Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards
The Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS) set out the principles, standards and graduate attributes for social work education in Australia. The standards are used as the criteria for the accreditation of a professional social work course with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
The March 2020 ASWEAS can be accessed below.
Review of the field education standards as part of the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS)
Following the release of the ASWEAS March 2020, it was acknowledged that the Field Education Standards required further review. A draft of the revised standards is now available.
We would like to reiterate that the primary purpose of the limited nature of this review is to bring the field education standards into alignment with the ASWEAS March 2020 as a coherent and consistent set of standards. This update will be used to assist Higher Education Providers preparing applications for accreditation of AASW accredited social work programs in the immediate future. A longer-term project involving a re-imagination of field education and standards for accreditation has been proposed by the Expert Advisory Panel. Detailed feedback and submissions will be more appropriate to a major ‘re-imagining’ review under consideration for 2021. These draft standards have been developed with ongoing input from an expert advisory panel, consultations with the ACHSSW executive and NFEN.
View the draft on our website. Feedback and comments submissions have now been closed. Please contact education@aasw.asn.au for more information.
ASWEAS March 2020 associated templates and guidelines.
AASW ASWEAS Guidelines for accreditation reviews - V1.0 November 2020
AASW ASWEAS Application for program accreditation - V1.0 November 2020
Annual Report on AASW Accredited programs - template - V1.0 August 2020
AASW ASWEAS Accreditation Panel Final Report - template - V1.0 November 2020
The 2012 V1.4 (Revised January 2015) ASWEAS and associated guidelines can be accessed below.
Guidelines 1.1 to 1.6 of the standards provide information for universities about implementing the ASWEAS in their BSW and MSW (Q) programs.
Guideline 1.1: Guidance on essential core curriculum content
Guideline 1.2: Guidance on field education programs
Guideline 1.3: Guidance on RPL, articulation and credit transfer
Guideline 1.4: Guidance on organisational arrangements and governance of social work programs
Guideline 1.5: Guidance on reaccreditation reviews
Guideline 1.6: Guidance on new programs
Previous Higher Education Providers template for accreditation review and annual reporting purposes.
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ASWEAS Annual Reporting Template 2019
ASWEAS Annual Reporting Template 2018
Review submission template effective May 2015
AASW Accreditation Panel review report template
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Final report template of the HEP Accreditation Review Panel effective May 2015
Previous - AASW Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards
Social work programs accredited under the previous ASWEAS 2008 (updated 2009, 2010, 2012) have until the date of their next review to meet the requirements of this policy if their next review is due after January 2014.
Click here for a copy of the previous ASWEAS 2008 (updated 2009, 2010, 2012).
In accordance with AASW policy, the principles, standards and policies presented in the ASWEAS will be reviewed every five years; that is, in 2025 or earlier, if contextual factors necessitate.
