AASW Queensland Branch

08/07/2024

Consultation: Draft outline of National Allied Health Workforce Strategy

The Australian Government is developing a National Allied Health Workforce Strategy https://consultations.health.gov.au/primary-care-mental-health-division/nahwsoutline/ . Please contact the AASW social policy and advocacy team if you are interested in contributing to the development of our response. Members are also invited to provide input directly into the consultation survey which closes 9 July 2024.

The site lists consultations that are run by the Department of Health and Ageing. On this site you can find, share or take part in consultations.

14/06/2024

Have your say - review of the Queensland Human Rights Act 2019 submissions close 21 June.

https://www.humanrightsreview.qld.gov.au/

For background briefing, go to QCOSS ‘Strengthening the Human Rights Act’
https://www.qhrc.qld.gov.au/about-us/news/news-human-rights-act-review-underway

20/05/2024

2024 UniSC Qld AASW Social Worker of the Year Award Winner - Julia Laning

On 1 May 2024 the University of the Sunshine Coast held their Student Awards at the Sippy Downs Campus. QLD AASW Branch President Leonie Vela attended the Awards and was pleased to witness Deputy Vice Chancellor Michael Wilmore present Master of Social Work student, Julia Laning with the QLD AASW 2024 Social Work Student of the Year Award.

**Photos are Deputy Vice Chancellor Michael Wilmore and QLD AASW 2024 Social Work Student of the Year Julia Laning and QLD AASW Branch President Leonie Vela with QLD AASW 2024 Social Work Student of the Year Julia Laning.

07/05/2024

Review of Queensland's Human Rights Legislation QCOSS

Calling for all community workers to consider this event in preparation for the review:

Human Rights Network: Engaging with the Queensland Human Rights Act Review Human Rights Network: Engaging with the Queensland Human Rights Act Review Register now We are pleased to host Professor Susan Harris-Rimmer, who is currently undertaking an independent review of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Ql...

23/04/2024

A wonderful Queensland branch event was held for .

Guests heard from our esteemed presenters -

Maggie Shambrook, Housing Older Women's Movement,
Joanne Maier, Environmental Defenders Office
Claudia Diaz Amayo, QLD Human Rights Commission.

Thank you to our presenters and everybody, for coming along and making this great community what it is!

18/03/2024

World Social Work Day takes place on 19 March 2024.. This year’s theme is ‘Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change’, emphasising the need for social workers to adopt innovative, community-led approaches that are grounded in indigenous wisdom and harmonious coexistence with nature.

The Queensland Branch Management Committee thanks First Nations and all social workers in their roles, professional or voluntary, leading and working innovatively towards sustainable change.

Launch of Global Agenda Theme 4: “Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change” Information Type: NewsTopic: Social WorkOctober 31, 2023The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) and the International Federation of S...

27/11/2023

Calling for social workers in working in Gold Coast, Brisbane North/Meanjin, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba regions and or/in Child Youth Family, Clinical & Mental Health and Private Practice – join your local or practice area Practice Group for peer support, networking and professional development online and in person.

For more information, please contact Branch Services at [email protected]
https://www.aasw.asn.au/about-aasw/aasw-structure/branches/branch-queensland/

08/08/2023

Exciting News! We're offering 4 attendance opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander AASW members to the Online Health Symposium 2023. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to engage with leading experts in the social work sector! Apply now!

https://bit.ly/3Kx7o36

10/07/2023

Social workers, elders, and others painting at the first Musgrave Park Family Fun Day since 2019 - a huge turnout and great day celebrating the theme “For Our Elders”, including good conversations about the art, the day and taking good care of selves and others.

03/07/2023

Hosted by the Clinical and Mental Health Practice Group, a great night, thanks to David ‘the Quizmaster’ and Caitlin for hosting. Congratulations to Doug Burke & Donna McAuliffe for being recognised for their services to social work through Life Membership awards.

