Community Work Australia

18/03/2026

Today we recognise Close the Gap Day 2026 and this year’s theme, “Community Voices: The Pathway to Justice, Equality and Healing.”

As community work professionals, our role is to listen, to support culturally informed practice, and to work in partnership with First Nations communities to advance justice, equity and healing.

Community Work Australia is committed to strengthening culturally respectful practice across the sector.

Explore our Indigenous services resources here: https://www.communitywork.org.au/resources/indigenous-services

Today, and every day, we acknowledge the leadership, resilience and knowledge of First Nations peoples and recommit to supporting community-led change.

07/03/2026

Today on International Women’s Day, we recognise the women who strengthen our communities - many working in roles that remain undervalued and underpaid.

In Australia, 80% of community workers are women (Jobs and Skills Australia). These professionals provide essential support across our communities, while average wages in community services sit below the national full-time average (Australian Bureau of Statistics).

Nationally, women earn on average 87.9 cents for every dollar earned by men. This context is particularly significant in female-dominated professions such as community work.

To truly , we must ensure that community work is properly recognised, fairly remunerated, and valued for the skill and leadership it requires.

This International Women’s Day, we acknowledge the contribution of women across our sector - from frontline practitioners to organisational leaders - and recommit to advancing equity in community work.

02/03/2026

The Australian Journal of Community Work – Volume 4 (2024–2025) is now published and available on our website.

This latest edition brings together peer-reviewed research, practice reflections, and sector insight that reflect the depth, diversity and integrity of community work across Australia.

The AJCW plays an important role in strengthening the evidence base for practice and advancing recognition of community work professionals as skilled, ethical contributors to a fair and socially just society.

We thank the authors, reviewers, and editor whose work has made this publication possible.

📖 Read Volume 4 here: https://www.communitywork.org.au/resources/practice-resource/australian-journal-of-community-work-2024-2025-volume-4

23/02/2026

✨ A new chapter for Community Work Australia. ✨

It’s been a while, but we’re excited to reconnect with you here on Facebook!

We’ve refreshed our brand and website to better reflect who we are, the values we stand for, and to make it easier for you to find the resources, support, and insights you need as a community work professional.

Our new look celebrates growth, connection, inclusion and purpose — and our updated website brings everything together in one place: career pathways, practical resources, member stories and more. 👇

🔗 Read all about the change and what it means for you:
https://www.communitywork.org.au/news/new-brand-and-website-the-next-chapter-for-community-work-australia

We can’t wait to share more news, insights and conversation right here. Stay tuned! 💜

24/12/2024

Out with the old, in with the new!

We are pleased to report that the name of the Australian Community Workers Association has changed to Community Work Australia.

This exciting development reflects our organisation’s commitment to the profession of community work, and aligns our identity with our expanding scope, growing influence and the evolving needs of the community work sector.

Everything else will remain the same: we’ll still be led by the same board and staff, and as the peak body for the community work profession, we’ll continue to:
· support our members
· accredit courses
· endorse professional development programs
· conduct migration skills assessments
· advocate for sound policy affecting community work

Community Work Australia will continue to serve the Australian public, offering confidence that practitioners across the broad range of community work occupations uphold superior standards of ethical and professional practice as they strive to achieve social and economic inclusion for all Australians.

We’re excited about this change and thrilled to have you on this journey with us!

Learn more:

The Australian Community Workers Association Limited (ACWA) is delighted to share that it is changing its name to Community Work Australia Limited,

28/08/2024

National Child Protection Week starts next week. This year's theme is 'Every conversation matters.'

Listening and conversing are crucial parts of a child's development, they help them grow, and connect with people, their community and culture.

You can participate in meaningful conversations by registering for webinars, which feature an incredible lineup of speakers and topics, aimed at educating and exploring how we can create safer and better futures for children and young people.

National Child Protection Week 2024 Webinars Register today for our 2024 NCPW webinar series. Participating in Webinar events FAQ Register Now Join us for our National Child Protection Week Launch […]

22/08/2024

We often get asked if there are any free professional development opportunities available to community workers and the answer is yes!

If you're an ACWA member you can now access FREE training from the Member resources page of ACWA's website.

Explore our learning options today.

visit www.acwa.org.au

21/08/2024

Too often, the evidence we collect about families to use in policy and service development focuses on one or two types of family. We know that families in Australia are much more diverse than is considered in public debate and public policy.

The Uniting Families Report is a new partnership between .act and Social Policy Research Centre, providing annual insights into the experiences of families raising children and young people in Australia. Better research and understanding of families will inform understanding and drive better policy reform.

This report is a first step towards challenging the notion that all family experiences are the same and can be explored here: uniting.org/families-report

20/08/2024

You are cordially invited to ACWA Symposium 2024: Child Protection, 'Tackling the challenges of child safety'.

ACWA is hosting our first ever Symposium on 14 November, 2024.

This symposium is a fantastic opportunity to catch up with all the latest developments in child protection and safety and provide valuable insights to use in your work.

Register today for an early bird discount

We are delighted to announce our upcoming symposium on Child Protection, scheduled for Thursday, November 14, 2024. Please save the date for this essential event focused on child protection and safety and the latest developments in the field. The symposium will feature keynote speakers and experts i...