Events Calendar

The Online Learning Program addresses the nature, identification and assessment of the eating disorders Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, OSFED and Binge Eating Disorder.

* FPS Relevant Activity *

This is a recording of a presentation at the Rural Remote Social Work Conference in July 2013. Professor Evelyne De Leeuw discusses the nexus between research, policy and practice.

* AASW Member Discount *

This is a recording of a presentation at the Rural Remote Social Work Conference in July 2013. Dr Jennifer Boddy discusses the impact climate change has and will have on the profession of social work.

* AASW Member Discount *

This is a recording of Karen Martin and Leeanne Rule who presented at the Rural Remote Social Work conference in July 2013.

This is a recording of a presentation from the Rural Remote Social Work conference in July 2013. This presentation discusses practical ideas to assist organisations, supervisors and supervisees to improve professional behaviour in a safe, supportive environment.

* AASW Member Discount *

This is a recording of a presentation at the AASW National Symposium in November 2013. The AASW National Research Committee reflect on research conducted, what the learning or practice issues were, and how research helped to advance their understanding of the issue or their practice.

* AASW Member Discount *

This is a recording of a panel discussion from the AASW National Symposium in November 2013. The panel discusses the (then new) National Disability Insurance Scheme and provides key information and implications for social workers, their clients and families.

* AASW Member Discount *

Recording of a presentation at the AASW National Symposium in November 2013. This session explains the aims and scope of the Australian Social Work Journal, types of articles that are accepted, peer review process, and tips for preparing a journal article.

* AASW Member Discount *

This is a recording of a panel discussion from the AASW National Symposium in November 2013. The panel respond to a series of case examples which highlight the ethical obligations when dealing with social media.

* AASW Member Discount *

This is a recording of a panel presentation from the AASW National Symposium in November 2013. The panel discuss the impact the implementation of the ASWEAS and Practice Standards has/will have on field education. As well as how the marketisation of tertiary education and the influence of education is becoming more consumer driven.

* AASW Member Discount *

This is a recording of a panel presentation at the AASW National Symposium in November 2013. The panel discusses the impact of social media on the social work profession.

* AASW Member Discount *

This is a recording of a presentation at the AASW National Symposium in November 2013. Dr Geraldene Mackay discusses the basics about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

* AASW Member Discount *

This subject covers the theory and practice of student supervision for social workers and other human services workers who take students for field education placements. It covers the theory and practice of student supervision within a framework of adult learning and the developmental stages of supervision. It focuses on developing critical reflection and professional practice, knowledge and skills in student supervision.

The webinar on Environmental Social Work, presented by ACSW Foundation Fellow Professor Margaret Alston, is an engaging and comprehensive overview of this new area of social work.

Margaret shares with us her journey into environmental social work and the research being undertaken in this area.

This webinar presents an outline of ethical decision with a focus on how social work has contributed to the literature and development of models in this area. Social workers are often in the lead position when issues of ethics emerge in practice, and well placed to identify the competing ethical principles and assist decision making processes by focusing on inclusion and accountability.

e-mental health services help young people recognise and respond to emerging mental health problems, and connect to peer and professional support at the times they need it most. This online learning package from ReachOut.com Professionals provides practical guidance on using these services in face-to-face work with young people.

This is a recording of the keynote address at the AASW Northern Territory Branch Social Work Conference in 2014. Dr Christine Fejo-King, Senior Larrakia Elder, speaks about dreaming stories, totems, and overcoming giants.

* Free for AASW members *

Presentation to AASW Victoria Branch by Rhonda Lawson-Street, consultant and former State Manager of National Disability Services Victoria & Tom Ballantyne, Senior Associate for the medical negligence team at Maurice Blackburn.

Spirituality and Social Work explores spirituality in social work practice. This webinar presents some personal ideas about the nature of spirituality, on calling, brokenness and giftedness and invite us to reflect on our own spirituality in practice.

Theory and Skill into Practice. 80 Social Work Skills for Practice: Translating 'knowing what' into 'knowing how', presented by Dr Pamela Trevithick

​* AASW Member Discount *

The Family Focus intervention is an evidence-based program designed for mental health professionals treating parents with depression and or anxiety to foster resilience in their children and the family unit.

* FPS relevant *

* Free training *

The Supporting Infants and Toddlers course helps professionals working with parents experiencing mental illness who also have infants and young children. The course is an extension of the 'Keeping Families and Children in Mind' eLearning course

* Free training *

The Victorian Branch has created an information series aimed at new social work graduates. The Branch presents an annual session for new social work graduates - 'Finding your first job and thriving in it'. This session discusses how to search for your first social work position, planning for the interview process, choosing and approaching referees, what happens in the interview and maintaining self care in the workplace.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS SESSION IS THE SAME AS THE FACE TO FACE EVENT WHICH WAS HELD ON 11 NOVEMBER 2014.

