AASW Conference 2019

AASW Conference 2019 was our biggest and best yet. Bringing together 500 delegates from Australia, New Zealand and beyond was an incredible experience.  Resources will be available on our website shortly. 

	Volunteer with the fires

If you would like to volunteer with the devastating fires, please register on Volunteering Australia's website.

	Organisational transformation - watch the CEO's video

The AASW is transforming and improving the way you access member services and information – these include the closure of state offices and the adoption of “flexible offices”.

More information is available on our website.

Watch the video or listen to the podcast to hear AASW CEO Cindy Smith explain the changes.

	AASW in the media

AASW published three media releases:

• Schools need social workers
• Challenging Inequality: Working together for a just society: AASW Conference 2019 comes to Adelaide

We appeared in The Health Times on school social workers.

We are mentioned as an organisation declaring a climate emergency, along with the Australian Education Union and the Australian Medical Association in The Advocate.

	Expressions of interest - Australian Social Work

Expressions of Interest – Two positions to join the prestigious Editorial Board of the ASW Journal.

Two positions exist on the highly regarded Editorial Board of the Australian Social Work Journal for which the AASW is seeking expressions of interest from members.

Contribute to the highly respected peer reviewed journal by joining the Editorial Board.  Be part of the team of experts representing the social work profession.

Further details about the role and how to submit an EOI can be found on our website.

To find out more, please see our website.

	AASW submissions and inquiries

The AASW is currently working on the following submissions:

• Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Update
• Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
• Joint Select Committee on Australia's Family Law System
• Pathways and Participation Opportunities for Indigenous Australians in Employment and Business
• Effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis and support for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

The social policy team welcomes input from any members who have expertise or interest in these topics. We are particularly keen to hear from any members with experience of the Income Management scheme in the Northern Territory, or in the communities in which the cashless card already exists. Please contact the social policy team at social.policy@aasw.asn.au if you would like to contribute to any of these submissions.

The AASW has recently made the following submissions:

• SA Social Work Registration Bill Submission
• Nationhood Inquiry
• Expansion of the Cashless Debit Card
• Newstart Inquiry
• NDIS Planning
• Drug Testing Legislation

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

Productivity Commission Mental Health Draft Report

The draft report of the Productivity Commission on mental health was released 31 October 2019. The AASW made a submission in April 2019 on the Inquiry advocating for system reform and the role of social workers, including how Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSWs) have significant expertise in assessment and providing therapies and intervention with a wide range of complex mental health needs.

The AASW is currently working on our response to the Draft Report.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Interim Report

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has recently released its Interim Report, highlighting how much he system is failing older Australians.  You can access the full report here.

The AASW is finalising its submission, developed after extensive consultation with members across Australia. The Commission is still accepting submission until April 2020.

Special issue of Australian Journal of Primary Health released

The most recent issue of the Australian Journal of Primary Health is a special issue titled Taking primary health to the next level in Indigenous health: innovation, change and vision. This special issue is a collection of commissioned papers from Aotearoa, Australia and Hawaii which document approaches and principles of importance in Indigenous health and healthcare research. The issue is free-to-read online until the end of November. Read it here.
 
Funding changes announced for Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services

This week, the Federal Government announced $90 million in new funding changes for Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services. The changes, welcomed by NACCHO Acting Chair Donnella Mills, will include longer-term funding as well as guaranteed continuity of funding over the next three years. The announcement is available here.
 
AIHW releases report on older clients of Specialist Homelessness Services

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released a new report, Older clients of specialist homelessness services. The report provides an overview of older Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) clients experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, describing the characteristics of clients provided with assistance, services requested, housing situation and outcomes, indicators of economic wellbeing, service use intensity and vulnerabilities.

Mental Health Professionals in Residential Aged Care Facilities

The AASW is part of an Expert Reference Group which is developing training for mental health professionals to prepare them to deliver services in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs). The Department of Health has made money available to Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to commission services from mental health professionals and low intensity service workers; and the Australian Psychological Society has been funded to develop a series of online interactive materials for the mental health workforce. 

As soon as drafts of these modules are available for consultation, AASW members will be invited to provide feedback.  In the meantime, members are reminded of the existing resources and materials already devised to assist in tendering to provide existing mental health services through PHN’s.  These are available at https://www.t-pcs.com.au

	AASW National Advisory Panels: Call for Expressions of Interest

AASW has established two National Advisory Panels (NAPs) for the following areas:

• NDIS
• Mental Health Reform.

We are seeking to expand the membership of these groups.

In addition we are establishing two new NAPs for the following areas:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues
• Veterans Affairs.

The purpose of the NAPs is to provide expertise, leadership, and strategic focus on key issues that the AASW is engaged in to further the social policy and advocacy priorities of the Association, and the profession of social work.

The AASW management and staff will draw on the advice and expertise of the Panel members to inform their responses and actions on key activities. Appointment will be for six months with possible extension, depending on continuing priorities and activities.

We are seeking Expressions of Interest from suitably experienced members for membership of these NAPs.

Criteria for members includes:

• Representation from members based on geographic location (ie State/Territory, rural/remote etc)
• Representation from social workers employed by agencies with significant practice-based experience relevant to the focus of the Panel
• Representation from social workers with relevant expertise
• It would also be desirable for candidates to have experience in research and policy development and analysis.

In addition, candidates should be a current financial member of AASW, and have been a member for at least 12 months.

Expressions of Interest should include:

• A brief summary of experience and expertise in the relevant area;
• Demonstrated understanding of current government policy environment and directions;
• Knowledge of the practice issues for social workers and outcomes for clients in the relevant area.

Draft Terms of Reference, along with an Expression of Interest template are available on our website. Queries can be directed to Debra Parnell, Manager Social Policy & Advocacy at debra.parnell@aasw.asn.au.

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