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Here’s some suggested holiday professional development…

With holidays almost upon us, you may wish to spend those few spare hours to engage in professional development. The AASW CPD Team thought you might like to check out one of our most popular online learning programs on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy – Introductory and Advanced level courses. Register for the workshop.

Watch the preview

Read more about our ACT workshop.

	Office closure

The AASW office will close from Christmas Day, 25 December until New Year's Day 1 January. We re-open again on Thursday, 2 January. We wish all members a happy holiday season.

	Congratulations all new graduates

Congratulations to all new graduates, as the year draws to a close.  Are you currently a student member and just about to graduate? You can upgrade your membership from student to graduate free of charge. 

Email membership@aasw.asn.au for further instructions on how to upgrade. 

	Annual Report 2018-2019

The AASW Annual Report 2018-2019 was launched at the Association's Annual General Meeting on Friday, 8 November in Adelaide, South Australia.  The Annual Report highlights several of the Association's achievements. Read the Association's Annual Report 2018-2019. 

	Organisational transformation - watch the CEO's video

The AASW is transforming and improving the way you access member services and information – these include the development of an accessible online community. 

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 declares a climate emergency

In 2019, the AASW joined international colleagues through the IFSW to declare a climate emergency. We renewed our call for immediate climate action to address the most pressing issue of our time.

The AASW is engaging on climate action through various forms including:

• Advocacy to government through our work as part of the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) and several submissions, also the release of the AASW & Climate and Health Alliance Declaration on Climate Change
• As part of CAHA, joined 22 groups representing health and medical professionals in Australia issuing a joint call to act on a “public health emergency” caused by smoke from the catastrophic bushfire season in New South Wales.
• Attended the Climate Strike across Australia and encouraged members to take part across the country
• Continued advocacy to the federal government trough several submissions including the most recent Federal Election, SDG inquiry  and last month’s submission to the Climate Health WA Inquiry
• We have also engaged in extensive SDG advocacy at numerous levels including representing the social work profession at the United Nations calling for climate action
• Our SDGs webpage has more information including our SDG student placement, policy actions and the SDG Action Group.

	Volunteer with the fires

This week, the entire country is on fire alert and heatwave alert. If you would like to volunteer with the devastating fires, please register on Volunteering Australia's website.

	12th International Conference on Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society

Abstracts submissions are invited for the 12th International Conference on Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society #icgb2020 in Melbourne, July 13-17 2020, providing a rare opportunity to present your work on a global stage. The Conference program will consist of a combination of plenary, invited concurrent, practice forum, symposium and poster sessions. Abstract submissions close 31 December 2019, 5.00pm AEDT. For more information visit www.icgb2020.com

Submit an abstract.

	AASW in the media

AASW published a media release and was part of the joint Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) statement:

• A healthy environment is a fundamental human right: Human Rights Day
• Joint statement: Air pollution in NSW is a public health emergency

The joint statement was widely covered in the media, including AASW mentioned in The Guardian:

• Sydney Morning Herald: No safe level: pollution labelled a public health emergency
• The Guardian: Governments must act on public health emergency from bushfire smoke, medical groups say
• SBS: 'Public health emergency': Doctors urge PM and NSW Premier to act on smoke

	AASW submissions and inquiries

The AASW is currently working on the following submissions:

• Religious Freedom Bills – First Exposure Drafts
• Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
• Federal budget 2020-21
• Pathways and Participation Opportunities for Indigenous Australians in Employment and Business
• Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

The AASW has recently made the following submissions:

• Joint Select Committee on Australia's Family Law System
• Effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis and support for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• South Australia Social Work Registration Bill Submission
• Centrelink automated debt reduction system
• Nationhood Inquiry.

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 badly the current system is failing older people.  You can access the full report here.

The AASW is finalising its submission on the issues regarding the workforce, which is due this week.  We are also continuing to work on our overall submission, which will respond to the interim report.  The first draft was developed after extensive consultation with members across Australia. We have sent a consultation proforma to each member who took part in our consultation, and we also welcome any other input. Please contact angela.scarfe@aasw.asn.au.

The Commission is still accepting submissions until April 2020.

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.  We highlighted the role of social workers, and described 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. We sent a consultation proforma to members who took part in the initial consultation and thank those members who provided feedback. We appreciate these insights and value your contribution. The Social Policy and Advocacy team is in process of reading all the material we have received and will be drawing on it to inform our submission.

	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.

Read more about the National Advisory Panels

	Safe Places grants now open

Applications for Safe Places grant funding are now open to eligible organisations, closing 14 February 2020. Visit the GrantConnect website for more information.