World Social Work Day Events 2026
The theme for this year is ‘Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society’, which highlights the vital role of social work in bringing people together across communities, cultures, and systems to shape a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow. It is both a reminder and a challenge: that the only sustainable way forward is through cooperation, solidarity, and co-creation.
The International Federation of Social Workers says: at its heart, social work is a profession rooted in the values of human dignity, social justice, and community participation. These values affirm that no society can thrive when its people are divided or excluded. The theme therefore underscores the urgent need to restore trust and to rebuild bonds of belonging, in fractured communities.
National webinar
World Social Work Day 2026 webinar – ‘Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society’
Date: 17 March
Time: 6:30-8:00pm AEDT
Location: Online
Description: Join Dr Wilma Peters and our 2025 National Excellence Award Winners as they gather to discuss the World Social Work Day Theme for 2026 ‘Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society’.
State Based Events
South Australia
SA Branch World Social Work Day Breakfast
Date: 17 March
Time: 7:00-9:00am ACST
Location: U City, 43 Franklin Street, Adelaide – Function Room
Description: Join the SA Branch for a special World Social Work Day Breakfast celebrating connection, community, and this year’s theme, Co-Building Hope and Harmony.
We are honoured to welcome the following speakers:
- Katrine Hildyard MP, Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women, and Minister for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence will be speaking at the opening of the event.
- Susan Dixon, a proud Kaurna and Narungga woman deeply connected to her communities, who will provide the Welcome to Country and reflect on this year’s World Social Work Day theme.
- Professor Sarah Wendt, Director of the Social Workers Registration Board of South Australia, providing an update regarding social work registration.
Come together with fellow social workers to share breakfast, connection, and inspiration as we celebrate the impact of our profession and the strength of community.
Northern Territory
NT World Social Work Day Event
Date: 17 March
Time: 8:15 – 9:45am NT time
Darwin location: B8.1.33 at The Centre for Better Health Futures, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina Campus Building B8 (Blue Precinct)
Alice Springs location: Relationships Australia NT, 2 Parsons Street, Alice Springs
Live online from anywhere in the NT: A Zoom link will be sent to registered participants the day before the event
Description: Join us as we simultaneously unite in person in Darwin, in person in Alice Springs and online from across the NT for this special event celebrating World Social Work Day.
Our Harambee includes:
- Welcome to Country by Edwin Fejo
- A message from Darwin’s Dr Andrew Richardson, Director – AASW National Board
- Guest speaker senior Larrakia elder Dr. Christine Fejo-King, Mary Moylan NT Social Worker of the Year award winner 2025 – an accomplished Aboriginal social worker, policy leader, and lifelong advocate for Indigenous self-determination and culturally grounded practice
- Meet the new AASW NT Branch Committee, championing the AASW Blueprint for Change.
North Queensland
NQLD Mackay World Social Work Day Event
Date: 17 March
Time: 6:00-8:00pm AEST
Location: Mackay Central Tavern
Description: Come and join other local social workers for a relaxed get‑together to celebrate World Social Work Day 2026. It’s a great chance to reconnect, meet new people in the field, and chat about this year’s theme: “Cobuilding Hope & Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society.”
We’ll keep things casual with light catering of shared platters, plenty of conversation, and a warm space to reflect on the work we do and the communities we support.
Whether you’ve been in practice for years or you’re just starting out, you’re welcome.
Come along, unwind after work, and be part of a positive, inspiring evening with the Mackay social work community.
NQLD Townsville World Social Work Day Event
Date: 17 March
Time: 2:30 – 4:30pm AEST
Location: Townsville University Hospital – Robert Douglas Auditorium
Description: This World Social Work Day gathering explores the theme “Co-building Hope and Harmony,” offering a shared space to reflect on its relevance to social work practice. Guided by guest speakers, including longtime Townsville social worker and human‑rights advocate Dr Meg Davis, the event encourages collective learning and connection. Light refreshments provided.
Queensland
Gold Coast World Social Work Day
Date: 17 March
Time: 5:30 – 7:30pm AEDT
Location: Varsity Lakes Community Centre, 20 Mattocks Road, Varsity Lakes
Description: Join the Gold Coast Practice Group to celebrate World Social Work Day, where we will collectively view the World Social Work Day 2026 National Webinar. Light refreshments will be provided.