30/06/2023

The QLD Branch is supporting NAIDOC through attendance at the Musgrave Park Family Fun Day www.musgraveparkffd.com and hosting a stall for Elders & performers, on July 7. If you would like to join us or even volunteer on the stall please contact Stephanie Chen [email protected]

Not in the Brisbane area? Other local events are also being run around Queensland and a list can be found at: www.naidoc.org.au

The MPFFD is our signature event that has been supported by the Brisbane community and, as attendance numbers have increased over the years, evidently is a ‘must do’ during NAIDOC Week.

22/06/2023

While hosted by the Clinical and Mental Health Practice Group, attendance is invited for any south-east Queensland social workers who like to catch up.
Two members will be presented with their AASW Life member status.

04/05/2023

AASW Constitutional Review
Information sessions (register via MyAASW portal)
We invite you to participate in a consultation webinar. There will be two webinars and they are repeat sessions. They will be held on:
• Monday 8 May 2023 12.30pm AEST
• Monday 8 May 2023 6.00pm AEST

A discussion paper was forwarded to members via email (as a link) on 27 April outlining the specific changes.
The AASW Board seeks your support to amend the Association’s Constitution in three areas:
1. Deletion of a clause that prevents persons who are convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for a period greater than 12 months from becoming or remaining a Member of AASW.
2. Retirement of the Australian College of Social Work; and
3. Insertion of a clause that would permit Directors to hold General Meetings of Members using virtual technology, exclusively.
Further detail on each of these proposals can be found in this Discussion Paper.

20/12/2022

Seeking Branch Management Committees members

If you have 6-8 hours a month to spare and are passionate about social work in your state/territory perhaps you would like to consider joining your local Branch Management Committee (BMC). Not only are you able to give back to your profession but you could also help shape the activities of your local Branch to provide advocacy for, and professional networking opportunities to members.

All BMCs are currently seeking members for 1 and 2 year terms

If you are interested in learning more you can email AASW Branch Services through Georgie Bosch, Office Coordinator: [email protected]

01/12/2022

21/11/2022

A message from your outgoing President, Yasmin Dunn.

I'll start by saying a big thank you for the last two years as President of the QLD Branch. I've spent around eight or so years on various AASW QLD Branch committees and it's been a rewarding and challenging experience. I joined my first social work committee in university to connect with people, strengthen my leadership experience, give back to my profession, and develop my confidence. My participation on social work committees continued and here I am today, saying thank you and goodbye as the AASW QLD Branch President.

Being a social worker is strongly tied to my identity and I'm proud to look back on my participation on various university, alumni and AASW committees. I hope I have delivered value and made a difference on those committees, to the members and to the community. They have made a significant difference to me - my confidence is stronger than ever and I have met people I will never forget and who inspire me to do better and be better for our members, my colleagues, the community and our service users.

It's now time to take a break from committees and focus on some of my other goals and interests. I'm sure it won't be the last time I'll be part of an AASW committee or member opportunity.

As you know, the QLD Branch has a long history of being a proactive, thriving and member focused branch. We will continue this legacy and I'm pleased to introduce you to the new Branch Management Committee - Leonie Vela, your incoming President, Stephanie Chen, your incoming Vice President, and Niki Edwards, Samantha Howard-Van Beek, Latha Vikraman, Sharon Redmond and Jacquie Hughes, general BMC members.

I'd like to finish by saying a big thank you to my colleagues - my fellow BMC, sub-committee and practice group conveners - and to the AASW.

Signing off for the last time - take care and see you around!

Yasmin

31/10/2022

Enhance your leadership skills and directly support your profession and the community – join the QLD Branch BMC today!

We are a thriving Branch with over 2,400 members. We service and represent social workers from the southern border and north to Rockhampton.

We play a vital role in the organisation and delivery of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) networking events for our members, facilitate and support local professional Practice Groups, and advocate for improved social policy within QLD.

We are currently looking for our next Branch President, and looking to fill a few general member roles. This is a great opportunity to develop or further enhance your leaderships skills while directly supporting your profession, colleagues and the community.

By joining the BMC and becoming a local leader, you will support the critical continuation of our efforts to engage and support students, new graduates and established social workers, as well as respond to and advocate for critical social policy issues impacting on service users and our community.

