AASW - Australian Association of Social Workers

Insurance Commission of WA increases fees paid to Social Workers. 

The 2011 WA Social Worker of the Year Awards are now open for nominations.

Founding Partners the AASW WA Branch, Curtin University and the University of Western Australia, are delighted to invite you to nominate an exceptional WA social worker for consideration in this year’s Awards. The Awards recognise the diverse and professional work of our profession and provide our community with role models for the future.

The Founding Partners are pleased to again welcome as individual Award sponsors: the Department for Child Protection, Edith Cowan University, GESB, KPMG Australia and Richmond Fellowship WA. 

The five categories for nomination from which the Social Worker of the Year is chosen are:

• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Social Worker Award sponsored by Richmond Fellowship WA. 
• Agent of Change Award, sponsored by KPMG Australia
• Head, Heart & Hands Award sponsored by the Department for Child Protection  
• Rising Star Award sponsored by GESB
• Rural and Remote Practitioner Award sponsored by Edith Cowan University 

Detailed information on the Awards criteria and nomination process will be available on the new Awards website from 10 June 2011. 

Anyone can submit a nomination so spread the word amongst your colleagues from all professions as well as to consumers. Identify a social worker for one of the above categories, who makes an outstanding contribution in their work for clients, community and the social work profession and nominate them for a generous prize.

If the social worker you nominate is a finalist in an Award category there is a prize package for you too!

The Social Worker of the Year Awards will be announced in a not to be missed early evening celebratory event at the University Club, University of WA on Monday 7 November 2011.

Pencil this date in your diary now!
 

The AASW has recently held national elections to fill three positions on the National Board of Directors, as required by the Constitution. Only one person nominated for the Vice President position so the ballot was held for the three director positions only.

New Board Members

The 3 positions available have been filled by:

• Deb Lee
• Sue Cumming
• Brian Wooller

Vittorio Cintio was elected unopposed to the position of Vice President.

The terms of office for these Board members commences on October 1 and runs until September 30, 2012.
National Board Positions

The Board wishes to thank Joe Calleja, Jill Garratt and Donnie Martin for their contributions to the AASW during their time on the National Board. The full list of Board Directors will be amended when the new Directors take office on October 1.

Branch Committees of Management Positions
A number of nominations have been received for Branch President and Branch Committee of Management positions. None of these positions has been contested and the list of nominations is available here. These positions also run from October 1 until September 30, 2012.

The Returning Officer has confirmed that AASW National Elections were held in accordance with the AASW By Laws and that the results are complete, accurate and fair.
 

After a very successful three and a half years with the AASW, it is with great regret that we announce the resignation of the CEO, Kandie Allen-Kelly.

Kandie has led the AASW through a period of significant growth, stabilisation and development. She has provided high quality and valuable strategic and operational leadership throughout her time with the AASW. This has included a number of significant profile achievements such as the successful Better Access campaign, improved public profile, increased partnerships and recognition by government on advisory committees and through policy submissions. Operationally her achievements include leading the development of a new website, online membership manager, e-communications and event management systems and a world class Code of Ethics.

Kandie has decided that it is time to look to new professional challenges and to spend more time with her family. Her last day in the office will be 3rd June 2011. We are pleased that Kandie will continue to represent social work on three national expert advisory committees this year and will continue her active membership and engagement with the AASW into the future.

The AASW Board is working closely with Kandie to ensure that there is a smooth transition with the person who will be appointed to take up the acting CEO position while a recruitment process is undertaken.

Kandie has thanked the AASW Board, staff and members for the opportunity to work with them to advance the profession and the AASW. She acknowledges the hard work and commitment of her leadership team and staff of the AASW and wishes all well for the future. 
 

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is tonight celebrating a campaign victory for mental health services for low income and disadvantaged people.

The Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, and the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, have announced that the Government has backed down on its decision to remove social workers and occupational therapists from the Better Access to Mental Health Services program (Better Access).
 

The AASW is disappointed that the announcement by Prime Minister Gillard on mental health has failed to address the removal of social workers from the Better Access (Medicare) program.

Read more.

The AASW Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 12 November at the Owen J Wordsworth Room, Level 12, S Block, QUT Gardens Point, Brisbane, Queensland.

The meeting starts at 5.45 for 6.00 pm (AEDT - Qld time).
 

 The Australian Services Union (ASU) has organized a National Equal Pay Day of Action for 10 June 2010 “Pay Up - No More Lip Service to Equal Pay”, with rallies organized in most capital cities. The ASU is the union of Community Sector Workers.

The AASW strongly supports and is actively participating in the ASU’s fair wages test case using the new Equal Remuneration Laws embedded in the Fair Work Act. The outcome of the case will affect about 200,000 community workers.

The ASU believes that:
Community Sector workers are undervalued and underpaid and not properly respected. Their work has traditionally been seen as "women's work" and their wages have been restricted as a result.

The AASW believes that:
Australia needs a plan to attract and retain high quality professionals, including social workers, to work in the community sector. An improvement to wages, along with accreditation of the community sector workforce, would be great steps forward in achieving that. We strongly encourage all members who are able to attend the Day of Action on June 10 to do so as proud AASW members.

The Community Sector is largely reliant on Government funding to run its essential services and to pay the wages of the workers. Winning the case is only half the battle, as workers need the Government to fund the outcome of the case to make Equal Pay a reality. ASU members will push for the funding and are seeking wider support for the campaign. Click here for more information 

The AASW has produced a briefing for candidates to assist members writing and meeting with their local constituency candidates.

Click here to download the briefing. 

The 10-hour online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) training CBT Fundamentals: Processes and Techniques in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy program is now avaliable. This development of this program has been a collaborative project between AASW and the Australian Psychological Society and Occupational Therapy Australia.