In this course, Bryan Jeffrey examines key topics in mental health, neuro-chemistry, depression, suicide and substance abuse. Highly rated by our test participants, this course provides both a solid introduction to the topics and advanced knowledge.

* AASW Member Discount *

The Living Well Introductory Practitioner Interview Series has been developed to support those meeting and working with men who have been sexually abused in childhood and their partners, families and friends. This video series draw on the practical knowledge and skills of professionals who have between 3 and 30 years of experience working with men who have been sexually abused or sexually assaulted. They are part of an expanding series of online resources that Living Well are developing to support practitioners.

​* Free course *

The Indigenous Health and Cultural Competency e-learning Series is a comprehensive course of ten modules that are freely available online for self-directed learning. The course covers the core principles, knowledge and skills required to provide culturally competent, patient centred care to Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and other culturally and linguistically diverse patients.

This series of six modules is designed to service health staff interested in addressing alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues with their clientele. The modules are based on best practice, and contain the most recent information available.

Traditions in Transition focuses on Female Genital Cutting.

This course comprises:

an introduction lecture to the topic that explains what FGC is, why it is done, where it happens and the consequences for women and girls
The documentary Traditions in Transition where women of African origin speak openly and directly about the topic
A recording of a discussion forum that took place at RMIT
Recommended further reading

This course can count for 2 hours of CPD for AASW members. Please remember to add it to your CPD Record after you have completed the course.

*Free *

Every staff member needs to meet their targets and achieve their work goals in order for great services to be delivered to clients. No matter what role you occupy you need to work effectively with others, either internal or external to your organisation. Strategies to assist with this are explored in this course.

Community and health sector workers are often required to represent the interests of their clients or the communities in which they work. This distance package examines how to approach this role in forums and other participative processes.

Casework is at the core of many community service roles. Aimed at new or inexperienced case workers, this distance package covers the basic theories and practices of good case management.

The development of an appropriate service delivery plan is central to providing quality services to clients. This plan then needs to be implemented and monitored, all with the participation of the client.

This distance kit covers the basic theories and skills in communication, groupwork and conflict management and provides exercises to enable these skills to be used in the workplace.

Community development work aims to facilitate community members working together to influence and guide the future of their community. This work includes delivery of a broad range of programs which contribute to capacity development, through public social change processes. The focus of this package is on how to work with communities in order for their voices to be heard.

The basic theories and principles that underpin community work and guide practice in the sector are outlined in this distance package. The overview will be particularly useful to those new to the sector, but also valuable in gaining a wider perspective.

A continuous improvement or quality management system is essential to ensure that our teams and organisations stay on track with quality service delivery, even when workloads are demanding. Identify tools and techniques that you can use to monitor and review your team or organisation’s performance, identify areas of improvement, and initiate new strategies to improve quality.

Not all community workers are counsellors but all community workers can benefit from an understanding of how to establish an appropriate relationship with a client and to guide clients through telling their story as a basis for assessing needs and identifying services.

Sensitivity to the qualities and needs of people from diverse cultures is an expected part of work practice in the community sector. This package provides the opportunity to learn about cultures, reflect on your attitudes and beliefs, and make changes to practice in order to improve communication with, and inclusion of, diverse cultures in the workplace.

This distance kit covers the basic strategies involved in identifying and responding to a community issue, by developing and implementing a community development plan

Organisations in the community sector rely on networks to be able to provide the best service for clients. Are your networks getting the right outcomes? If not, why not? This distance package explores the strategies and skills needed not only to liaise with established links but also to develop new networks.

A strong understanding of community and client needs will guide the development of effective programs.

Learn to work effectively in the human services sector by understanding the legislation that impacts on your work role, thinking through ethical situations and considering strategies in response.

In the middle of the last century, when discussing direct Social Work practise with individuals and families, Florence Hollis (1972) wrote “neglect has tended to downgrade environmental treatment in the workers mind, as though is were something one learned to do with one’s left hand, something unworthy of serious analysis”, Hollis goes on to advocate the knowing use of the environment (what I call physical space) in direct practice.

This webinar looks at how Social Workers have changed the physical space of the social world. Since Jane Addams and others opened Hull House, Octavia Hill and other social reformers practised in the UK and the works of our own Caroline Chisholm in Central Victoria, the area that I call home, through to the current practices of Social Workers, changes in the welfare of individuals and families whom we serve are reflected in the physical space of the social world.

You may be surprised at the breath of change of the physical space in the social world that has been underpinned by the professional activity of Social Work; all these effects, depending on the stance of the viewer, can be seen as both positive and negative. This change process still continues.

Using these insights I will then focus my lens on direct practice in rural Central Victoria.

This webinar will primarily draw on my PhD dissertation submitted some years ago and on practise wisdom I have gained during over seven years in mental health direct Social Work practise in Central Victoria.

