Australian Association of Social Workers

20/06/2026

The AASW statement on the recent announcement by the South Australian government not to proceed with the Social Workers Registration Scheme.

https://bit.ly/4aUIp6L

18/06/2026

National NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Join Tim Donovan, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, and Dr Josephine Lee, a proud Gudjula woman from North Queensland, as we come together for a virtual fireside chat and Q&A exploring this year's theme, ‘Fifty Years of Deadly’.

📅 Wednesday 8 July
🕒 7:00–8:30pm AEST
✅ Free for AASW members

Register now → https://bit.ly/4veCWA6

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

18/06/2026

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

Collection: Showcasing Health and Mental Health Practice.

In this collection we feature social work practice, leadership and research focusing on health, mental health and wellbeing.

Authors in this collection uphold health and mental health equity and recovery and promote culturally informed practice innovation and collaboration.

For full access to the journal, log in to MyAASW and access via the 'My Benefits' tab https://my.aasw.asn.au/s/login/

18/06/2026

Social work students and graduates, are you wondering how to find your first social work role? Or which career pathway is right for you?

Connect with major social work employers, including Queensland Health, the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, and CatholicCare Wollongong, by attending our upcoming Meet the Employer webinar.

Through presentations, a panel discussion and a live Q&A, this is your opportunity to interact with employers as they share:

✏️ insights into job opportunities and career pathways
✏️ tips on writing strong applications and getting shortlisted
✏️ an inside look at what a social worker’s day looks like within their organisation.

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

Register now → https://bit.ly/4aUOccu

17/06/2026

Our recent webinar 'The Use of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) in Assisting with Anger and Emotional Dysregulation', explored how EMDR can support social workers and mental health professionals working with clients experiencing anger, emotional dysregulation and complex trauma presentations.

Attendees told us this session was "a great introduction for social workers working in the trauma space", providing practical strategies and tips to implement in their current practice.

Register to watch the on demand recording and claim 2 hours of Category 2 CPD → https://bit.ly/4v2T1IP

14/06/2026

Social workers in leadership roles navigate complex responsibilities, relationships, and systems. The AASW Social Work Leadership Program is designed for practitioners ready to explore what it means to lead at a higher level and balance social work values with the demands of leadership.

Over seven weeks, the program gives you the tools, the plan, and the network to lead change, with recent participants stating “it’s a helpful and insightful program... it gave me greater confidence and helped me better integrate social work ethics and values into my leadership.”

The next AASW Social Work Leadership Program starts 2 September. Click here to learn more and register → https://bit.ly/4vzS9vc

11/06/2026

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

Collection: Domestic and Family Violence.

Domestic and family violence constitutes pervasive, damaging and abusive criminal behaviour, often with life-threatening and sometimes fatal outcomes for women and children.

Authors in this collection detail innovation, research inquiries and practice and policy interventions, and call for increased expertise for culturally- informed responses and transformative outcomes for women, children, families and communities.

For full access to the journal, log in to MyAASW and access via the 'My Benefits' tab https://my.aasw.asn.au/s/login/

04/06/2026

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

Collection: Out-of-Home Care and Child Protection Practice.

The social work profession has had a long-term commitment to working with children and families.

Articles in this collection focus on acknowledging trauma and losses; supporting cultural connections, stability, wellbeing and healing; preventing harm and sharing the care in contemporary Australian out-of-home care and child protection systems.

For full access to the Journal, log in to MyAASW and access via the 'My Benefits' tab https://bit.ly/4u9VSOY

03/06/2026

Last month’s summit brought together nearly 150 social workers and thought leaders to connect and explore supervision through a social work lens.

Watch the video to hear directly from attendees and speakers about their highlights from the day – from the benefits of supervision for practitioner wellbeing, to the impact of reconnecting with social work values and professional identity.

"Put a group of social workers in a room, you're going to have debate, you're going to have energy... people get innovatory and come up with new solutions for problems." Liz Little, AASW National President.

Want to be part of our next event? Early bird registrations are now open for the 2026 Social Work Summit. Learn more and register here → https://bit.ly/4nZqLUO

02/06/2026

Today, on Mabo Day 2026, we recognise the enduring legacy of Eddie Koiki Mabo, a proud Mer Island man whose persistence reshaped Australia’s legal and moral landscape. His leadership led to the historic rejection of terra nullius, the long-held and false notion that this land belonged to no one.

For social workers, Mabo Day is also a moment of reflection. We acknowledge the profession’s involvement in policies and practices that caused harm, and we recommit to working in ways that centre respect, self-determination, accountability, and genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Mabo case, fought over more than ten years, culminated in the High Court’s 1992 decision, a turning point that continues to influence how land rights are understood in Australia today. It laid the foundation for the Native Title Act 1993, enabling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to seek recognition of their enduring connection to Country.

Learn more: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/commemorating-mabo-day/

Mabo Day commemorates Mer Island man Eddie Koiki Mabo and his successful efforts to overturn the legal fiction of terra nullius.