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Acknowledgement of Country
The Social Workers Registration Board of South Australia (SWRB SA) acknowledges that the land we work on is the traditional lands of Aboriginal peoples and we pay our respects to elders, past and present. The SWRB SA acknowledges and respects that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the First Nations peoples of this country and recognises them as traditional owners and occupants of Australian land and waters. The SWRB SA acknowledges the violence of the colonial past and social work’s part in this history and the impacts colonisation continues to have on First Nations peoples. The SWRB SA acknowledges the strong and enduring connection to land and culture for First Nations peoples.
Message from Sarah Wendt - Director
We are pleased to share the latest developments in our ongoing work to prepare the sector for social worker registration.
Our team continues to work closely with stakeholders and individuals, refining role descriptions and clarifying responsibilities to support a smooth transition.
We are now moving towards reporting to government on the education and engagement work we have undertaken with the sector, as well as the preparation efforts underway within individual organisations. The government will consider this information when determining the timing of next steps in the registration process. Key work still to be undertaken includes sector consultation on draft regulations related to continuing professional development (CPD), supervision, and registration pathways.
This upcoming consultation will offer further opportunities for the sector to help shape the final regulatory framework.
We extend our sincere thanks to all organisations and individuals who have contributed their time, insight, and expertise so far. Your continued engagement is vital as we move closer to implementing these important changes.
National Registration: A Way Forward
We had fantastic attendance and engagement at our recent webinar, National Registration: A Way Forward.
For those who could not join us live, we have uploaded the full recording on our website (link below). We have also included all the reference materials that were included in the presentation.
We look forward to continuing this important journey towards National Registration with you all.
Link to Video: National Registration: A Way Forward Webinar
Links to materials:
Working with the Sector
Louise Butler (Principal Policy Officer -SWRB SA)
Showcasing Lutheran Care - Ashleigh Hosking (Executive Manager Services & Practice Quality)
It has been a genuine pleasure working with Lutheran Care, one of the first organisations to engage with the Social Workers Registration Board of South Australia during this important phase of preparing the sector for social work registration.
To further extend our understanding of the breadth of the sector, Lutheran Care kindly invited our team to attend a dedicated forum at their Kent Town office, bringing together colleagues from their homelessness programs to engage in meaningful discussion and shared learning.
Throughout this process, we have worked closely with Lutheran Care’s Executive Management team as they undertook a comprehensive review of their positions and job descriptions to identify staff who will require registration under the scheme. The depth of their analysis has provided valuable insight into the broader sector, and we were grateful for their willingness to share their findings at our recent Out of Home Care and Domestic Violence Forums.
Lutheran Care have been extremely generous allowing us to share their position and job description template for registration. This template will be helpful for other organisations with similar roles.
We extend our sincere thanks to Lutheran Care for ther initiative, transparency, generosity and ongoing collaboration in supporting the successful implementation of the Social Worker Registration in South Australia.
Let’s talk about your organisation’s readiness for registration. How you have worked through who needs to be registered?
At Lutheran Care, organisational readiness for the social worker registration has been a key focus since the scheme’s introduction. From the outset, Executive Manager Services and Quality, Ashleigh Hosking was appointed to lead the organisation’s response and ensure a coordinated, system wide approach to implementation.
Under Ashleigh’s leadership, Lutheran Care has undertaken comprehensive preparation and continues to work closely with both organisational leaders and the SWRB SA team to ensure that staff across all levels have the information and resources they need to understand regulatory framework and its implications. Building workforce understanding has been a vital part of Lutheran Care’s approach, with operational leaders encouraged to share SWRB SA updates widely and ensure teams attend relevant webinars, whether individually or together as a group.
To support consistent decision-making, Ashleigh, in collaboration with Senior Managers, developed an organisational assessment template to systematically review each role and job description for its complexity, alignment to the SWRB regulatory framework and whether registration may be required. These internal determinations were then submitted to SWRB SA for review and feedback.
