AASW WA Branch Trauma Informed Care Symposium

AASW’s WA Branch is hosting the 'Trauma Informed Care Symposium: Structuring recovery, creating healing spaces' on 9 November 2018 at the Parmelia Hilton, Perth. This will be one of the leading Trauma Informed Care events for Western Australia in 2018, with three respected thought leaders in their field speaking on the day: Dr Alicia Boccellari, Christine Craik and Dr Ann O’Neill.

It will be followed by the AASW's Annual General Meeting at 5.00pm.

For more information and to register, please visit our website.

	Social policy & advocacy

Recent submissions

The AASW has recently made a submission to the following the inquiries:

• Intergenerational Welfare Dependency
• Fair Work Amendment (Family and Domestic Violence Leave) bill
• My Health Record System
• My Health Record (Privacy)

Submissions in progress

The AASW is currently working on several submissions including:

• Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Bill
• Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission bill

The social policy team welcomes input from any members who have expertise or interest in these topics. Please contact the social policy team at social.policy@aasw.asn.au if you would like to contribute to any of these submissions.

Review of the Family Law System

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) released a Discussion Paper, Review of the Family Law System (DP 86), on 2 October, and is calling for comments and feedback on its proposals for reform. The Terms of Reference for this Inquiry ask the ALRC to consider reform in relation to range of issues including the early and cost effective resolution of all family law disputes; the protection of the best interests of children and their safety; the best ways to inform decision makers about the best interests of children and their views; family violence and child abuse, including protection for vulnerable witnesses; and laws in relation to parenting and property division after separation.

Read the ALRC media release. Submissions are due to the ALRC by 13 November 2018.

AASW will develop a submission, and is seeking input from members with experience with family law, and family violence. Please contact socialpolicy@aasw.asn.au to express your interest in participating in this process.

The Federal Government has been criticised for progressing its proposal to amalgamate the family court ahead of the final report of the inquiry into the family law system. Read the Acting Shadow Attorney-General’s response on the release of the ALRC Discussion Paper.

You can also access the AASW’s previous submission to this review.

Royal Commission into aged care

The AASW has welcomed the announcement of the royal commission into aged care.  In our media release the AASW called on the Royal Commission to work with stakeholders to identify and create a culture throughout the aged care sector that gives priority to the voice of the older people and enables them to exercise control over the care they receive.

AASW President, Christine Craik, said, “Social workers are integral to services that cater for the health and wellbeing of older Australians in all settings across the aged care continuum including government, non-government organisations, hospitals, health settings and private practice.  Social workers are skilled in recognising people’s strengths as the first step in building capacity and creating opportunities for change, in people and in organisations.

“While social work has a long tradition of working in aged care, the push for aged care facilities to make a profit means that social work, alongside many other trained professions, has been pushed out.

“It’s not rocket science; there needs to be much higher standards, much better quality control and many more skilled professionals paid to work in these facilities.”

Debra Parnell, Manager Social Policy and Advocacy attended a Workforce Roundtable on the Terms of Reference for the Royal Commission along with a number of other allied health professional associations and representatives. The Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt was in attendance, who heard about the issues and concerns of these professional groups. In its presentation AASW called for Terms of Reference that not only aimed to address current concerns and substandard care, but to develop an aged care system that took a holistic approach to meeting people’s care and support needs, recognising and addressing people’s social, cultural, emotional as well as physical needs, regardless of whether they lived in the community or in residential care.

AASW is planning to undertake a comprehensive consultation process using a range of mechanisms to enable members who work in aged care, or have a connection with the aged care system to provide input to our submission and recommendations.

If you work in aged care and are interested in participating in this process, please contact the social policy team at social.policy@aasw.asn.au. We will provide additional information about how you can contribute your experience and knowledge as more details about the royal commission become available.

Medibank Schedule Review update

The Mental Health Reference Group has concluded its consultation process and has prepared its report and recommendations for the Primary Care and GP Committee of the Review Taskforce. We have been advised that our key issues and recommendations have been incorporated into the report and that overall it is favourable for social workers and increasing their recognition under Better Access.

