Together. Stronger. Influential.

It’s time to renew your AASW membership. 

Together, we stand united to make our profession and our Association stronger. See what our members are saying about what Together. Stronger. Influential means to them.

As a member, you are required to review and agree to the Privacy Policy, to recommit to the AASW Code of Ethics and to confirm whether you have ever practised overseas or not.  For these reasons, staff are unable to renew your membership over the phone.

Login to renew your membership today.

Read the Frequently Asked Questions about renewing your membership.

	Empowering Excellence

The AASW is proud to release the new Empowering Excellence online CPD program. The first series covers practice in the NDIS, and is presented by Brooke Kooymans, Director of Rehability Australia. Watch the video.

Register for the first series.

There will be further content on 20 June in the Empowering Excellence program, covering a range of clinical mental health and therapeutic approaches, many aligned with Focussed Psychological Strategies under Medicare for AMHSW CPD purposes. Topics include:

• Mindfulness integrated CBT/ Mindfulness and relaxation / CBT fundamentals
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Beginner and Master Class)
• Dialectal Behavioural Therapy
• Interpersonal Therapy
• Narrative Therapy
• Family violence and trauma
• CBT and substance use.

For more information, please contact the AASW CPD team: cpd@aasw.asn.au.

	National Reconciliation Week 2018

Each year National Reconciliation Week (NRW) celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians. The theme this year is “Don’t Keep History A Mystery: Learn. Share. Grow”, which explores history hidden just beneath the surface, ready and waiting to be uncovered. National Reconciliation Week is an opportunity to learn more about the Australian story.

Read about AASW's activities during Reconciliation Action Week. 

Read Christine Craik's statement.

	Social policy & advocacy

Recent submissions

The AASW has recently made submissions to the following the inquiries:

• Inquiry into local adoption
• Accessibility and quality of mental health services in rural and remote Australia
• The National Redress Scheme (this is a revised version of the 2017 bill, to which we have already submitted.)

Submissions in progress

The AASW is currently working on several submissions including:

• Inquiry into compensation and rehabilitation for Veterans
• General issues related to the implementation of the NDIS
• Mental health conditions experienced by first responders and emergency service workers

The social policy team welcomes input into these submissions from members with experience in these areas. Please contact social.policy@aasw.asn.au if you would like to contribute to any of these submissions.

Other news

Refugee Week

Refugee week will be held from Sunday 17 June until Saturday 23 June.  The theme for this year is #WithRefugees.  In preparation for this week, the Refugee Council of Australia is calling on the Prime Minister to retain the Status Resolution Support Scheme, which is the only service which provides support services while people are awaiting a determination of their status. This is the scheme which the government recently cut, with devastating consequences.

Elder abuse

The Seniors Rights Service has released: Abuse of Older People: A community response. This is the outcome of the fifth national Elder Abuse conference, Together Making Change which was held earlier this year.  The document was launched by the Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO. 

Federal Budget: Mental health services for people in residential aged care

The AASW has advocated that people in residential aged care should be eligible to receive services through the Better Access program, and met with the Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt MP last year to discuss this.  Many of us were pleased to see that the federal budget did allocate money for mental health services for this group of people, however this money will not be made available through Better Access. The AASW is seeking clarity on how this money will be used, and will ensure that it takes up opportunities to participate in decisions about the resulting services and programs.  We will ensure that members are fully informed as more details become available.

Medicare Benefits Schedule Review

This is part of the ongoing, mental health review which will begin 2018.

While our prime focus will be on the review MBS items that fall under the Mental Health Committee, we are collaborating with AHPA colleagues on the development of discussion paper on items relevant to the upcoming work of the Allied Health Committee. The relevant items for social workers under this committee would be

• Chronic Disease Management
• Case Conferencing remuneration.

Review of allied health items is anticipated to begin in June 2018.

Fifth National Mental Health Plan

AASW is a member of the Mental Health Reform Stakeholder Reference Group. Currently the Department is reviewing the guidance documents that support PHNs’ mental health activity. The review will ensure the guidance material reflects the current state of the program, is aligned with The Fifth Mental Health Plan and remains fit for purpose.

Social Policy and Advocacy Activities

The Social Policy and Advocacy team have recently participated in the following:

• National Aged Care Alliance (NACA) meeting
• Allied Health Professions Association (AHPA)
• Meeting with NDIS staff

	Federal Budget 2018

We have now published a report, providing an analysis of what the AASW has advocated for in 2018 (AASW's pre-budget submission) and what was delivered in this latest budget.​These are:

• Financial security and adequate income support
• Economic participation and abandoning the cashless debit card
• Addressing family violence and access to justice
• Medicare, mental health and services for older people
• Addressing housing and homelessness

Please view our webpage which outlines all our activity on the Federal budget in full.