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

*XiaoYao He¹

¹School of Philosophy and Sociology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Artificial intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities to enhance the quality and efficiency of social work services. However, the application of AI in local community social work still faces challenges including insufficient localization adaptation, vague ethical boundaries, and a weakened humanistic core. Particularly in the multicultural context of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), there is a notable gap in relevant practice and theoretical research. This study aims to explore the practical path of AI technology adapted to local community social work in the GBA, clarify the ethical boundaries and normative framework of AI application, and provide a replicable practice paradigm for innovative AI application in local community social work across the Asia-Pacific region.

Methods: This study adopted a mixed-methods design. From June to December 2025, 24 social work service institutions in 6 GBA cities were selected for research. Quantitatively, a structured questionnaire was distributed to 186 frontline community social workers to analyze their AI tool usage, perceived service efficiency, and ethical dilemmas. Qualitatively, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 social work institution managers and 8 community service recipients, with thematic analysis used to extract core pain points and localization needs of AI-empowered social work services.

Results: The study found that only 32.8% of community social workers in the GBA use AI tools, with core barriers in three dimensions: poor localized scenario adaptability (78.5%), data security and privacy concerns (69.9%), and lack of professional ethical norms (64.5%). AI tools can improve work efficiency by over 40% in community demand screening, case follow-up, and service evaluation, but over-reliance on AI weakens emotional connections with clients and reduces social workers' professional judgment. Meanwhile, the study identified three core application scenarios of AI social work services adapted to the GBA's multicultural context, and constructed an ethical framework covering four dimensions: informed consent, privacy protection, humanistic bottom line, and cultural adaptation.

Conclusions and Implications: This study confirms that AI can effectively empower local community social work, but its application must be based on localized cultural adaptation, bounded by professional ethical norms, and rooted in the humanistic core of social work. The findings provide practical guidance for frontline social work institutions to apply AI tools, theoretical reference for integrating AI ethics and practice into social work education, and localized experience for innovative AI practice in multicultural social work scenarios in the Asia-Pacific region, promoting the in-depth and sound integration of technology and the social work profession.

P70  Research on the Collaborative Development Practice of Social Work in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

*Guan Wang¹

¹Shenzhen Association of Social Workers, Shenzhen, China

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Advancing the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is a major national strategy. Within the GBA's development, the integration and collaborative advancement of social work constitute a crucial component for promoting social service development and enhancing the well-being of residents across the three regions. Hong Kong and Macao possess mature social work development experience, while social work in the Pearl River Delta cities has accumulated over a decade of practice, with each area exploring and forming distinct development models and innovative experiences. This study aims to investigate the practice of collaborative social work development in the GBA. It seeks to summarize the beneficial experiences gained from the integration and collaborative development of social work across the three regions, and analyze strategies for promoting further collaborative development in the next phase.

Methods: This study employs a comprehensive approach combining literature review and interview methods. It primarily involves reviewing and analyzing relevant literature on social work development in the "9+2" cities of the GBA. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives from social work regulatory departments, industry associations, and social service organizations in Hong Kong, Macao, and the nine mainland cities including Guangzhou and Shenzhen. This allowed for a comprehensive understanding and integrated analysis of the practical experiences in collaborative social work development across these regions.

Results: The research identifies five key aspects of collaborative social work development practice in the GBA: 1.Providing Supervision to Foster Professional Talent Development: Cities like Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Foshan have actively collaborated with Hong Kong. Through initiatives such as "Supervision Plans", experienced Hong Kong social workers are invited to provide supervisory services in Guangdong. 2.Conducting Academic Exchanges to Promote Professionalization: The GBA facilitates academic exchange and experience integration through international conferences, academic forums, seminars, and symposiums. 3.Facilitating Interactive Exchanges for Mutual Learning of Development Experience: Through teaching visits, continuing education, thematic sharing sessions, and study tours, the GBA has achieved mutual reference of practical social work experiences among the regions. 4.Implementing Professional Mutual Recognition to Facilitate Service Provision: Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and other areas have innovatively implemented systems for the mutual recognition of social work professional qualifications. This has smoothed the pathway for Hong Kong and Macao social workers and social service organizations to provide services in Guangdong. 5.Exploring Collaborative Service Practices to Jointly Enhance Resident Well-being: Social workers in the GBA actively engage in cross-border services, providing professional support to various groups including children, families, and the elderly, thereby promoting the well-being of residents across the three regions.

