SWRB SA Statement Addressing Title Protection

Statement Addressing Title Protection

On the 8^th of September, the AASW publicly shared that it has written to the SWRB SA with concerns regarding title protection of social worker and specifically, the proposal from the SWRB SA to create an ‘experience pathway’.

The experience pathway was debated at the time of the Social Workers Registration Bill (2018) and included in the legislation (2021). Other regulators have used similar pathways during transition, which we have modelled following meetings with APHRA and the Teachers Registration Board.

The AASW states that registration must protect the title of social worker and states the SWRB SA allows non-qualified individuals to claim the title of social worker.

This is not the case. To be clear the SWRB SA Regulatory Framework protects the title of social worker. The SWRB SA is clear that those with full registration (which includes a prescribed social work qualification) can only use the title of social worker.

The SWRB SA Regulatory Framework also protects a piece of work (social work service definition) – only those registered with SWRB SA can perform this work unless they are excluded as stated in the Act. Please see the exclusion list, noting they are regulated professionals.

History has shown us that professional regulations almost always use a transition plan when a new system of registration, accreditation or regulation is introduced into an unregulated workforce.

The transition plan proposed by the SWRB SA speaks to protection of work (social work services).

There are complicated systemic and structural reasons why people, overtime, have been employed to do social work services without qualifications in social work. Individuals cannot be punished or disadvantaged when a regulator is introduced into the workforce. It is in social work’s long-term interest to work through these systemic and structural issues, particularly those impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The SWRB SA Regulatory Framework allows for this systemic and structural transition by proposing provisional and limited registration when performing social work services. This is important for the following reasons:

Regulation is designed to safeguard the public, but immediately requiring everyone in a workforce to meet new standards could cause large gaps in services. Provisional and limited registration allow stability and gives time for people to work through their options, while we regulate social work services (the high risk work – the work we want protected that only a social worker can perform). Remember they cannot use the title of social worker or claim they are a social worker. They are being regulated to do a protected piece of work through transition.
Transition plans prevent sudden loss of workers by giving pathways for recognition of prior learning, time to do study.
It would be unfair (and legally risky) to suddenly exclude experienced practitioners who have been working safely for years but don’t fit the new criteria. Transitional provisions acknowledge their contribution, giving them time or alternative ways to meet standards. This builds trust and legitimacy in the sector.
This staged approach reduces disruption while maintaining high professional standards – and in the long term all those doing social work services will be qualified social workers (with full registration).

The South Australian Regulatory Framework allows for a competency test for those with extensive experience in social work services to legally use the title of social worker by becoming eligible for full registration (not claim the qualification)– which has been modelled from the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board. More details about this competency test will be released. This has been successful and formed strong relationships with First Nations peoples. In addition, South Australia is establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee to work alongside the Board, to ensure the Regulatory Framework is culturally sound and addresses the systemic and structural issues of the past.

Every state and territory are going to face workforce complexities when introducing social work registration. We need to come together to lead this work. This needs to be done carefully and with government, employers, AASW, universities and all those working in the sector to ensure public safety. The South Australia Regulatory Framework has a transition plan (evidenced through the provisional and limited registration options) to balance public protection with workforce sustainability and fairness. The long-term goal is for social work uplift and presence in the sector without causing harm through sudden workforce shortages or unfair exclusion – that is, everyone employed in social work services will have a qualification in social work – but this takes time.

Registration is new in social work. It is complex and we are responding to competing issues and a diverse workforce. Solutions are important for the possibility of National Registration – and will need to be worked through. If you have any questions, concerns, please just reach out to us via our email (swrb@sa.gov.au) as we are more than happy to talk issues through and explain the complexity.