2020

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) have called for a systemic overhaul of the New South Wales child protection and social services systems to better to protect vulnerable children and families. 

On World Human Rights Day 2020, the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) has renewed its calls for urgent action from governments and communities across Australia to create a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable world.

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) National President Vittorio Cintio said it is important for all community sector workers to acknowledge the eighth anniversary of the Fair Work Australia decision which sought to close the pay gap of community sector workers across Australia.

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) has commended the South Australian Parliament for its bipartisan commitment and national leadership, as the first Australian state to develop specific legislation for the statutory registration of social workers.

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) CEO Cindy Smith has welcomed the announcement that the Federal Government will implement all six recommendations the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, made in its COVID-19 and Aged Care special report.

In a show of global solidarity, the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is endorsing the United Nations call for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls.

The Australian Association of Social Workers, National President Vittorio Cintio has welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s report on the Social and Economic Benefits of Improving Mental Health that outlines a vision of a person centred system.

During NAIDOC Week 2020, the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) has taken an important step towards reconciliation and addressing the structural disadvantage and discrimination experienced by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Board Director and Chair of the AASW Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group, Linda Ford has called on all Australians to embrace the true history of this country during NAIDOC Week 2020 (8-15 November).

With the Queensland state election looming the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is calling on all political parties to commit to the formal registration of qualified social workers to protect some of the most vulnerable members of society who need supports. 

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) National President Christine Craik has been joined by AASW Queensland and North Queensland Branch Presidents Ellen Beaumont Branch and Ross Murray in calling for an incoming Queensland government to focus on creating an inclusive and just society where it is possible for everyone to thrive, flourish and develop their full potential.

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is marking Anti-Poverty Week (11 -17 October) and World Homeless Day with calls to all levels of government to take action to assure that every Australian is given the basic human right to affordable, safe and secure housing, and income support to maintain a baseline standard of living.  

Mental health is one of the most neglected areas of public health and AASW National President Ms Christine Craik has cautioned that the consequences of the COVID-19 on people’s mental well being we are already seeing, is just the beginning. 

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) National President, Ms Christine Craik hopes World Mental Health Day 2020 (10 October) will highlight mental health solutions that go beyond short-term, crisis-oriented responses and encompass a whole of society approach to factors affecting mental health. 

AASW National President Ms Christine has welcomed increases in Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) funded mental health sessions announced in the Federal Budget. 
 

AASW National President Christine Craik has described last night’s Federal Budget as a missed opportunity and without a vision for effective solutions. 

On the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons, the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is calling on all levels of government to do more to address ageism in Australian society.  

AASW National President, Christine Craik has called on the Federal Government to use the upcoming Budget to focus on issues crucial for constructing an Australia that is better for everyone.

The AASW has welcomed the announcement by Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt of a six month extension to the temporary COVID-19 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth items.

During National Child Protection Week, the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is calling on all Australian governments to commit to the formal registration of qualified social workers in order to protect some of the most vulnerable members of society.

The Australian Association of Social Workers is concerned about the impacts COVID-19 has had on the mental health of many people in Australia, and on World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) the AASW is calling on all levels of Australian government to commit to action to address the rate of suicide in the community.

AASW welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement that social work will be moved to a lower tier of fees in its reform package, in recognition of the essential role it plays in mental health, health and community services. 

As 105 men remain in the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel after being flown from Manus Island and Nauru to Australia for medical treatment, the AASW is again calling on governments to end the practice of mandatory detention.

The Australian Association of Social Workers has today launched its third Reconciliation Action Plan July 2020-June 2022, which is an Innovate Plan.

During National Homelessness Week, 2-8 August this year, Australian social workers are calling for more investment in social housing to help end homelessness.

The AASW welcomes the announcement by the Health Minister Greg Hunt on Sunday, 2 August on the increase in Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS)-funded mental health sessions in response to the escalating COVID-19 lockdowns.

The AASW, in our submission to the Inquiry into Homelessness in Australia, calls on the government to build or acquire additional social housing.

During World Refugee Week 2020, the AASW continues calls for the Federal Government to put an end to its punitive practice of mandatory detention.

The AASW is calling on better resourcing and funding for the aged care sector on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2020.

The brutal and painful death of 22-month-old Mason Jet Lee is a devastating tragedy and we call on all Australian governments to take immediate actions to assure no child has to ever endure what Mason went through in his short life, said the Australian Association of Social Workers National President Christine Craik, Queensland Branch President Ellen Beaumont and North Queensland Branch President Ross Murray in a joint statement released today.

The AASW has called for an end to mandatory detention of asylum seekers in its submission to the Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020 [Provisions] inquiry.

The AASW celebrates National Reconciliation Week during this week 27 May – 3 June and what has turned out be a prophetic theme ‘In This Together’ and calls on all Australians to continue to work towards Reconciliation.

The AASW is today questioning the Senate Committee in charge of the Inquiry into Domestic Violence.  This inquiry did not accept any submissions from the domestic and family violence sector and then released its report two days ago, three months ahead of its August due date.

The AASW calls for an increased focus on family violence during this Family Violence Awareness Month, with the increased incidence of FV during COVID-19.

The AASW renews its call for an increase in Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS)-funded mental health sessions in response to COVID 19, said National President Christine Craik.

The AASW welcomes the introduction of the COVIDSafe app, launched by the Australian government yesterday and encourages everyone to download the app.

The AASW welcomes the measures the Government announced on Sunday, 29 March. The Association is working with members to implement the government’s new measures to respond to mental health concerns during the COVID-19 crisis.

The AASW is working with members and key stakeholders to address the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic.

Today is World Social Work Day, a day of celebration for the social work profession, held every year on the third Tuesday of March. This year’s theme is Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships, which is set by the International Federation of Social Workers.

The single most important thing we could do to eradicate poverty and family violence would be embrace this year’s International Women’s Day theme “I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights” and make sure all generations of women, including those to come, have equality with men.

The Commonwealth government must commit to maintaining the Equal Remuneration Order Supplementation funding for the community sector, which was put in place in 2012.

The AASW calls on the government to halt the introduction of its Religious Freedom Bills into Parliament until the Australian Law Reform Commission finishes its inquiry into religious freedom exemptions in existing anti-discrimination legislation.

The AASW welcomes the Bushfire Recovery Access Program that comes into effect today and will see people affected by the bushfires, including first responders, receive vital mental health supports.

The AASW has called on the Queensland Government to broaden the definition of ‘health service provider’ to better restrict the practice of harmful ‘conversion therapy’, a harmful and discredited practice which purports to convert lesbian, gay and bisexual people into heterosexual.

Australia’s bushfires are causing devastation on a scale the world has not seen before.   The AASW pays tribute to those fighting the fires, those individuals and groups assisting on the frontlines, and those assisting with the recovery process.