New Zealand Mutual Recognition

New Zealand Mutual Recognition

New Zealand Mutual Recognition Agreement

The AASW and the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board (NZSWRB) have a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) to mutually recognise social workers who are credentialed in Australia or registered in New Zealand.

Read more about eligibility requirements under the Mutual Recognition Agreement.

Note: Applicants are required to meet the AASW English Language Policy.

The MEA Team is looking forward to assisting applicants and will be available to guide you through the new online process if you’re planning to migrate to Australia and need recognition as a qualified social worker for migration and/or employment purposes.

How will it all work?

The AASW website through a MyAASW account will be where you will link into the online process

To assist you with lodging your application online, a series of Guides for specific types of applications have been developed. The Guide for your specific application will help you with your application.

Processing times

Please allow four (4) weeks for your application to be processed.

Submit your application

Please complete the online application below.

You will receive email notification acknowledging the receipt of your application.

Some New Zealand qualified applicants may be eligible to apply for:

  • Assessment of New Zealand social work qualifications under the MRA for employment purposes in Australia (AASW membership eligibility).
  • Assessment of New Zealand social work qualification under the MRA for migration skills assessment purposes.
Online Application
Fees
Description FY 2025 – 2026 Fees

(Pricing effective from 1st July 2025)
1.1) Assessment of New Zealand social work qualifications under the MRA for employment purposes in Australia if correspondence address is outside Australia AU $ 471.82
1.2) Assessment of New Zealand social work qualifications under the MRA for employment purposes in Australia if correspondence address is within Australia AU $ 519.00 (includes GST)
1.3) Assessment of New Zealand social work qualifications under the MRA for migration purposes in Australia if correspondence address is outside Australia AU $ 471.82
1.4) Assessment of New Zealand social work qualifications under the MRA for migration purposes in Australia if correspondence address is within Australia AU $ 519.00 (includes GST)
1.5) Assessment of New Zealand social work qualifications under the MRA for migration & employement purposes in Australia if correspondence address is outside Australia AU $ 708.18 (includes GST)
1.6) Assessment of New Zealand social work qualifications under the MRA for migration & employement purposes in Australia if correspondence address is within Australia AU $ 779.00 (includes GST)
1.7) (Optional) Skilled employment assessment for migration/Visa purposes for 1-3 positions if correspondence address is outside Australia AU $ 943.64
1.8) (Optional) Skilled employment assessment for migration/Visa purposes for 1-3 positions if correspondence address is within Australia AU $ 1,038.00 (includes GST)
1.9) (Optional) Skilled Employment fee per additional (4+) employment position if correspondence address is outside Australia AU $ 176.36
1.10) (Optional) Skilled Employment fee per additional (4+) employment position if correspondence address is within Australia AU $ 194.00 (includes GST)
List of current and historic recognised New Zealand social work qualifications

List of current and historic recognised New Zealand social work qualifications.

FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs - English requirements

The AASW does not currently accept the One Skill Retake Test. 

The IELTS Academic Test is the only English language proficiency test that is accepted to meet the AASW English Language Policy. The test is to be completed face to face in a supervised official IDP/British Council IELTS Testing Centre and completed as a computer based or paper based IELTS Academic Test.

The AASW does not accept online IELTS Tests.

Applicants must demonstrate evidence of English language proficiency in the IELTS Academic Test through one or two test sittings in six months, provided that:

  • a minimum score of 7.0 is achieved in either one or two settings; and
  • a minimum score of 7.0 is achieved in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking) in a maximum of two sittings in a six-month period, and no component score is below 6.5. Where a component score falls below 6.5, the test is not acceptable.

You may be exempt from sitting the IELTS Academic Test if you:

  • completed your secondary education in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or USA, and
  • you successfully completed the equivalent of three years or more of full-time tertiary study (at Bachelor degree level or higher) in English, in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or USA.

To qualify for an exemption, please submit one of the following:

  • a certified copy of your secondary education results showing that you were taught and assessed in English, or
  • a certified letter from your secondary school, or the relevant department of education in your country of study, confirming that your secondary education was successfully completed, taught and assessed in English.

If you are not able to provide either of the above documents but you can show that you tried to get them, you can provide a Statutory Declaration stating all of your secondary education results from Year 7—12.

Even with a Statutory Declaration, we may ask you to take the IELTS Academic Test to confirm your English language proficiency.

Read more about our English language proficiency requirements

The AASW sets the professional standards for social work practice in Australia. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are important for safe, professional and accountable social work practice.