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SA Branch


Branch Overview

AASW South Australia is an active Branch with over 1600 members from the dry west coast to the cooler eastern coast and everywhere in between, managed by a voluntary Branch Management Committee elected by the membership. Our major focus areas are the enhancement of the social work profession and the wellbeing of our members.

The SA Branch Services Coordinator is Kristen Keley.

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Branch Spotlight

COVID-19

Most Social Workers are an essential service under COVID-19 both for vaccinations and under lockdown rules, particularly for emergency child protection, family and domestic violence, homelessness, aged and disability care and in hospital settings.

For mental health (in lockdown), allied health professionals providing mental health services in community settings by telehealth or by face-to-face (but only in the instance of emergency clinical care for potentially life-threatening situations where telehealth is not clinically appropriate), it is recommended that you use telehealth or postpone your appointment. If you must meet in person due to an emergency please abide by the COVID restrictions: everyone needs to wear a mask, abide by the distance ruling and private practitioners must have an SA Government QR COVID safe tracing code which clients must use to check-in.

For more information on COVID Essential Workers see:  Level 5 Essential Workers   

Get Involved, Make Connections!

The AASW SA Branch is an extremely active Branch with many Practice and Networking Groups available to join.
Practice Groups are related to specific areas of practice while Networking Groups are either location or interest based.
 

Upcoming SA Events

Breakfast Events
To be held 7.30am-9.30am, Osmond Room, Arkaba Hotel, 150 Glen Osmond Road, Parkside
 
Aged Care and Older Persons Mental Health: Working in the SA legal context – 18 August 2021
This presentation is for social workers who are working in SA in direct practice, (aged care facilities, SA hospitals, public and private provision services, eg ECH and ACH in SA, social policy and community development and Health SA social workers working with older persons.  This presentation will specifically focus on our SA legislation in place for aged care and open for discussion on what’s working and what’s not working and how can we address these concerns in our community.
 
Coroners Court: Working in the SA legal context - 29 September 2021
This presentation will focus on SA social workers understanding the Coroners Act 2013 (SA), their responsibilities, and how to interface with the legal requirements.  Since the Chloe Valentine Inquest and Heidi Singh Inquest are our organisations better placed with services and assessing the risks?  Have the Inquest recommendations been fulfilled and do we have steps we need to take as social workers in SA?   Will also look at additional supports needed for social workers who may be called to an Inquest in SA especially for DCP and CAMHS.
 
South Australian Civil Administrative Tribunal (SACAT): Working in the SA legal context - 24 November 2021
SACAT currently oversees significant pieces of SA legislation and deals with a whole range of issues and clients we work with in our community.  How do we as social workers in SA access this tribunal, seek advice, conciliation and mediation processes, work with mental health orders, residential tenancy issues, aged care directives for South Australians.  Presentation will also focus on SA social workers understanding the role of SACAT in authorising restrictive practices and special power orders.  Recent SACAT role in child protection which can now review some decisions made by DCP.  
 
Annual Members Meeting 
6.30pm-7.00pm, Wednesday 27 October 2021
Osmond Terrace Function Centre, Norwood Hotel, Osmond Terrace, Norwood
REGISTER 
 
AASW 75th Anniversary Celebration
7.00pm-9.00pm, Wednesday 27 October 2021
Osmond Terrace Function Centre, Norwood Hotel, Osmond Terrace, Norwood
Celebrate at a cocktail style function with Keynote Speaker (TBA)
REGISTER

 

Other event topics planned for 2021/2022 include:

  • Child protection
  • Gender diversity
  • Mental health
  • Disability advocacy
  • Suicide prevention
  • Intercultural practice
  • Working in large complex systems
  • LGBTQI advocacy
  • Aged care
  • Eating disorders
  • Comorbidities and complex needs
  • Family and domestic violence
  • and others

Check the SA Event Calendar for updates

 

South Australian Social Worker of the Year Awards

Run biennially, the South Australian Social Worker of the Year Awards highlights the positive contribution of social workers to individuals, families and communities. The awards also serve to showcase the immense diversity, professionalism, commitment and capacity of social work practitioners, teams and organisations, and what they collectively achieve to strengthen the South Australian community.

Please find access via the links to post 2021 event information:
Photos The photos are stored on Facebook however as it is public access you do not need a Facebook account to view them.
 

Resources

Video:  The whole Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child (2019)

Are you curious about what social and emotional wellbeing means for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children? Emerging Minds has worked with communities across Australia to create The whole Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child. This video offers a glimpse into the deep connections Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to Country, culture, spirituality, family and community.

Video:  Working in Culture (2021)

On behalf of the AASW, Shirley Young offered students this presentation about working inclusively with Aboriginal people for Reconciliation Week 2021 (Passcode: Pd*6Qmdf)

Video:  World Social Work Day (2021)

Presentation by Hon Kyam Maher at World Social Work Day breakfast discussing his mother, Viv Maher, who was a social worker and life member of the AASW, women's rights and the importance of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill. (Passcode: S!&rjXd5)

Video:  Regional Social Workers in Whyalla  (2021)

Spencer Gulf News interviewed rural social workers and SA Branch President, Patricia Muncey in Whyalla for the AASW SA Branch Regional Tour in honour of the AASW's 75th Anniversary.  View 11min to 12.46min.

 

Workplace Wellness Guide for Allied Health

Through their involvement in the South Australian Allied Health Professional Associations Workplace Wellbeing Consortium, the AASW SA Branch has helped to develop an information booklet and healthy workplace pledge to be rolled out to all Allied Health Practices across South Australia. Download your copy today
 
 

     

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