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 

As we approach the completion of the first round of education sessions on the Social Worker Registration Regulatory Framework, we are very pleased to see the sector engage deeply with some of their workforce issues and equally, recognising the benefits of a regulated workforce.  I would like to take this opportunity to document some of the key concerns and the positive feedback from the sector discussions with over 30 agencies in recent weeks.

Clinical Governance, CPD, and Supervision
Questions about clinical governance, continuing professional development (CPD), and supervision have been raised. We will be circulating a dedicated consultation on the regulations to ensure your voices shape these regulations collaboratively in the coming months.

Recruitment and Retention Challenges in Regional Areas
There have been concerns about the recruitment and retention of staff, especially in regional and remote areas.  To support workforce continuity, there are two categories of registration that will allow professionals to continue working while meeting registration criteria: provisional and limited registration. 

Role Clarity: Case Managers, Foster Care Workers, Peer Support, Behaviour Support Roles, Youth Worker.
There is some ongoing uncertainty about how certain roles fit within the definition of social work services or if roles are excluded from registration. Remember regulation protects title and work. The work is the social work services definition. Regulation is not about roles. We encourage you to read the guide to registration.  If you are still uncertain and would like to talk through your position descriptions, please contact us: swrb@sa.gov.au 

Commencement Date Uncertainty
While the official registration commencement date has not yet been finalised, we are committed to providing ample notice prior to registration and generous registration timelines to support a smooth transition.

Positive Feedback from the Sector

We are heartened by the positive feedback we have received during discussions with the sector including:

• Strong support for the social work services definition, title protection, and registration pathways.
• Confidence in organisations existing governance structures meeting regulatory requirements.
• Enthusiasm for developing advanced scopes of practice within a national framework.
• Appreciation for a potential sunset clause allowing sufficient time to complete qualifications, aiding workforce growth.
• Support for limited registration pathways as practical solutions to avoid service disruption and workforce shortages.
• Support for the Board to collect data on the composition of the workforce in order to make evidence-based decisions regarding registration pathways and growth in social work.
• Optimism that registration will advocate for higher-quality social work education, better preparing graduates for frontline roles.
• Grateful for extended preparation time afforded by the amended commencement date.
• Appreciative of clear definitions, role assessments and their relationship to social work services, to support sector-wide understanding.

We have been very pleased that the collaborative engagement with organisations has led to clarity about registration requirements. Below is a quote from a non-government agency about the process:

"Thank you once again for your valuable contributions. We’re eager to gain clarity on which roles fall inside or outside registration to support our staff and organisation through these changes."

 A message from Louise Butler:  Senior Policy Officer

I am very pleased to be working alongside the sector to review position descriptions in relation to the Social Work Services definition and to clearly identify those positions that would be required to be performed by a registered social worker and those roles that would not.

Discussions about adjacent professional roles and the necessary organisational governance frameworks to ensure clarity is also valuable for both the SWRB SA and the sector. This collaborative and flexible approach supports the potential for future modifications and adjustments to the regulatory framework if needed. We fully expect that we will need to adapt and review positions for a long time to come. Our focus is public safety so whilst we work through the included positions, we will keep that in mind. We do not want to take the approach of catching people out for not being registered. We will take the approach of working with the sector during the transition to reach a shared understanding.

The SWRB SA acknowledges that job descriptions and duties may not always perfectly align. Therefore, we are committed to taking a considered and supportive approach to ensure understanding of the legislative requirements of the regulatory framework. encourage anyone to feel comfortable reaching out to us at any time.

Our shared agenda is to adopt a thoughtful and collaborative partnership with the sector, with the long-term objective of enhancing both the practice and education of social work in South Australia.

In short, registration creates a continuous, profession-wide safety net that ensures accountability beyond individual workplaces.

Please contact me by email with any questions:  Louise.butler@sa.gov.au

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Committee Update 

The SWRB SA have received exceptional applications for the committee and are currently undertaking interviews. Thank you to Board members Jodie Stevens and Ruka Tait for participating on the panel for this important process.

Left to Right:  Sarah Wendt (Director SWRB) Jodie Stevens and Ruka Taite (Board Members) 

Focused Sector Engagement 

Our next phase of consultation will involve working closely with peak bodies and specific sector groups to discuss roles, decision making and governance.  We have partnered with CAFFSA (Out of Home Care sector), Embolden (Domestic Family Violence and Sexual Violence), and Toward Home Alliance (Homelessness) to facilitate these important conversations.

Photo: SWRB SA Team and Toward Home Alliance:  Baptist Care SA, Lutheran Care, Mission Australia, Sonder and The Salvation Army at a recent homelessness stakeholder workshop to discuss operational impacts; staffing and planning for change.

Information Sessions and Public Lecture

Attendance across the 3 information sessions and the public lecture was outstanding with over 1000 people attending online.  Recordings are available in the links below. 

Upcoming Live Session

We look forward to hosting another session titled:  Understanding Conduct and Competency.  To register click the link below. 

During this session, you will hear about the seven key competency areas identified by the Social Work Registration Board (SWRB SA), which form the building blocks for effective and ethical social work services. We will describe how these competencies are transferable across different roles and settings, emphasizing the practical application of knowledge and values in social work practice.

We will also cover the SWRB SA Code of Conduct, which outlines the essential standards of professional behaviour and safe practice.

Why attend?

• Gain a clear understanding of the meaning and importance of competence in social work.
• Learn how the SWRB SA’s competency framework supports professional practice.
• Understand the role of the Code of Conduct in guiding ethical and safe social work.

If you would like to do some preliminary reading on the SWRB SA approach to conduct and competency before the webinar, you can find material on our website on the Quality Practice page. 

LinkedIn

We are excited to be launching our LinkedIn profile this week where we can update the sector more frequently on activities, information and engagement. 

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.