QLD Branch

Branch Overview

AASW (QLD) is a thriving Branch with over 2,800 members. We service and represent Social Workers from the southern border north to Rockhampton. The Branch is managed by a voluntary Branch Management Committee (BMC) elected by the membership, and staffed by Branch Services Co-ordinator Mere Vitale (on leave) and Branch Services Co-ordinator Rachel Austin.

Please follow the branch links to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how you may like to get involved. Our Branch Organisational Chart is another quick way to get your bearings of the many entry points there are to engage with us.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Branch & Other Quick Links

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Branch Spotlight

Judging is NOW CLOSED.... the favourites to be notified on Wednesday 14 July 2021

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5VG7XQY

The AASW - 75 years STRONG! - Showcasing strength and longevity in social work – looking forward to the future, and supporting ongoing commitment and sustainability! Voting open until Mon 12 July 2021.
POSTED 06/07/2021

The AASW - 75 years STRONG

Showcasing strength and longevity in social work – looking forward to the future, and supporting ongoing commitment and sustainability!

This year, 2021, marks 75 years of the AASW and to celebrate this milestone, the Queensland Branch invite you to submit a creative piece in a multi-modal challenge in which you'll have a chance to win 1 of 3 gift vouchers!

The Challenge
Get your thinking caps on and your imagination running. Join in and submit a creative piece, story, artwork, song or drawing. Any mode will be accepted if it fits the criteria, some examples below:

• Writing a story or an essay (up to 500 words)
• Performing an original song (with written lyrics)
• Instagram or Twitter Statements
• Drawing
• Writing a Poem or drama piece
• An abstract piece of artwork

Submit your Piece - All submissions are to be emailed through to aaswqld.admin@aasw.asn.au.

Eligibility:

• Eligible for AASW Membership
• Based within the Qld Branch – *Rockhampton, west to the NT border and south to the SA & NSW borders
• BMC, Sub-Committee Members and PG convenors eligible to enter

Criteria:

• Your submission is to address or relate to the theme of “75 years STRONG - Showcasing strength and longevity in social work – looking forward to the future and supporting ongoing commitment and sustainability!”
• Agree to your name and submission to be judged on a public platform – eg. SurveyMonkey and shared on a public platform.
• Agree that the winning funds will be held by the Qld Branch to use towards one of the following of your choosing. (Membership, CPD, Networking Events, IFSW Conference)
• Agree, if a winner, to your name and submission promoted and advertised on the Branch pages and public platform.
  POSTED 17/06/2021

The QLD and NQLD Branches welcome the QLD government's investment in key services that affect our community and service users

In April 2021, the Queensland and North Queensland Branches urged the Queensland government to address the following key areas in a Pre-budget submission

• Mental Health
• Domestic and Family Violence (DFV)
• Child Protection
• Homelessness
• Reconciliation
• Sustainability & Climate Change

The QLD and NQLD Branches are pleased to hear and welcome the government's investment in the following key areas:

• increased funding of $364.5 million over 5 years to Children and Family Services
• increased funding of $95.7 million over 4 years and 2 months to Youth Justice Services including $77.3 million under the Youth Justice Strategy to target serious recidivist offenders and the continuation of broader support programs
• $30 million, in addition to the $7.5 million provided in 2019–20, to boost services supporting victims of domestic, family and sexual violence
• Funding to address housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities including social housing
• 2.9billion investment over four years for housing to boost housing supply and increase housing and homelessness support across Qld
• Financial investment in supporting those people no longer eligible for disability support under NDIS

The Branches would like to thank the Social Policy Sub Committee for all their hard work and advocacy.

For more detailed commentary please see QCOSS State budget is a beacon of hope for Queenslanders living through the state’s housing crisis - QCOSS
POSTED 28/06/2021

National Reconciliation Week 2021

The AASW Queensland Branch, First Nations and Allies Sub- Committee contributes to relevant AASW responses to First Nations issues, develops policies and organising events throughout the year to celebrate First Nations people within Queensland.

Please see here for further information on the Branch's contributions towards National Reconciliation Week.

Newly re-formed and re-named - First Nations and Allies Sub-Committee (formerly RAP)

The Queensland Branch Reconciliation Action Plan Sub-Committee has officially been re-named to First Nations and Allies Sub-Committee. The change was agreed upon by sub-comm members, endorsed by the Qld BMC and ratified at the last BMC Meeting on Monday 19 May 2021.

The decision to change the name has come from a long-term deliberation around the modernity and inclusivity of the members of the group as well as the reflection of the groups intended functionalities and that the sub-committee encompasses so many activities, causes and functions, with the RAP being one part of this.

If you would like to be a part of the First Nations and Allies Sub-Committee, please make contact with the Branch and someone from the sub-committee will be in contact with you to have a yarn.

Meet the Sub-Committee: Yaleela Torrens, Karina Maxwell and Beni McKenzie
POSTED 26/05/2021

Expressions of Interest are sought for the upcoming 2021/2022 financial year for Category 3 - Professional Identity CPD.

