Advocacy and related information
The evidence provided by the National Study of Social Work Students 2015-16 is being used to campaign for better student allowances and increasing the number of students who are entitled to government support. To date, we have advocated in the following ways:
Media releases and formal submissions
On 21 June 2016, the AASW issued a media release that called for an increase in the financial support for students based on evidence from the National Study of Social Work Students.
- Media release: New study reveals students also struggling
- Submission to the Senate on Pensioner Education Supplement
- Submission to the Senate on age requirements for various government allowances
International conference presentation
On Monday 27 June, AASW policy advocate Len Baglow presented 'The impact of low levels of income on the life and study success of social work students in Australia' at the World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development in Seoul, Korea.
ASWEAS Review 2016
Findings from the NSSWS will also be fed into the ASWEAS Review 2016
Further research
Over the next 18 months the research findings will be reported in academic literature. Other researchers are encouraged to replicate aspects of this national study at the local level and the survey questions may be helpful.
One of the questions that evidence from National Study of Social Work Students 2015 raises is: 'Why is it that social work students are so much more financially disadvantaged than other university students in Australia?' Social work researchers are encouraged to investigate this question further.
