Elwin was born in Willowdene, Port Elizabeth and attended Fairview South Preparatory School, Willowdene Secondary School and Bethelsdorp Senior Secondary School. He went to the University of the Western Cape where he completed a B.A. in social work in 1982. His career in social work has seen him move through the fields of family work, probation work, school social work and residential social work. Elwin completed a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 1992 at the University of Port Elizabeth and also completed the National Diploma in Child and Youth Care (Cum Laude) at Technikon SA in 2002. 

  

Elwin is employed as a Social Work Office Manager with the Department of Social Development in Port Elizabeth.  Other positions he has held include: Area Manager with Child Welfare South Africa; Principal of the Eastern Province Child and Youth Care Centre; Residential Social Worker at Erica House Place of Safety; Superintendent/ Manager at Outeniekwa House in George; and Control Youth Officer at the Department of Sport Arts and Culture Eastern Cape. 

 

His journey in child and youth care work commenced in 1990 when he was appointed as residential social worker at Erica House CYCC and he became a member of the NACCW. He has attended all the NACCW Biennial Conferences since then where he has regularly presented papers. Elwin helped to resuscitate the dormant Southern Cape Region and was elected as chairperson of that region in 1993.  During the periods 1999 - 2003 and 2008 - 2014 he was Chairperson of the Eastern Cape Region (PE). 

 

Elwin was elected as National Chairperson of the NACCW at the 20th Biennial Conference in Cape Town, and was re-elected unopposed at the following conference. He also serves a member of the South African Council of Social Services Professions (SACSSP) representing the child and youth care sector. He has attended various NACCW leadership seminars as well as workshops, conferences and consultancy sessions and site visits to welfare facilities.    

 

Elwin says: “Over the past years I have seen the field of child and youth care work develop and transform our institutional thinking in line with a developmental approach in our engagements with children and young people.  It is ordinary, real and committed people who create moments of growth and learning experiences for young people and make a difference in their lives. It is child and youth care workers with a positive outlook and attitude who inspire young people and help them to believe in themselves and learn that there are ways to solve their problems.

 

My vision for the NACCW is that we will continue to create opportunities for child and youth care workers to grow and develop their professional skills and become change agents for the enhancement of better care and protection of our children and young people. I would like to see child and youth care workers take their rightful place and space as professionals in the social services arena and be acknowledged for their contribution in the care and development of children and young people in residential and community settings.” 

 

“Do you little bit of  good where you are, it’s those little bits of good put together that will overwhelm the world.”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu