Together. Stronger. Influential.

You must renew your membership by 30 June. 

	Queen's Birthday honours

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) congratulates the social workers who received a Queen’s Birthday honour on the weekend.

The people who were identified as social workers in the honours were:

• Ms Anne Therese Cross AM of Queensland for her significant service to the community through social welfare organisations in the government and not-for-profit sectors, and to women
• Mrs Lesley Patricia Farrant AM of Victoria for significant service to the community through philanthropic contributions and social welfare roles, and to animal protection
• Mrs Margaret Alicia Sahhar AM of Victoria for significant service to health education, particularly through genetic counselling, and to the community through professional health organisations.
• Reverend Marion Judith Gledhill OAM of NSW for her service to the Uniting Church in Australia, and to social welfare
• Mrs Meredith Anne McVey OAM of NSW for her service to the community through support for doctors
• Dr Peter David Munn OAM of South Australia for his service to education in South Australia.

The AASW especially acknowledges Dr Peter Munn as he is on the Association’s Board of Directors.

Read Christine Craik's full statement.

	National Reconciliation Week 2018

National Reconciliation Week was held from 27 May to 3 June. The AASW participation in NRW is a key way the Association demonstrates its commitment to reconciliation.                     

Highlights included:

• WA Branch co-sponsored the Grace Vaughan Annual Lecture featuring June Oscar AO, ATSI Social Justice Commissioner
• Tasmanian Branch ran a series of eight Facebook posts based on the NRW theme of Don’t Keep History a Mystery: Learn. Share. Grow. in which the Tasmanian branch featured a key issue or event. This was in respect for the local Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation traditionally not celebrating NRW
• NT Branch participated in Larrakia Nation Family Fun Day at the beginning of Reconciliation Week
• Branch staff and BMC members attended local NRW events

See our webpage for more information. 

	World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is Friday, 15 June 2018.

Stopping elder abuse starts with raising public awareness in order to prevent the damaging impacts it has on older Australians, AASW National President Christine Craik will say ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

The media release will be available on our website and social media tomorrow.

	Social policy & advocacy

Recent submissions

The AASW has recently made submissions to the following the inquiries

• Inquiry into local adoption
• National Redress Scheme – 2^nd Bill

Submissions in progress

The AASW is currently working on several submissions including:

• Accessibility and quality of mental health services in rural and remote Australia
• The high rates of mental health conditions experienced by first responders, emergency service workers and volunteers
• Compensation and Rehabilitation for Veterans

Outcomes from Submissions

The AASW has been invited to provide further evidence to a public hearing on market readiness for the NDIS on 14 June in Melbourne.

Meetings and Projects

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

• AHPA MBS Review Working Group
• AHPA NDIS Working Group
• APS Workforce Transition Support Project, to support the transition of sole trader and small business private mental health clinicians into the PHN commissioning processes.
• Redress Scheme Reference Group
• National Mental Health Reform Reference Group.
• Indigenous HealtInfoNet information session
• AHPA workshop on digital health and e-records
• The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan - Peak Bodies workshop

Redress scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse

The Australian Psychological Society was successful in a recent tender to undertake several activities as part of the implementation of Commonwealth Redress Scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.  

AASW is sitting on an Expert Reference Group for this project. An important component is an online directory of mental health professionals that practise trauma-informed care.

Accredited Mental Health Social Workers will be able to register with this directory to participate in the Scheme. 

The website is proposed to be live from the 1 July, with providers able to register to be part of the Scheme from the 20 June. Information will be provided to members shortly on the directory and how they can participate.

	Palliative Care Barriers survey

Help address the barriers to accessing quality palliative care for under-served populations

The Australian Government has commissioned a project exploring barriers to palliative care for nine population groups that are under-served or have complex needs.

Please complete this survey to share your views.

The survey is open to everyone who works with under-served populations, even if palliative care is not part of your work.

More information is available here.

	Research opportunities

AASW Practitioner Research Grant 2018-2019 applications now open.

The AASW National Research Committee is now calling for applications for the AASW Practitioner Research Grant 2018-2019. This is a great opportunity for social work practitioners to engage in research, and contribute new knowledge to their area or practice context with financial support from the AASW. Find out more about AASW Practitioner Research Grants at our website.