This seminar outlines the development of a Statewide service supporting women living and dying of secondary breast cancer in Queensland. Over a period of 15 years the service has grown in response to identified needs, to become a unique and innovative service offering a range of services that support women, partners and families from diagnosis through to death. The presentation will focus on the rationale, process and effectiveness of the intervention. Given the recent decision of the State Government to cut funding to this community based organisation, the seminar will also report on challenges of developing a new funding and operational model.

This distance package focuses on the human lifespan and development stages and on a variety of theories around this topic such as attachment theory, behaviour change models and socialisation theory

This distance kit covers the basic indicators of significant issues that may affect clients and examines the impact of these issues on clients and your work with clients.

Providing a basic introduction to the values, services and approaches applied to work in the alcohol and other drugs sector, this is an introductory level distance kit which is useful for anyone who is new to working with clients with alcohol and other drug issues.

This distance kit covers the basics of the mental health sector, including an understanding of the services that are available.

Making referrals is a part of many jobs in the community sector. This kit contains suggested methods to improve referral practices.

If the words 'budget', 'debt recovery' and 'cash flow' bring fear into your heart this package is for you. It covers the whole of the financial management process, including setting financial goals, planning a budget, working with staff to effectively implement and monitor the budget and reporting financial information. The theory is well supported by practical activities.

In this talk Peter Munn examines the organisational framework and culture necessary to support advanced social work practice and helps to provide a beginning framework that will help it happen.

Organisations need effective information so that they can plan and respond to needs in their community. This information might come from clients, potential clients, community members, funding bodies or from within your own organisation. How do you collate and analyse this information, so that appropriate aspects can be incorporated into your practice?

Managers of community sector organisations need to have a clear understanding of legislation, ethical practice, regulatory frameworks and accreditation requirements so that they can respond appropriately and effectively to ethical and legal issues that arise in their workplaces. This ensures that service delivery to clients is of a high quality and upholds their rights and interests

Working within collaborative partnerships is fundamental to providing responsive social work practice for service users across a range of sectors. Yet working collaboratively can be extremely challenging. This course will support social workers operating in private practice and organisational settings to develop and sustain their skills in cross-discipline partnerships and collaborative approaches.

* Discount for AASW Members *

Risk is a part of everything we do. This distance package provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of managers in risk management in general, with a focus on Work Health and Safety in particular, by looking at relevant legislation, common practices, record keeping and the importance of consultation and teamwork.

Effective monitoring of client work enables changes to be made as needed. Reviewing client work provides information on what is working well both at the individual and organisation level.

Successful recruitment and induction of staff is essential for the organisation’s short term needs and long term development. We need to find people who are the most suitable for the job as the results of ineffective recruitment can be additional financial expense, disrupted workplaces and stressed staff.

Ever taken the time out to reflect on your own work? Ever wondered if you aim too high or aim too low with your own expectations of yourself? What can you do to improve your work practices? Are you ready to meet the future needs of our sector? So many questions but only you have the answers!

Stories are a powerful tool for creating change in people's lives. They open people up to new ideas, stir emotions and bring new possibilities and motivation. In this webinar we will consider what makes a story effective, hear some examples of powerful stories, and begin to develop our own stories.

This course is an introduction into how to work safely and within the bounds of policy, procedure and legislation. WHS is an area of work in which myths abound so it is essential to have a sound understanding of the purposes and application of WHS legislation.

Develop the skills that supervisors need such as providing induction, support, monitoring of work and problem solving.

Covering the basics of assessing client developmental status and developing an appropriate case plan, this distance package is particularly suitable for new or inexperienced case workers.

This unit applies to managers and focuses on the need for managers to be organised, focused and skilled, in order to effectively manage the work of others. As such it is an important unit for most managers, particularly as managers serve as role models and have a significant influence on the work culture and patterns of behaviour.

This first course in a series is aimed to address the natural concerns that social workers may have when they find themselves needing to engage with children and adolescents. The course addresses these concerns by identifying them, exploring why it is important to engage with children, provides an understanding of children's development and builds skills and strategies for talking effectively with children.

This course covers what a social worker needs to know to get the most out of a child protection case planning meeting or a conference. The course covers how to setup a case planning meeting, who should attend, interagency issues, differing perspectives and parental attendance.

* AASW Member Discount *

For those who struggle to manage their emotional worlds, or to alter old familiar ways of thinking and behaving, there is often an underlying trauma impact to explore. People develop “survivor behaviours” as a way of coping which doesn’t always serve them well lifelong. These behaviours may involve various forms of self-harm and/or suicidal thoughts.

This course provides deep understanding of the issues and strategies for working with such clients

This course counts for 4 hours of CPD

Sarah McGregor, an expert social worker in the field, presents an informative session on how to respond when a client discloses that they have been sexually assaulted.