Support the Qld Branches Growth and Encourage our Development - deliver CPD opportunities for Queensland social workers in 2021 and 2022.

Expressions of Interest are invited from trainers, facilitators and educators to provide a range of webinars, online and face to face networking events for the AASW Queensland Branch.

If you are interested in delivering training on our behalf, you can contact Rachel at the Qld Branch on 07 2101 4629 or via aaswqld.admin@aasw.asn.au to discuss options or populate the EOI and return.

Please ensure your EOIs reach us by Friday 14 May 2021. If you have any queries please email aaswqld.admin@aasw.asn.au.
POSTED 30/04/2021

QUT Faculty of Health Student Awards - Thursday 15 April 2021

Qld Branch President, Yasmin Dunn had the pleasure of attending and presenting the AASW (Qld) Award to Manon Engelbert at the QUT Faculty of Health Student Awards Ceremony on Thursday 15 April 2021 at the QUT Kelvin Grove Campus.

Congratulations Manon!

Photo's courtesy of QUT.
POSTED 27/04/2021

Coercive Control Network Dinner at Parliament House - Friday 26 March

AASW Queensland Branch President Yasmin Dunn and Queensland Branch Social Policy & Advocacy Sub-Committee Member Fotina Hardy, attended the Coercive Control Network Dinner at Parliament House on Friday 26 March.

The dinner focused on the recent announcement of the Queensland Task Force on Coercive Control.

Yasmin noted 'It was a fantastic opportunity for them to network with key services in the DFV field and highlighted that a collaborative effort will be required to push forward and implement this significant legislative and associated cultural change'.

Other organisations in attendance were Brisbane Domestic Violence Service, Micah Projects, White Ribbon Australia, DVConnect, Women’s Legal Service QLD, and Children by Choice, as well as Sue and Lloyd Clarke (Hannah Clarke's parents).

Key note speaker was Jess Hill, investigative author and journalist.
POSTED 29/03/2021

Grave Concerns Over Passage of Child Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (QLD)

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Chief Executive Officer Cindy Smith and Queensland Branch President Yasmin Dunn have described the passage of the Child Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (QLD) as a missed opportunity to protect the best interest of vulnerable children and their families.

Please see the ABC Report and the Media Release.
POSTED 24/03/2021

Submission to Inquiry into Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Based on our commitment to the rights of children and young people, the AASW opposes the Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 and it is our overall recommendation that the Queenland Government implements all recommendations from the 2018 Atkinson Youth Justice Report to divert young people from the criminal justice system.

To read the full Queensland and North Queensland Branches submission, please see here.

Call for Qld Branch Sub-Committee Members

The Queensland Branch sub committees provide a means to assist the Branch Management Committee (BMC) in the development and execution of key governance responsibilities. The sub-committees’ purpose and functions support and align with key AASW documents including National and Branch Strategic Plans, the Code of Ethics, Practice Standards, the Reconciliation Action Plan, The Constitution and the By-Laws. The sub-committees are supported by, and work with, the Branch Manager in meeting its purpose and functions.

The terms of reference provide further detail on the key purpose and functions of each of the sub committees.

• First Nations and Allies Sub-committee ToR's
• Practice Group Sub-Committee ToR's
• CPD and Membership Engagement Sub-Committee ToR's
• Social Policy and Advocacy Sub-Committee ToR's

If you would like to submit an EOI for any of the above sub-committees, please email Rachel on aaswqld.admin@aasw.asn.au.

ie: EOI can comprise of, but is not limited to:

• Employment/workplace, current role, past roles
• Experience
• Specific Interest areas in Social Work
• Strengths/contributions you can bring to the committee/branch
  POSTED 19/03/2021

Close the Gap Awareness Day - 18 March 2021

QLD Branch Management Committee Member Yaleela Torrens was proud to be the Master of Ceremonies for the Closing the Gap Awareness Day yesterday in Gladstone. Delivered by the Gladstone Women’s Health Centre, the event attracted over 20 different stall holders who proudly showcased their wide range of services and supports, to over 150 attending community members. The event was a first for the Gladstone Women’s Health Centre and hosted guest appearance from NRL Star and former Brisbane Bronco’s and State of Origin player Jaral Yow Yeh, traditional Indigenous food, and local Aboriginal dancers.

Yaleela stated that “any of the Closing the Gap Day events should always be an opportunity for all services and agencies to reflect on the economic and social inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and, for all Australians to be brave enough to be change makers within your own communities’.
For more information on the service please see here and more photo's please see the Branch FB Page.
POSTED 18/03/2021

ABS Census Data Collection 2021

AASW welcomes the changes in the ABS Census Data Collection 2021 in relation to its conceptions of Sex, Gender, Variations of sex characteristics and Sexual orientation. This is a positive step to ensure that the Census can accurately represent the diversity of the Australian community. We encourage other government departments to adopt these definitions in their lines of work to ensure inclusivity.

https://www.abs.gov.au/.../standard-sex-gender.../2020...
POSTED 27/01/2021