The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is the professional representative body of social workers in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. It was formed in 1946 at the federal level, although a number of state branches had formed prior to this. The AASW created a code of ethics that governs the conduct of social workers and promotes the interests of social workers in Australia. The Australian Association of Social Workers has a commitment to the international social work community, and is a member of the

International Federation of Social Workers The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) is the worldwide body for professional social work. It comprises 141 professional social work associations representing over 3 million social workers. IFSW has formal consultative status with th ...

(IFSW).

AASW code of ethics

The AASW code of ethics is a document for social workers in Australia created to guide and assist in reaching professional goals. It identifies core values and ethics to provide a guide for ethical and accountable practice. The document presents three core values (as opposed to five previously) that give rise to general and specific ethical responsibilities. They are further explained as below * Respect for persons - Every human being is important and unique. Every person has the right to self-determination, self-fulfilment and wellbeing. Social work practice promotes justice and personal responsibility with consideration to the rights of those around them. *

Social justice Social justice is justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. In Western and Asian cultures, the concept of social justice has often referred to the process of ensuring that individuals fu ...

- Social work practice should promote fairness and social justice in any society, taking special considerations for those marginalised. It also encourages the advocating of societal change eliminating oppression towards those who are vulnerable. * Professional integrity - The social work profession values honesty, transparency, reliability, empathy, reflective self-awareness, discernment, competence and commitment. This value is concerned with professional conduct, acting with dignity and commitment to lifelong development as a professional.

Accreditation of social workers

The AASW oversees an accreditation process for members in order to ensure and promote competency in social work practice. The process consists of a mix of research, supervision and training.

Journal

The AASW publishes the quarterly journal ''Australian Social Work''. It publishes research and thinking by social workers on political, economic and social policies and programs and on professional practice and education. It is a professionally edited and refereed journal, led by a national committee of practitioners and academics. ::

References

External links

Australian Association of Social Workers

International Social Work Organisations