Conclusions and Implications: Future strategies for collaborative social work development in the GBA encompass the following four aspects: 1.Further Implementing the Requirements of the "Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" to improve the systems and mechanisms for collaborative social work development in the GBA. 2.Enhancing Regional Linkages to promote the sharing of social service resources and multi-dimensional cooperation within the GBA. 3.Fully Leveraging the Role of Hub Organizations to lead the deep integration of social organizations and talent within the GBA. 4.Effectively Responding to Livelihood Needs to jointly advance the high-quality development of social work services in the GBA.

P71  Research on the Social Work Practice in International Blocks Construction in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

*Shanshan He¹, Peishan Xiao¹

¹Shenzhen Nanshan Southwind Social Work Service Center, Shenzhen, China

Abstract

Background and Purpose: With the advancement of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) construction and the further deepening of China's opening-up, an increasing number of expats have settled in Shenzhen, which has brought new challenges to urban public services and grassroots governance. This research aims to explore the role of social work in international blocks construction, and seeks to answer the following core research questions: What is the core connotation of international block construction? Why is the participation of social work organizations necessary for international block construction? What roles and functions can social workers undertake and exert in this process?

Methods: This research adopts a practice-based case study design, focusing on the practices of Shenzhen Nanshan Southwind Social Work Service Center (Southwind). The research draws on Southwind’s decade of engagement in international services, by adopting participatory observation, document analysis, and service model summarization. The practice analysis framework of the research includes platform construction, team building, mechanism development and service implementation.

Results: The research summarizes the integrated "platform-team-mechanism-service" operation model explored and developed by Southwind. Key findings are as follows: First, categorized international service platforms have been established in light of different types of international blocks including international communication block, international commerce, culture and tourism block, international industrial innovation block and international education and scientific research block. Second, a "1+N" multi-stakeholder coordination mechanism involving government departments, communities, social work organizations and foreign-related organizations, etc. Third, a foreign-related social work team and a large international volunteer team have been cultivated, forging a "foreign-related social workers + international volunteers" dual collaboration model. Fourth, five core services are provided for foreign groups, namely government services, foreign-related legal support, multicultural exchange, industrial development services and international environment creation.

Conclusions and Implications: Social work plays a systematic and pivotal role in the international blocks governance by providing professional, integrated and cross-cultural services. The practical model summarized in this research effectively improves the accessibility of public services, promotes cross-cultural integration and enhances the capacity of grassroots governance. The research suggests that it is necessary to strengthen the construction of the foreign-related governance system, improve the risk identification mechanisms in international services, and enhance the cross-cultural communication skills of different groups. These findings provide valuable practical references and theoretical insights for policy formulation, social work practice and subsequent academic research on the development of international blocks.

P72  The relationship between staff attitudes toward older people and social distance in the context of supermarkets

*Sok Leng Che¹, Wai In Lei², Sok Man Leong³

¹Nursing and Health Education Research Centre, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macao, China; ²Nursing and Health Study Centre, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macao, China; ³Research Management and Development Department, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macao, China

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The WHO Age-Friendly Cities Framework identifies eight domains that promote older adults’ participation in society, including “social participation” and “respect and social inclusion,” which stress the importance of enabling older adults to remain engaged and integrated in community life. Supermarkets play an important role in the daily routines of community dwelling older adults, serving not only as places to purchase necessities but also as spaces for social interaction. The social distance of supermarket staff can shape the quality of these interactions and influence opportunities for social participation, social integration, and community cohesion. Negative staff attitudes may further increase social distance. Despite supermarkets’ close connection to older adults’ lives, little attention has been given to fostering age friendly supermarket environments. This study therefore examines how staff attitudes toward older adults influence perceived social distance.

