Dr Marelize Vergottini has extensive experience in various fields within social work, however, it is her 11 years of experience in the education sector that have shaped much of her recent work and research. In 2018, Dr Vergottini completed her PhD in the field of school social work. Her research has contributed greatly to the understanding of social work in educational settings, particularly in how social workers can support the holistic development of children and youth within schools. During 2022, she was employed as a Senior Lecturer at North-West University, Vanderbijlpark Campus.

Retha Bloem is a social worker with a 25 year academic research history. As a graduate from the University of Pretoria, born in 1968, she obtained her B.SW, BA (Hons) industrial Sociology, (cum laude) Magister Atrium,(cum laude)  Masters of Social work (play therapy) (cum laude)  and Ph.D. (UP) under promotorship of Prof Rina Delport  in a period of 10 year.

I am a lecturer at the Centre for Child, Youth and Family Studies (Faculty of Health Sciences) at the North-west University.

I have obtained a BA degree in Social Work at the University of Stellenbosch in 1995.  In 1997 I have obtained a MA in Social Work (Play Therapy) at the University of Pretoria.  I have also completed my PhD in Social Work at the University of Stellenbosch in 2011.  The title of my PhD was:  Occupational stress and the handling thereof by social workers involved in intervention with sexually abused children.