This is a pre-recorded webcast for the Australian College of Social Workers webinar/webcast series for 2015. The title of the webcast is 'Small but powerful Cognitive Behavioural Therapy interventions in direct Social Work practice', presented by Dr Geraldene Mackay, in conversation with Mr Alex Zannoni.

This is a recorded webinar for the Australian College of Social Workers webinar/webcast series for 2015. The title of the webinar is 'Social work and big ideas - rolling out the National Disability Insurance Scheme', presented by Professor Christine Bigby and Professor Lesley Chenoweth.

The PACTS project has developed an open access online teaching and learning resource, concerning family violence, for use with primary healthcare students.

​* Free course *

2.5 CPD Hours

The Victorian Branch Management Committee invites you to attend the 2017 Annual Members Meeting of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Association of Social Workers. Guest Speaker is Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett AM, Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA).

SA Branch Annual Members' Meeting
Including branch elections

and

Annual Members' Dinner 2017

Thursday October 19th, 5.45 Arrival and Registration
6:00pm Annual members' Meeting
7:00pm Annual members' Dinner

Southern Regional Group
The Tasmanian Branch is excited to offer this opportunity to meet and learn from prominent social work practitioner and educator Dr. Pauline Meemeduma. and to explore the possibilities and challenges of international social work

Northern Regional Group
The Tasmanian Branch is excited to offer this opportunity to meet and learn from prominent social work practitioner and educator Dr. Pauline Meemeduma. and to explore the possibilities and challenges of international social work

North West Regional Group
The Tasmanian Branch is excited to offer this opportunity to meet and learn from prominent social work practitioner and educator Dr. Pauline Meemeduma. and to explore the possibilities and challenges of international social work

Victorian Mental Health Social Work Conference 2017, Parkville

'New and emerging themes in mental health social work'

This conference has reached capacity and registrations are now closed. Email aaswvic@aasw.asn.au if you would like to be notified of any cancellations.

We have an ageing population. Now more than ever Social Workers in a variety of contexts will be called upon to respond to seniors' distress. This course builds on existing Social Work knowledge about ageing contexts by adding a thorough psycho-social-emotional understanding of senior distress through a positive psychology lens. This course is particularly relevant for counsellors or those working in a para-therapeutic capacity who wish to direct their skill sets toward the growing number of older adults in our community.

The AASW NSW Branch, together with the Combined Universities Education Field Education Group, are hosting a 1-day workshop on student supervision. This workshop specifically caters to practicing social workers in the field who have limited to no experience in providing professional supervision to a student.

Video/teleconferencing available for rural and remote members. Please contact aasw.nsw@aasw.asn.au for details.

Register here by 2 November

This presentation will orient participants to a stepped care model of mental health and identify current gaps in service provision, particularly in relation to ease of access to evidence-based focused psychological therapies for people with common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

Guest speaker Mathew Healey Director Strategic Projects DHHS will present on the Strong Families-Safe Kids Implementation Project and Out of Home Care Reform, followed by a Q&A opportunity.

This one-day workshop aims to support developing social work practitioners build awareness of and competence in self-care practice. Suitable for final year social work students and new graduates.

7 CPD Hours

This practical and informative one-day workshop aims to support professional social workers by turning theory into evidence-based action and inviting you to take an active role in building your resilience and preventing psychological injury.

The 2017 AASW National Symposium will be held in Hobart, across 30 Nov - 2 Dec, and will provide a mix of formal and informal opportunities to engage with others across the full career spectrum to profile social work practice excellence within a changing landscape.

* Discount for AASW members *

2017 Annual Members' Meeting

5 CPD Hours

Mindfulness is the relationship we have with ourselves, others, the planet and with each moment.

This four hour experiential workshop facilitated by will teach you how to use mindfulness to:

• increase self-awareness
• be kinder and more compassionate towards yourself and others
• enjoy increased emotional intimacy with yourself and the people around you
• communicate better
• resolve conflict more effectively.

7 CPD Hours

This workshop will enable participants to learn to combine the personal use of mindfulness with a practice known as Grounding. This makes possible the active use of mindfulness skills when faced with intense feelings, conflicts, problems from the past, the prospect of future events, health issues, the desire for spiritual awakening, planning for the future.

Using Seven Phases to Integrating Loss & Grief to achieve and maintain Indigenous Prosperity

Deepen the understanding of ancestral intergenerational suppressed unresolved loss and grief and the effects of this compounding and complicating contemporary Aboriginal people. This provides the foundation and knowledge from where to practice Rosemary’s unique Seven Phases to Integrating Loss and Grief.

Supervision 1: A Reflective and Developmental Approach with Margaret Morrell

3 day workshop

New and experienced supervisors who want to encourage reflection and professional growth in their supervisees will benefit from this course.