Toowoomba World Social Work Day Exhibition and Networking Event
Date: 17 March
Time: 5:30 – 7:30pm AEDT
Location: The Starving Artist Collaborative, 36/57 Brook St, North Toowoomba
Description: Join us at the Starving Artist Collaborative for an evening of networking, creativity, and exploring visions for a more connected community. Featuring how NDIS social work crates connections through art by Amanda Smith, Anneke Logan and Harley Gapper, the event includes a collaborative artwork activity using participant‑brought images. Light refreshments provided.
QLD World Social Work Day Week
This week-long celebration of the social work profession, and exploration of the 2026 theme “Co-Building and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society”, offers an invitation and a range of opportunities through 5 distinct sessions to come together, connect, learn and share.
Location: Various spaces at The Precinct, Level 2, 315 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Please register for each session you plan to attend, see each session page for more details including timing, catering and specific locations within The Precinct.
Date: 16 March
Time: 4:30 – 9:00pm AEDT
Description: Join local social workers for an evening of connection, reflection, and celebration featuring “Starving Artists” as we come together to mark the launch of QLD’s World Social Work Day 2026.
Date: 17 March (morning session)
Time: 7:30am – 12:30pm
Join us for the WSWD Morning Session (breakfast provided) including:
7:30 – 10:00am Networking Breakfast co-hosted by the AASW (Acting) General Manager, Member Engagement & Growth, Ben Chapman, offering an opportunity to connect with colleagues across sectors
10.00am – 11.30am Australian Participatory Community Development Institute Ltd
11.30am – 12.30pm Ben Maiyo – Community and Codesign Project Officer – Ethnic Communities Council of Qld and Kenyan Community Leader
Date: 17 March (afternoon session)
Time: 12:30pm – 5:30pm
Join us for the WSWD Afternoon Session (lunch provided) including:
12:30–2:00pm Panel discussion exploring the question: “With the theme of Harambee in mind, how is your work fostering connection across communities, cultures, and systems? What are the challenges and what’s working?”
Panellists Include:
- Noeleen Lopes, CEO Gallang Place
- Dr Shane Warren, Griffith University (Racism on Campus)
- Queensland Human Rights representatives
- Union representative (Social Work in the psychology sector – workplace rights and SCHADS Award)
3:00–5:30pm NDIS Practice Group discussion and networking
Date: 18 March
Join us for two sessions of learning, creativity, and critical conversation as practitioners, community leaders, and changemakers come together to explore this year’s theme of Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society
10:00 – 11:30am Self Portrait as Self Awareness: A Gestalt Informed Experiential Exploration with Yaro Starak Gestalt Facilitator Art Activity
12:30 – 2:00pm “Let’s Get It Done” Gold Coast Community Development Discussion on Process of “Private Practice” within a Community Development Framework.
Date: 19 March
QLD World Social Work Day Week concludes with a final afternoon of connection, learning, creativity and critical conversation including a display of schools artwork exploring the theme Co-building Hope & Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society from across the region.
3:00 – 5:30pm Schools Practice Group networking and critical conversation
New South Wales
NSW Branch Rural & Remote World Social Work Day Event
Date: 17 March
Time: 5:30 – 7:30pm AEDT
Location: The Starving Artist Collaborative, 36/57 Brook St, North Toowoomba
Description: Join us at the Starving Artist Collaborative for an evening of networking, creativity, and exploring visions for a more connected community. Featuring how NDIS social work crates connections through art by Amanda Smith, Anneke Logan and Harley Gapper, the event includes a collaborative artwork activity using participant‑brought images. Light refreshments provided.
Western Australia
WA Work Social Work Day Breakfast
Date: 20 March
Time: 7:00 – 9:00am AWST
Location: South Perth Yacht Club, 2 Canning Beach Rd, Applecross
Description: Join the AASW WA Branch for a World Social Work Day breakfast celebrating unity and collaboration. With guest speaker Michelle Moriarty 2025 Social Worker of the Year Finalist, sharing insights on hope and harmony in grief settings, this event brings together practitioners and students to reflect on the global theme and strengthen community connection and shared purpose.
To download the World Social Work Day poster, click the button below. Print it and share it with your workplace or community!
