Australian Association of Social Workers

10/08/2026

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

Strong communities are built on care, culture and knowledge. Indigenous midwives embody all three.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples was observed on 9 August. This year’s theme, Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being, recognises Indigenous midwives as caregivers and knowledge holders who help sustain community wellbeing, culture and knowledge across generations. The AASW celebrated this day.

Read more:

https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day

05/08/2026

The final report of the Independent Review of Complexity in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) was released September 2025 – and while social work isn't part of the Scheme, the findings still matter for our profession. The review looked at how regulatory systems could better respond to workforce needs and how professions outside the Scheme might be considered in future reform.

We've broken down what the review found, what it means or social workers right now, and how the AASW is approaching the broader conversation on registration. Read the full update on our website → https://bit.ly/459m2rb

28/07/2026

The AASW is piloting Schwartz Rounds for social workers

Some parts of social work stay with you long after the day is over.

Schwartz Rounds create a space to reflect on those experiences, connect with colleagues, and explore the human side of practice in a safe, facilitated environment.

Expressions of Interest are now open.

https://bit.ly/4pIzECY

22/07/2026

On Tuesday 21 July, the Northern Territory Parliament passed changes to child protection legislation that weaken the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.

Read more here: https://ab.co/4wgyUYr

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is deeply concerned by these changes, and supports approaches to child protection that uphold the safety, wellbeing and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, including their right to maintain connections to family, community, culture and Country.

The AASW supports the statement released by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) which outlines the significant concerns shared across the sector regarding these legislative changes.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3Ru2Q4a

The Northern Territory parliament has passed changes to child protection laws, with the Country Liberal Party describing its amendments as "the most significant overhaul of the Territory's child protection system in a generation".

20/07/2026

An ABC News report featuring AASW National President Liz Little has highlighted concerns about South Australia's child protection system.

Read the article:

https://ab.co/4ptOSMd

At the end of February, South Australia's Department for Child Protection had 12 open investigations into staff as a result of a care concern, Freedom of Information documents show.

08/07/2026

Develop a confident, values-based approach to leadership.

The seven-week Social Work Leadership Program combines self-paced learning, a three-day intensive workshop in Brisbane and collaborative project work to help you:

✅Develop a clear, values-based leadership approach by defining your leadership philosophy and understanding how your identity, ethics and social work values shape the way you lead.

✅Strengthen your ability to lead in complex environments by applying practical tools to navigate change, conflict, stakeholder dynamics and strategic decision-making, while building a professional leadership network.

The next program starts 2 September – limited spaces are available. Click here to learn more and register → https://bit.ly/4vzS9vc

Get in touch with us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

06/07/2026

Did you know AASW members can access curated Australian Social Work Journal collections via MyAASW?

As we celebrate NAIDOC Week, we're sharing the collection:

Australian First Nations Peoples' Voices.

Collection coordinators: Professor Bindi Bennett and Dr Susan Gair

This collection brings together scholarship by and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, highlighting First Nations knowledge, perspectives, experiences, and leadership in social work.

The collection showcases research that challenges dominant narratives, promotes self-determination, and strengthens understanding of culturally responsive and decolonising approaches to practice. It also highlights the importance of listening to and learning from First Nations voices in shaping social work education, policy, research, and service delivery.

For social workers, this collection provides valuable insights into culturally safe practice, social justice, Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, and the profession's ongoing commitment to reconciliation and meaningful change.

For access to the journal, log in to MyAASW and access via the 'My Benefits' tab https://lnkd.in/gYAWDM_q. The link is also on the homepage of aasw.asn.au

06/07/2026

Join us this Thursday 9 July for a virtual fireside chat and Q&A exploring this year's NAIDOC Week theme, ‘Fifty Years of Deadly’, featuring Tim Donovan, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, and Dr Josephine Lee, a proud Gudjula woman from North Queensland.

📅 Thursday 9 July
🕒 7:00 – 8:30pm AEST / 6.30pm ACST / 5.00pm AWST
✅ Free for AASW members

Register now → https://bit.ly/4veCWA6

National NAIDOC logo sourced from the NAIDOC website → https://bit.ly/3S7OO8m

05/07/2026

NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, while also reflecting on the responsibilities we carry as a profession.

Social workers must acknowledge that our profession has not always stood alongside First Nations peoples. At times, social workers and the systems we worked within contributed to policies and practices that caused harm, including the removal of children from their families, the denial of self-determination, and the ongoing impacts of colonisation.

This year's NAIDOC Week theme, 50 Years of Deadly, marks a significant milestone in recognising and celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The theme honours five decades of NAIDOC Week as a national movement that has elevated First Nations voices, cultures and leadership, while acknowledging the generations of advocates, Elders and communities who have driven change.

As a profession, we recommit to practice grounded in self-determination, cultural humility, and genuine partnership.



Image: National NAIDOC Week
Source: National NAIDOC Committee
Used under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence.

24/06/2026

Social work students and graduates – join tomorrow's Meet the Employer webinar to hear from leading social work employers, including Mark Grant, Regional Manager of the Early Career Program at headspace.

Mark began his career as a social worker in the child protection sector with the Queensland Government. He later transitioned into mental health, joining headspace in 2013. Over the past 13 years, Mark has worked clinically with young people, bringing a strong social work lens to youth mental health care. Mark now plays a key role in fostering a culture of learning across headspace centres, helping graduate clinicians build effective, sustainable, and high-quality mental health practice.

Thursday 25 June 2026
2:30–5:00pm AEST
✅ Free for AASW members
$15 for non-members

Register now → https://bit.ly/4aUOccu