A further targeted consultation may be held in the coming months in response to the input and recommendations the Taskforce has received.

A survey to support our advocacy activities was recently conducted with AMHSWs. The fantastic response to this survey has given us valuable detail about the work undertaken by AMHSWs, their location, qualifications, experience, and the people they work with.

We will keep members informed on any further developments. Visit our webpage for more details about the review: https://www.aasw.asn.au/s…/medicare-benefits-schedule-review

Other news

Workforce transition project

Work is continuing on the development of resources to assist Accredited Mental Health social workers make the transition into the new commissioning environment for PHNs to ensure the materials reflect the breadth of social workers’ experience, we are keen to hear from any members with experience either tendering for work from PHNs or involved in  contracting to PHNs in other capacities.

Please contact angela.scarfe@aasw.asn.au

Working with AHPA colleagues

AASW is a member of AHPA and is involved in a number of its working groups. AASW will be attending the AHPA CEO Forum in Canberra later in October. The forum will include meetings with Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, Julie Collins, Shadow Minister for Aged Care and Mental Health, Linda Burney, Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services, and Department of Health representatives.

Department of Veterans Affairs webinars: “Mental health and the military experience”

The Department of Veterans Affairs are currently planning the next in their series of webinars to support professionals who are working with veterans.  The social policy team is interested in hearing from any members who have experience in this field of practice and who have suggestions for themes, "take home messages", resources and panellists.

Please contact angela.scarfe@aasw.asn.au

The webinars that have already been delivered are available through the At Ease Website: https://at-ease.dva.gov.au/professionals/professional-development/dva-webinars.

Government Redress Scheme for survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse in an Institution can access information about the government’s Redress scheme and lodge their application to https://www.nationalredress.gov.au.

The media is reporting that there are other websites with similar titles that do not  provide access to the scheme.

Kids off Nauru

The AASW has joined a growing list of organisations stand up for the rights of children on Nauru. We call on Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Australia's political leaders, to free the 95 children trapped on Nauru in time for Universal Children's Day.

AASW National President Christine Craik is an ambassador and we urge members to visit kidsoffnauru.com and sign the petition.

	What can you call yourself? Protected titles

Many health professionals in Australia are registered practitioners, and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) holds the register on behalf of the national boards for those professions. There are certain protected titles, which are set out in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2009, which are now reserved for registered practitioners.

The social work profession is not currently registered. Although we are campaigning for registration, the current situation is that social work remains an unregistered profession.

Social worker members should be aware that they must not use a protected title. It is an offence to use a protected title unlawfully. Therefore, it would be prudent not to use the title ‘health practitioner’ as this could be interpreted by the public or other professionals to mean that you are a registered health practitioner, when you are not. If you use the term practitioner in a health context, it would be prudent to also clarify that you are an ‘unregistered health practitioner’ (which is the approach used in some states' Code of Conduct for Unregistered Health Practitioners).

So what can you call yourself? You can refer to yourself as a social worker and/or an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, if you have obtained this accreditation.

You may also refer to yourself as a health care worker, if that is appropriate if you work in the health services.

For members with dual qualifications, use a protected title if you are a registered practitioner in a registered profession, and are performing the activity in your role as a registered practitioner.

AHPRA is active in pursuing the unlawful use of protected titles.

Read more on our website.

	Member Centre - services

Did you know that you can do many things when you log into the Member Centre? 

• Create a listing for yourself in our "Find a Social Worker" or "Find a Supervisor" directories
• Update your contact and profile information
• Manage your subscriptions to our various email lists
• Access Social Work Focus magazine
• Access the online version of our academic journal, Australian Social Work and three other professional journals
• Access your online CPD record
• Register for an AASW Collective Trade Mark (CTM)
• Download your membership and insurance certificates
• Download all invoices/receipts