National e-Bulletin
8 June 2010
Dear [FirstName],
I know you have been keenly following our work on the Better Access to Mental Health (Medicare) policy since the Federal Budget on May 11. There is an update and a requested action for that work in this e-bulletin. As you know, the AASW works on a wide range of issues and I thought it was timely to provide an update to some of the other work we’ve been doing in the past month.
Also, don’t forget that your membership of the AASW now needs to be renewed and of course you can do so through the website. Renew before July 13 for the ‘early bird’ discount.
ASU National Equal Pay Day of Action
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. I encourage you to attend.
Click here for more information
Mental Health Update
Where to Now?
We provided written briefings to the Senators who conducted the Senate Estimates hearings last week. We issued a media release (link) in response to the evidence session, and we also followed up with a letter to the Minister and a call to the senior Department official.
The Minister replied within a day, and has committed to consult with social workers on their skills and commitment to provide mental health services to Australians, particularly those from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds, and those with multiple conditions affecting their lives. The Government has indicated that it will arrange a face to face meeting with members in the next month, attended by a senior staff member in the Minister’s office and officials in the Department, to hear these views first hand.
We are working now to find a suitable date in the next month and on logistics for the meeting.
In the meantime, if you want to stay active in the campaign, it’s important that you continue to consolidate support among your allies where you live, including GPs, community health and mental health services, other professionals, for example.
Please send a letter to your GP (either the GP who refers clients to you if you are in private practice, or just your personal GP) asking them to indicate their support for the role of social workers. Accredited Mental Health Social Workers may like to use or modify this letter . Other members might like to adapt this wording . Remember it’s best if you can add personal touches to your correspondence, for example extra content from your practice experience.
We are also asking GPs to send a message to their Division of General Practice, and copy it to us.
We know that a number of GPs have supported us, and they make a very strong ally in our continuing work on this issue.
MPs on the proposed changes to Better Access
Since the budget announcement of cuts to the Better Access Program a number of Federal MPs have spoken against the changes, in the House of Representatives. They are:
Mrs Judith Moylan, Liberal, Member for Pearce
Ms Jodie Campbell, Labor, Member for Bass
Dr Dennis Jensen, Liberal, Member for Tangney
Ms Jodie Campbell, Labor, Member for Bass (again)
The Honourable Christopher Pyne, Liberal, Member for Sturt
Dr Sharman Stone, Liberal, Member for Murray
Ms Nola Marino, Liberal, Member for Forrest
Dr Andrew Southcott, Liberal, Member for Boothby
Mrs Kay Hull, Nationals, Member for Riverina
Mrs Kay Hull, Nationals, Member for Riverina (again)
Click here to read excerpts from their speeches.
We have also had written support from:
Senator Nick Xenophon
The Australian Greens
Media Interviews
People (in Melbourne) interested in listening to Women on the Line can hear Kandie, Antonia & Anne Marie speaking on 3CR (855AM) on Wednesday morning @ 6am! Women On The Line is community radio's women's current affairs program, featuring women’s voices, issues and commentary.
Listeners elsewhere in the country will be able to find the audio online, as a podcast over the next week or for a few months on the show's website
Last night Kandie, Lynne Harrold, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker from NSW and a client spoke about the impact of the proposed changes to the Better Access initiative on the ABC PM program. For a transcript of the segment click here.
Social Work Recognised as Skilled Migration Workforce Shortage
On 8 February 2010, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, announced a series of changes to deliver a more responsive and targeted skilled migration program, following completion of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) Review. The review of the General Skilled Migration (GSM) Points Test was also announced at that time. Senator Chris Evans also announced his intention that the current Skilled Occupation List (SOL) be replaced from the second half of 2010 with a new list of targeted occupations.
The International Qualifications Assessment Team initiated a meeting with Skills Australia which was the independent statutory body established by the Government, providing advice to the Minister for the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) on Australia’s current, emerging and future workforce skills needs and workforce development needs.
A new list of occupations has been developed based on advice from Skills Australia which focus on ‘high-value nation building skills’. On 17 May 2010, Senator Chris Evans, announced the list of occupations included in the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL). The SOL covers 181 occupations including Social Work!
This has been a good outcome for the profession of Social Work which has now been formally recognised and regarded as a highly skilled and valued occupation in Australia.
The new SOL is available on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC) website .
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
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