AASW - Australian Association of Social Workers

The AASW is a member of Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA). Recent media release on announcements on the Health Reform Agenda can be viewed here.

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 Code of Ethics is arguably our cornerstone document. It articulates the core values and principles of the social work profession and provides a guide to ethical social work practice. Read more...

 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 AASW is now calling for nominations for a number of National and Branch positions.

These positions are:

• National Vice President
• National Board member (3)

For each of the AASW's 10 Branches:

• Branch President
• Branch Committee member (5)

Elections will be held to if more members nominate for than positions available. Election will be held in August – September and these positions all run from 1 October 2010 until 30 September 2012.

Click here to find out more and download a nomination form for any of the positions.

Talk to us about the Code of Ethics!

The AASW supports the proposed amendment to S26(2) of the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 to amend the reporting requirements for sexual activity in juveniles and to extend the reporting obligations to include social workers and other professional groups working with young people.

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The AASW Board recently discussed and approved a draft model for the operation of ‘Colleges of Practice’ within the AASW. Colleges of Practice will enable experienced and highly skilled social workers to gain a credential above AASW membership and CPE accreditation. This change is part of the Constitutional amendments approved by members in 2007.*

Colleges of Practice are designed to demonstrate the highest professional standards that social workers offer, and thus promote excellence and expertise among social workers to our clients, employers, Governments and the Australian community.

Colleges of Practice are part of the strategy to improve the external profile and standing of the profession. Enabling highly skilled social workers to claim ‘fellowship’ of a College of Practice will assist in showing the expertise that social workers offer.

Entry to a College of Practice will be determined by a rigorous and transparent process, supported by professional staff employed by the AASW. The Education and Accreditation standards identify core skills, knowledge and values for beginning practitioners, and the development of Colleges of Practice will identify the skills required to be an expert partitioner.
The draft model is intended to provide members with more information about the proposals. Your feedback is welcome by COB on 11 March 2010.

*‘Boards of Practice’ were approved by members in the constitutional changes. Subsequent consultations have seen the language refined to Colleges of Practice.

Click here to view the College of Practice Draft Model