Methods: A cross‑sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire between November 2025 and January 2026. Convenience and snowball sampling methods were employed. The study population comprised all employees working in supermarkets in Macau. The research instruments included the Kogan’s Attitude toward Older People Scale (KAOP) and the Social Distance Scale (SDS). Chi‑square tests and one‑way ANOVA were employed to compare SDS scores across demographic groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with social distance toward older adults.

Results: A total of 229 valid questionnaires were collected. Most participants were female (n = 135, 58.95%), aged 35–54 years (n = 137, 59.83%), non‑Macau residents (n = 139, 60.70%), and reported a monthly income of MOP 0–10,000 (n = 133, 58.08%). In terms of employment characteristics, the majority were full‑time staff (n = 215, 93.89%) and held customer‑facing positions—such as stockers, cashiers, store managers/supervisors, or shop assistants (n = 193, 84.28%). The mean KAOP score was 140.94 ± 30.20, and the mean SDS score was 26.96 ± 11.95. Significant differences in SDS scores were observed across age groups, job positions, and residency status. Linear regression analysis showed that, after controlling for all variables, higher monthly income and higher KAOP scores were associated with lower SDS scores.

Conclusions and Implications: The social distance between supermarket staff and older adults in Macao was at a moderate level, and staff generally showed positive attitudes toward older people. Staff attitudes emerged as a key determinant of the degree of social distance expressed during interactions with older customers. Enhancing staff attitudes and reducing social distance may strengthen older adults’ social participation and overall community experience, thereby supporting broader aging‑in‑place initiatives.

P73  The Paradox of Proximity: Migrant Domestic Workers Navigating Intimacy and Inequality in Hong Kong's Home-Based Eldercare

*Lingshuang Jiang¹, Dexia Kong¹

¹Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Dementia has become a major public health challenge in China, accounting for nearly 30% of the global dementia population. Rural areas bear a particularly heavy burden due to limited healthcare resources, service infrastructure, and public awareness. In these settings, care is often delivered under constrained conditions, and less is known about how frontline healthcare personnel sustain dementia care in practice. This study examines the experiences of healthcare personnel in rural Sichuan, focusing on key challenges, adaptive strategies, and implications for service development.

Methods: This qualitative study is based on focus group discussions with 30 healthcare professionals working across village-, township-, and district-level institutions in rural Sichuan. Participants were purposively sampled to capture variation in professional roles, institutional contexts, and levels of clinical experience. Data were collected through semi-structured focus group discussions and analyzed using thematic analysis. An iterative coding process was employed, combining inductive theme development with constant comparison to identify shared patterns and contextual variations in participants’ accounts.

Results: Findings reveal a persistent gap between care demands and available resources in rural dementia care. Frontline professionals face chronic shortages in staffing, infrastructure, and specialized training. These challenges are compounded by communication difficulties with people living with dementia and by mismatched family expectations regarding disease progression. Despite these constraints, healthcare professionals sustain care through pragmatic, experience-based strategies. These include maintaining ongoing communication with families, recalibrating expectations over time, and flexibly adapting care practices to patients’ evolving conditions and behavioral symptoms. The findings also highlight the far-reaching impact of dementia on families, including ongoing emotional and physical exhaustion, disrupted employment, and increasing financial strain. Barriers to early diagnosis remain pronounced due to limited awareness, economic hardship, restricted access to services, and persistent stigma, which delay timely intervention.

Conclusions and Implications: This study highlights the central role of frontline healthcare professionals in delivering dementia care in rural China, where care must be continuously adapted to meet changing needs under resource-constrained conditions. Strengthening dementia care therefore requires targeted support for both healthcare providers and families. For frontline professionals, this involves enhanced training and adequate resources to support care delivery. For families, who carry substantial caregiving responsibilities, priorities include improving access to long-term care, expanding coverage for dementia-related treatment, developing accessible community-based services, and promoting earlier recognition of dementia alongside more timely engagement with care. Future research should examine how care needs evolve over the course of dementia and how both healthcare providers and families adapt to these changes, in order to better understand how care can be sustained over time.