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A Damned Good Job

Television (Full Length) – 1991

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

Profile image for Pamela Meekings-Stewart

Pamela Meekings-Stewart

Producer, Director

Generic Profile image for Cheryl Cameron

Cheryl Cameron

Writer, Researcher

Generic Profile image for Wendy Tara Bergin

Wendy Tara Bergin

As: Kiri

Generic Profile image for Rebecca Mitchell

Rebecca Mitchell

As: Gail

Generic Profile image for Margaret Mortimer

Margaret Mortimer

As: Mihi

Generic Profile image for Tamar Much

Tamar Much

As: Amy

See all 14 credits

Produced by

Pamela Meekings-Stewart