To find out more, and how to join, email [email protected]

25/09/2022

The AASW QLD and NQLD Branch Social Policy and Advocacy Subcommittee are seeking your expertise! We are creating a database of social workers who are open to sharing their knowledge and experiences, and who we can consult with when we have relevant social policy submissions and campaigns.

We would greatly value your expertise in any capacity, whether you only want us to get into contact once in a blue moon, if you are keen to get stuck into one of our projects, events, or rallies, or if you’d like to join the Social Policy and Advocacy Subcommittee.

We are keen to hear from social workers at all stages of their career, from students to seasoned practitioners. Complete this short (1-minute) survey if you’re interested: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H7GWHQP

09/09/2022

Brisbane Pride September 2022

AASW are pleased to be a part of the iconic Brisbane Pride March!

Join the AASW QLD Branch to celebrate and support solidarity in gender, sexuality diversity and human rights!

We invite members, the broader social work community, their friends and family to join us.

Please do register https://www.aasw.asn.au/events/event/brisbane-pride-september-2022 so that we have a sense of the numbers and to keep you informed of the precise details of times, meeting points, and any other critical information in the lead up to the event.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the AASW via email [email protected] or by phone on 03 9320 1000.

This is a free event.
KEY DETAILS

The March starts at approx. 9:30am

Walk time is about 30 minutes.

17/08/2022

Webinar for QLD Health Social Workers
AHHA in partnership with the Allied Health Professions’ Office of Queensland (AHPOQ), Clinical Excellence Queensland, invites you to join us as we share the development and early implementation of the Queensland Health Allied Health Framework for Value-Based Health Care (VBHC).
This Framework was developed to support Queensland Hospital and Health Services as they continue to shift towards the delivery of services that are centred around achieving outcomes that matter to people and communities across the full pathway of care.
Venue: Online

Date: 30 August 2022 12:30pm to 30 August 2022 01:30pm

Register here now: https://ahha.asn.au/events/webinar-allied-health-leadership-transition-vbhc-queensland-health-allied-health-framework

AHHA in partnership with the Allied Health Professions’ Office of Queensland (AHPOQ), Clinical Excellence Queensland, invites you to join us as we share the development and early implementation of the Queensland Health Allied Health Framework for Value-Based Health Care (VBHC).

03/08/2022

Hello AASW members! The Disability Practice Group is looking for x2 convenors to take over from October 2022 onwards.

The group is a wonderful way to network within the sector and meet follow social workers in the field. Should you wish to come along and see what it's all about, please join us at our next meeting which is on Thursday 25th August.

For more details and to register, click on this link (via the AASW QLD Branch Events webpage:
https://www.aasw.asn.au/events/event/disability-practice-group-aug-25

Should you be interested in a convenor role, please contact Briony or Maeve on [email protected] or [email protected].

Where: Video/Teleconference details will be emailed on the day of the meeting - please ensure you register to receive the details.

28/06/2022

AASW Qld BMC encourages members to join the AASW in attending the abortion rights rally in Brisbane, Friday 1 July, 5.30 pm, King George Square in Brisbane City. Look for the AASW banner

AASW STATEMENT ON US SUPREME COURT DECISION

All women have the right to make the decision about what is best for them in terms of their health, economic security, personal safety and existing caring responsibilities.

Access to abortion has been determined by the United Nations Human Rights Committee and others, to be a basic human right.

Decisions such as the one by the US Supreme Court do not affect everyone equally. The decision has disproportionately harmful effects on women who are already disadvantaged or marginalised.

All women should be able to receive the health services they need in a safe, legal and respectful environment..

We stand in solidarity with women, social workers and health care workers in the US and every other country which limits women’s access to the health services that are their right.

🇺🇸 US's National Association of Social Workers statement: https://bit.ly/3HShBof

📝 Sign the Children By Choice Statement: https://bit.ly/3xWksYB

✅ Attend a rally in Australia: https://bit.ly/3xYVFDl