AASW Practice Standards Review

What We Do

Background

In 2003, the AASW published its first edition of the Practice Standards for Social Workers. The aim of the Practice Standards was to:

outline clear minimum standards for general social work practice in Australia
provide a basis for the standardisation of practice across Australia
articulate the expectations of clients, employers and others
benchmark the formal assessment of practice; and
guide the development and planning of ongoing professional development activities

Since then, the Practice Standards have influenced a range of AASW initiatives and the profile of the social work profession, most notably through their impact on the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards, advanced practice standards, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) guidelines and by providing a benchmark for social work practice for the public, employers, social workers and other professions.

However, a substantive review of the Practice Standards is timely for a number of reasons. Firstly, the social work profession and professional landscape has changed significantly in the past eight years. The theoretical base for social work continues to grow and develop. Innovations in theory reflect changing requirements for the knowledge and skill base of social work professionals. Secondly, the social work environment continues to change, with significant and related developments in the tertiary education system, social work ethics, international practice standards and the increasing specialisation of social workers. Finally, broader and ongoing issues such as the professional standing of social workers and the profile of the profession in a changing workforce environment remain as critical as ever. The Practice Standards are a fundamental and central basis for promoting and defining the social work profession in Australia.

A review of the Practice Standards therefore provides a critical and timely means of meeting and responding to the challenges of a changing environment with a clear, coherent and unified voice and ensures a platform upon which to support and engage a new generation of social work professionals.

Contextual Issues in focus

A new Code of Ethics

In November 2010, a new Code of Ethics was implemented for Australian social workers. The new Code reflects a substantive revision and expansion of the ethical practice and decision making guidelines and responsibilities outlined in the Code of Ethics (1999). It has since been received by the national and international community as a model and leader in ethical codes.

Since 2007, ethics services at the AASW, which include an Ethics Consultation Service and Ethics Complaints Management Process, have highlighted the fundamental and inseparable relationship between social work ethics and practice standards. While social workers, clients, students and other professionals may access ethics services for the purposes of acquiring advice, support or guidance in relation to ethical issues, the nature of the guidance provided inevitably speaks to minimum standards in social work service provision.

While the Practice Standards 2003 reflect ethical principles and decision making guidelines of the 1999 Code of Ethics, the experience of social workers, students, clients and others who access AASW ethics services highlights the immediate need for new ethical guidelines to be reflected in a revised clear and comprehensive applied practice framework.

The emergence of Advanced Practice Standards

Prior to and since the implementation of the Practice Standards 2003 specialist or advanced practice standards have and continue to emerge.

In 2000, the AASW published a set of practice standards for the provision of social work supervision. The standards are intended to recognise the central importance of good quality supervision to the maintenance of high standards of social work practice. They address standards for supervision with reference to administrative, educational and supportive functions.

In 2008, the AASW National Mental Health Committee developed and published Practice Standards for Mental Health Social Workers. These standards were intended as a definitive articulation of the specific professional knowledge and skills relevant to social workers in contemporary mental health practice. That same year, the AASW School Social Work Special Interest Group developed Practice Standards for School Social Workers to describe the unique characteristics and requirements of social work practice in schools.

More generally, the specialisation of social work practice, as reflected for example in sub-specialties identified by the newly formed Australian College of Social Work, highlights a demand from practitioners for clear standards of practice at an advanced level.

Consequently, it is critical that the Practice Standards, which theoretically underpin and precede advanced social work standards, are updated to reflect the contemporary social work landscape. Doing so will ensure that these emerging specialist fields are grounded in a central and unified social work identity and voice.

Changes in the education sector

The AASW is recognised by Australian Governments as the professional body responsible for the accreditation of social work programs in Australian universities. Accordingly, the AASW oversees the accreditation of the social work curriculum through the development and application of AASW Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS). The ASWEA Standards ensure that graduating Social Workers have the skills, knowledge and values to successfully enter the profession.

A major review of the ASWEAS is currently underway and is due for completion in June 2013. It is intended that the revised ASWEAS will reflect contemporary ethical and practice standards; theoretical and practice knowledge and skill relevant to general social work practice; and outline key areas of learning in relation to specific fields or aspects of practice, such as work with children and families, and culturally diverse communities.

The revision and updating of the Practice Standards 2003 will ensure that contemporary minimum standards of social work practice can be reflected all related educational programs.

Coinciding with the ASWEAS review are broader developments in educational standards, including a review of the Australian Quality Framework and the recent establishment of a Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). While the former reflects established educational standards, the latter, TEQSA, indicates significant change in the regulation of education standards more broadly. It is intended that TEQSA will provide an overarching regulatory function for all educational institutions, including those operating in the private sector. Concurrently, Vocational Education and Training (VET) Standards, while not directly related to existing social work programs, are a critical arena in which to influence and ensure pathways for future social work students. Both AASW practice and educational standards provide a tool to ensuring that educational programs, at all levels, support and facilitate a new generation of social workers with clear career pathways and high quality professional development opportunities.

The Practice Standards Committee

In August 2011, the Practice Standards Committee was convened. The role of this group is to develop, oversee and contribute to the review of the Practice Standards 2003 culminating in the publication of revised Practice Standards over the next twelve months.

The Committee brings together substantial knowledge, expertise and experience in a range of social work settings. Current members are:

Dr. Carmel Laragy, Chair
Virginia Scott
Prof. Robert Bland
Helen Hickson
Christine Levy
Dr. Lynelle Osburn
Kym Daly, AASW Senior Manager Ethics & Standards
Fran Hardcastle (Acting) AASW National Ethics and Practice Standards Officer

The Review Process

While the Practice Standards Committee will oversee the review, the actual review process will include substantial opportunities for the input, feedback and contributions from all key stakeholders including members, clients, educators, employers, AASW Branches, related committees and working groups.

Initial Consultation

To begin the consultation process, the review committee is seeking general feedback from members and others, about the content and format of the current practice standards as well as the use of the practice standards in conjunction with the revised Code of Ethics 2010.

If you have the time to provide some feedback, the committee invites you to answer the questions listed here.

Please email any responses as an attachment to practicestandards@aasw.asn.au or call the National Ethics and Practice Standards Officer on (03) 9642 2307.
The committee would love to hear from you!

More detailed information and developments will regularly be posted to this website. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact the National Ethics and Practice Standards Officer at practicestandards@aasw.asn.au

AASW - Australian Association of Social Workers

What We Do

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