This process has further strengthened Lutheran Care’s approach to clinical governance, ensuring clear alignment between workforce requirements, internal policies, and the legislative expectations of the registration. It has also positioned the organisation to proactively identify and address governance and procedural needs to ensure a smooth transition under the new registration framework.
Tell us about how you have worked through Supervision and what that will mean for your organisation.
Supervision at Lutheran Care is viewed as a cornerstone of professional growth, wellbeing, and accountability. The organisation already has a well-established clinical supervision framework for its Allied Health and Positive Behaviour Support teams, who participate in regular monthly clinical supervision. This long-standing foundation means that governance, documentation, and reflective practice are deeply embedded within Lutheran Care’s culture.
As social worker registration continues to progress, Lutheran Care has been actively reviewing what effective and compliant supervision will look like across all programs. Recent modelling has explored the scope, cost, and frequency of supervision requirements, alongside how these can be sustainably integrated within existing structures and resources.
Building on this, Lutheran Care is developing a comprehensive suite of policies and procedures to align organisational governance and standards with the requirements of the SWRB SA. These documents will ensure that supervision remains both compliant and meaningful, providing structured spaces for reflection, ethical practice, skill development, and professional accountability.
By embedding robust and consistent supervision practices across all disciplines, Lutheran Care is reinforcing its commitment to delivering safe, person-centred, and high-quality services. This approach not only supports staff in meeting their professional obligations but also strengthens the organisation’s culture of continuous learning and excellence in care.
Tell us about your thoughts on current social work graduates and using the pathways for now.
Lutheran Care is strongly committed to supporting the growth and development of the next generation of professionals entering the social services sector. Each year, the organisation provides student placements across a range of disciplines, including social work, offering practical learning experiences within diverse programs that span both metropolitan and regional areas.
This commitment extends beyond placements. Lutheran Care regularly welcomes new graduates and early-career professionals who bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to the workforce. Recruitment is based on a merit-driven process, with a growing focus on attracting and retaining qualified social workers across both metropolitan and regional programs. While multidisciplinary collaboration remains essential to the delivery of holistic services, Lutheran Care recognises that registered social workers play a critical role in leading evidence-based, ethical, and person-centred practice within our teams.
Lutheran Care also welcomes the introduction of the SWRB SA categories of registration, recognising that they reflect thoughtful consideration of the current workforce and the realities of service delivery within the social sector. These pathways provide a practical mechanism to ensure continuity of care and workforce stability, enabling organisations to support their staff toward registration without losing valuable practitioners from the sector.
Through this balanced approach combining graduate support, professional pathways, and strong organisational governance; Lutheran Care continues to invest in a skilled, sustainable, and compassionate workforce ready to meet the needs of the communities it serves.
Tell us about the challenges you face in regional service delivery settings.
Delivering services in regional communities presents a unique set of challenges. Workforce shortages remain one of the most significant barriers, with recruitment and retention of qualified professionals continuing to place pressure on service delivery. The smaller locally based candidate pool, combined with the broad scope involved in regional practice, often means that existing staff are required to work flexibly across multiple program areas to meet community needs.
The introduction of the SWRS pathways represents a positive an encouraging way forward for regional services. These pathways recognise the realities of regional work and offer practical mechanisms for building, supporting, and retaining a locally based social work workforce. They provide an opportunity for organisations like Lutheran Care to employ and nurture practitioners who are committed to their communities, while supporting them to progress toward registration.
For Lutheran Care, this flexibility will help maintain continuity of care and service stability, ensuring that regional communities continue to receive timely, person-centred, and professional support even amid workforce challenges.
Louise Butler (SWRB SA), Ashleigh Hosking (Lutheran Care)
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Stay Connected
Visit our FAQ’s on the website: swrb.sa.gov.au
If you have any questions, email us on swrb@sa.gov.au.
