Our ‘Future-proofing social work: tackling workforce challenges and upskilling for tomorrow’ event took place in Sydney last week. Chaired by Carolyn Cousins and featuring a panel of experienced social work leaders, attendees gained insights into workforce challenges, policy and systemic change, and how to meet the demands of a changing professional landscape. Highlights from the conversation include:

“There is stiff competition for highly skilled social workers that all employers are competing for.”

– Panellist Rachel Wolfe on the challenges of recruitment and retention

“There’s a risk of engaging with [AI], there’s a risk of not engaging with it because it’s still emerging.”

– Panellist Michael Austin on the role of AI in social work settings

Thank you to our panellists – Cindy Smith, Michael Austin, Niko Milić and Rachel Wolfe – for their insightful contributions, to our host Ben Chapman, and to all attendees for their enthusiasm and engagement. A recording of the panel discussion is now available on MyAASW for member access.