Update to National e-Bulletin

May 15 2010

Dear [FirstName],

Yesterday, I told you how proud I was of social workers, how they have stood up and acted to defend their clients’ interests, as well as the interests of our profession. Today, I can tell you that it is working.

The staff have been working the phones and email non-stop til the office closed on Friday, engaging with organisations and individuals to win their support. They’ve also been talking to members, supporting and encouraging them to take action.

I can’t remember the phones and emails ever being so busy, so please do be patient if you have had trouble getting through, or are still waiting for a reply. We will get to all of you, that’s a promise.

Joint letter of support

Organisations can now show their support for you, and for the AASW, by endorsing this joint letter to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon. Please forward this letter to potential allies and ask them to endorse it by emailing the team here.

What you’ve been doing

I know, from what you and the staff have told me, how busy hundreds, or is it thousands, of you have been talking and writing to your MPs, Senators, local and State media. Every one of those calls, emails and letters opens one more door to the staff to ask for a meeting,

Facebook page
There is a facebook page now that a couple of members have set up. A facebook account is free and it can be a really great way to network with each other, share ideas and problems, and report successes.

Members’ forum
We‘ve created a forum in the members’ area of the website, and this can also help you share and learn from each others’ actions. The forum is for members only. To access it:

• Log in at the top of any page of the website, using your membership number and password (or click the 'lost password' link, or call 1800 630 124 for support).
• Go to "Member Resources", and then
• Click on "Medicare (Better Access) cuts"

Meetings and networks
I know that many of you have been meeting and networking with colleagues and influential people. Again, I ask you to take a few minutes to share some of that with each other, the staff and me by using the forum or the facebook page.

Media

It feels like a week ago, but only yesterday morning I was talking on ABC in the Riverland, SA, and was joined by one of our members there. Thank you for setting that up.

I did an interview for ABC news as well, which was played on several news programs around the country.

I know members Vivian and Yvette called ABC Radio Melbourne and spoke with Jon Faine who said he would follow up with the Minister. The staff have contacted his producers too.

Special thanks to Lynne in Sydney who spoke on news this morning – you can listen to it and read it.

If you have done other media activities I thank you, and I'm sorry I can't share it with everyone. There is just too much to keep informed of it all. Please use the members' forum or facebook page to share your activities.

Two GP’s have written offering their support to the campaign today and also wrote to the Minister – one from Tasmania, one from rural NSW.
 

More members' resources

Many of you have been contacting us asking for more details about the Government’s decision, and sometimes those details are not included in the information we have seen in the Budget papers.

We’ve updated the mental health page of the website with some more information, please take a look there first. If you still need more information, please call the office in Canberra or Melbourne. It’s possible that we don’t know the answers, there aren’t many details yet and we’ve put some of your questions through to the Department of Health and Ageing (DOHA).

Many of you will be hearing back from your MPs in the coming days, and I need to give you more background information to counter the argument I’ve been hearing from officials at DOHA.

The Government is arguing that funds from the Medicare (Better Access) program could be better used in the ATAPS (Access to Allied Psychiatric Services) program, and that there will be opportunities for social workers from that funding. This fact sheet provides you with an initial briefing in case you hear that from your MP or others.

What's next

I and several staff will be working over some of the weekend to keep the wheels turning, and next week we head back to Parliament House for some more meetings. We have another media interview invitation for Sunday evening in Canberra, and if you're in Melbourne listen out for Jon Faine's program on Monday.

Kind regards
Kandie

Kandie Allen-Kelly
BSocWk MPhil MAASW (Acc)

Chief Executive Officer
Australian Association of Social Workers
P.O. Box 4956
Kingston ACT 2604
Tel: +61 2 6232 3900
Membership: 1800 630 124
ceo@aasw.asn.au
www.aasw.asn.au