Membership due

This will be the last e-Bulletin you receive if you don't renew your membership. if you want to maintain all member benefits, including being kept up-to-date with what's happening in our profession, do not delay in renewing your membership. 

You must renew both your membership and accreditation immediately if you are an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. 

If you have renewed your membership in the last 24 hours, thank you.

	Abstracts close 8 July: AASW Conference 2019

Do you have research or practice experience to share at the pre-eminent social services event of the year? Share your knowledge and expertise with the sector at the AASW Conference 2019 Challenging Inequality: Working together for a justice society.

Submit your abstract by 8 July.

	AASW Submissions and Inquiries

AASW's branches have social policy and advocacy issues they are pursuing and seek input from members. Be in touch with your AASW Branch to contribute to the policy areas that matter to you.

The AASW has recently made the following submissions:

• NDIS Thin Market Project
• MBS Review
• Queensland’s Mental Health Commission consultation - Improving physical health for people with a lived experience of mental illness or problematic alcohol and other drug use: A Case For Change

All submissions are posted to the social policy webpage when we have permission to make them public (as required).

We are currently working on a number of submissions.  If you would like to be part of the Association’s consultation process please contact us. More details are provided below.

	Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety update

We would like to thank our members who were able to participate in our consultation sessions, facilitated by the branches. Thanks to your input, we fostered some fantastic discussion and insight from our members, which we will use to inform our submission.

Submissions to the Royal Commission close on 15 September, and we are considering the next steps in our consultation process to enable as many members with experience of the aged care system as possible to provide input. If you were unable to participate in our consultation sessions, but would like to contribute to our submission, please contact socialpolicy@aasw.asn.au. 

	Rebate freeze on Medicare items lifted

As announced in the 2019 budget, the freeze on MBS items was lifted from 1 July 2019 with a 1.6% increase in rebates for 176 General Practitioners (GP) service items, including health assessments, chronic disease management plans, and mental health services provided by GPs. This means patients accessing a mental health service from an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker will receive a higher rebate. 

The Minister’s media release is available.

More information is available on the Medicare website.

	Eating Disorders: AMHSWs eligible to deliver services under the new MBS items

The much-needed MBS items announced by the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt in December 2018  will come into effect on 1 November 2019 and will include:

• A dedicated single Medicare Benefits Scheme item number for eating disorder treatment for those with severe and complex illness, delivering up to 60 Medicare-funded sessions of treatment – 40 psychotherapeutic and 20 dietetic across the range of eating disorders – anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and atypical presentations
• Diagnosis by a GP and mental health practitioner recognising that these psychiatric illnesses have a significant physical impact and integrated treatment is essential.

Although it has not been formally reported, AASW can confirm that the Eating Disorder psychological services will mirror Better Access, and these services will be provided by AMHSWs, clinical psychologists, registered psychologists and occupational therapists as per the existing MBS items for focused psychological services.

The implementation of new MBS items for patients with anorexia nervosa and patients with other eating disorders who have complex needs will also provide for:

• the development of a treatment and management plan by a GP
• the development of a treatment and management plan by a paediatrician or psychiatrist
• review of the treatment and management plan by a GP
• review of a patient managed under a management plan by a psychiatrist or paediatrician
• dietetic services.

	Department of Veterans Affairs – delay to changes announced

The Department of Veteran Affairs had announced that changes to its Treatment Cycle Initiative (TCI), would be introduced on 1 July 2019.

AHPA liaised with Minister for Veterans Darren Chester, following expressions of concern by its members, including AASW, on the short notice of these changes and the absence of preparation and guidance provided to the allied health sector to facilitate a successful transition to the TCI for both clients and providers.

The Minister has now announced that the changes will begin on 1 October 2019 to provide more time for the Department of Veterans Affairs to meet with stakeholders.

The Minister said, “We have listened to feedback from health professionals who deliver care to the veteran community about the need for more support to accompany the changes to allied health referrals, scheduled to start on 1 July.

“DVA has been instructed to work closely with allied health providers, GPs and the veteran community to ensure the new arrangements are properly communicated and implemented in a timely manner.”

For more information, visit the Department of Veterans' Affairs website.

	Voluntary Assisted Dying

The Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Act comes into effect on 19 June 2019.

Voluntary Assisted Dying is an ethically and legally complex issue with significant professional and personal considerations for social workers.

To assist members in their reflection and engagement with Voluntary Assisted Dying and the AASW Code of Ethics we have put together a webpage with key information, highlighting relevant documents and key sections of the Code that are of relevance.

	Social Work Focus

The latest edition of Social Work Focus is on our website. This edition's theme is Family Support and Family Violence.

• Natasha Stott Despoja to address conference
• Continuing Professional Development: the hallmark of committed, professional social workers
• Responding to and supporting patients experiencing family violence by Claire Jones and Stephanie Arrott-Watt
• Snapshot of domestic violence in Queensland by Stephen Page
• Learning to ‘THRIVE’ by Tamara Holmes

Log in and read it today.

We are now seeking articles for the Spring edition of Social Work Focus, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practice. Contributions must be received by 3 September to editor@aasw.asn.au. 

	Australian Social Work - July 2019

The July edition of Australian Social Work is out now. Read the latest articles:

• Contact and Adoption Plans for Children Adopted from Out-of-home Care in New South Wales
• The Transition Towards Desistance From Crime Among Serious Juvenile Offenders: A Scoping Review
• Children's Human Rights and Social Work Advocacy: “Lawful Correction”
• Cumulative Harm in Child Protection: The Hidden Concern
• Medicare Funded Mental Health Social Work: Better Access to What?
• Respecting Sexual Safety: A Program to Prevent Sexual Exploitation and Harmful Sexual Behaviour in Out-of-Home Care

Sign up to receive alerts whenever new articles are published.

	Horizon Career Centre

Are you looking to take the next step in your career? Do you have a role to advertise? Have a look at our Horizon Career Centre, for social work roles.

Members can create free locum listings.

	Advertise with us

Have you considered advertising in the National e-Bulletin? Do you have a product, event or service relevant to social workers? For more information, please view our booking form.