In a series of short, quietly powerful videos, three women sit before the camera and speak with calm clarity about their work. There is no drama, no embellishment – just truth.

Yet what they reveal may surprise many.

Launched in conjunction with World Social Work Day, the “Myths vs Facts about Social Workers” campaign by Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) Penang and its mainland support centre Pusat Perkhidmatan Wanita (PPW) sets out to do something simple but necessary: correct what Malaysians think they know about social workers, and reveal why social workers deserve recognition – and protection.

“People often think we just give advice,” shares one of the featured social workers in the video series.

The campaign, rolled out across social media, comprises six videos (https://tinyurl.com/wccppw) featuring PPW social workers Husna, Puva and Bee See.

Each clip tackles a common misconception: that social workers are volunteers, that they only help the poor, or that their role is limited to charity – none of which is true.

Social workers are trained professionals with specialised skills. They operate within both government and non-government frameworks, navigating complex systems to support individuals and families in crisis.

Their work often unfolds quietly, behind closed doors – in counselling rooms, shelters, hospitals and courts – where the stakes are high and the outcomes life-changing.

At PPW, that reality is obvious. Established by WCC Penang, the centre supports women and children in mainland Penang who are facing domestic violence, sexual abuse and other forms of crisis.

Here, social workers are often among the first points of contact for survivors – offering not just emotional support, but practical pathways to safety, justice and recovery.

Importantly, their services are not limited to any one demographic.

“Social workers don’t only serve the B40 community,” the campaign emphasises.

Abuse and hardship occur across all backgrounds – and so does the need for support.

Whether it’s a child navigating trauma, a woman seeking refuge from violence, or a family in distress, social workers step in with the same commitment: to uphold dignity, safety and agency.

This year’s World Social Work Day theme, “Co-Building Hope and Harmony”, feels especially apt because at its core, social work is about restoring balance – helping individuals rebuild their lives while strengthening the fabric of communities as a whole.

Yet despite the significance of their work, social workers in Malaysia continue to operate without formal legislative protection.

According to PPW manager Salma Farhanah, this is a gap that urgently needs addressing. The campaign also serves as a call to action for the tabling of a Social Work Profession Bill – a move that would formally recognise social workers, safeguard their rights, and enable them to carry out their duties more effectively.

It’s a reminder that behind every crisis navigated and every life rebuilt, there is a professional working with skill, empathy and resilience – often without the recognition they deserve.

In a world quick to celebrate more visible professions, social workers remain largely unseen.

But perhaps that is what makes this campaign so necessary. It asks us to look closer, to understand better, and to value a profession that holds up society’s most vulnerable – and to give them the protection and recognition they deserve, concludes Salma.

View the videos here. 

More info: @wccpenang (Instagram)