The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is proud to be hosting the Mental Health Social Work and Contemporary Practice Symposium online in ten days.
AASW CEO Cindy Smith said, “The role that social workers play in delivering effective mental health care cannot be understated. For too long now we have seen under-investment in the sector by successive governments, both state and federal.
“The pressure this is creating on our mental health care networks is, and will, continue to grow.
“Our priority is to see better access to mental health services in the community, more awareness that social workers provide mental health services and a better understanding of how mental health and social circumstances intersect.
“Social workers are leading the way in advocacy, innovation and intervention with contemporary practices in mental health. Attend our Symposium and find out all about it.”
The Symposium will feature Keynote Speakers Professor Lisa Brophy, Discipline Lead in Social Work and Social Policy at La Trobe University and The Hon. Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health.
The panel discussions will focus on social work private practice, cutting-edge interventions in trauma, foetal alcohol syndrome, neurodiversity, pandemics and disasters and the NDIS.
Mimi Kwa, an accomplished author, journalist and news anchor will be the Master of Ceremonies. Due to the success of AASW’s previous online events, this Symposium will also be held entirely online, allowing attendees to participate from all over the country and internationally.
Over 500 attendees have registered already, with more expected in the coming days.
To find out more and register, please see our Symposium website. It will be held on Thursday, 17 November 2022.
Would you like to attend as a journalist reporting on mental health?
Please contact Angela Yin at [email protected] and 03 9320 1005 if you would like a press pass.
About mental health social work
Social workers operate at the interface between people and their social, cultural and physical environments. Social workers maintain a dual focus on assisting human functioning and identifying the systemic issues which create inequity and cause injustice. Social work practice focusses on a holistic, whole-of-person and life-course approach, and as such social workers are skilled at providing assessments and interventions for people with complex presentations.
Social workers who are members of the AASW and who have met certain criteria in mental health settings can seek accredited status as an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW), which was introduced in 2005. The AASW is an Accrediting Authority recognised by the Federal Government. The accreditation indicates that the social worker is a highly skilled mental health clinician in assessment, treatment planning, complex case formulation, and the delivery of evidence-based therapeutic interventions across formative and life stages in collaboration with clients.
You can read our Accredited Mental Health Social Worker Briefing Paper for Private Health Insurers.
About the Australian Association of Social Workers
The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is the national professional body representing more than 16,000 social workers throughout Australia. The AASW works to promote the profession of social work including setting the benchmarks for professional education and practice in social work.
About Cindy Smith
Cindy Smith is the CEO of the AASW and is a qualified social worker with more than 20 years of experience, a Bachelor of Social Work, a Master of Health Administration, a Fellow of the Australian College of Health Management and a graduate with the Australian Institute Company Directors. She has led the AASW since 2016.
To interview Cindy Smith, please contact Angela Yin on 03 9320 1005
