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 

The SWRB SA is finalising the first phase of engagement with the sector about the social worker registration regulatory framework.  Organisations are sharing position descriptions and working through clinical governance structures in preparation for social worker registration.  

Over a 10-week period, leaders across the sector have given feedback indicating they are increasingly confident, informed, and well-positioned to begin the transition to registration.  We thank the sector for their willingness to collaborate with us, and we will continue to provide support and guidance.

I want to take the opportunity to provide some more clarification around the purpose of regulation more broadly, and as it relates to the specific social worker regulatory framework.  As a new regulator, our responsibility is to ensure that the sector is clear about our role and to understand the key pieces of the regulatory framework that guide our work.

What are the key pieces of professional regulation?

•       The purpose of professional regulation is to protect the public while supporting the quality and integrity of a profession.

•       Regulation exists to create trust with the public that the people providing specialised services (like law, teaching, or social work) are competent, accountable, and safe.

•       Regulation can restrict the use of professional titles (e.g. “nurse,” “psychologist,” “lawyer” and now “social worker”) and reserve certain tasks only for qualified/and or registered practitioners.

How does the South Australia Regulatory Framework fulfill these key pieces of regulation?

•       The Social Workers Registration Regulatory Framework protects the title of social worker and protects a particular set of work as defined by the social work services definition.

•       The title of social worker reflects the scope of practice, celebrating the broad scope and diversity of social work. The social work services definition is one piece of work that is protected by law that sits within in the Scope of Practice.

•       When you have a scope of practice and social work services definition, professionals know what conduct and competencies speak to the scope and definition and how they are they being held to account.

You can read the full definition of social work services and scope of practice on our website here: 

Lets talk about the title again. 

In recent weeks, some social workers have expressed concern that if they do not work in the ‘social work services’ definition (the protected piece of work) they are not considered social workers.  These are people who have a qualification in social work and identify professionally as a social worker but do not perform this piece of work as part of their employment.

We want to reassure you that: Yes!  You can call yourself a social worker (if you meet the eligibility criteria to register) even if you do not work within the social work services definition. You identify with, and work in the broad scope of practice.  It is vital that we acknowledge the importance of professional identity.

We have noticed there is still some confusion about using the title of social worker and where it applies.  We have tried to break it down to make it easier to understand:  

Firstly, to be clear, registration is required for anyone who is delivering social work services (protected work), regardless of their qualification or experience to ensure that the high-risk work is protected and there is oversight of those who are performing it (while we transition the workforce).  However, it does not mean that all those that are registered can call themselves a social worker.  Only those who meet the criteria for full registration can call themselves a social worker.

The long-term goal of the SWRB SA, and the intent of the legislation is that eventually, everyone performing social work services will be fully registered with a qualification, but it will take time. We need to be patient and kind during this transition and ensure ongoing service delivery.

Two different scenarios related to using the title social worker:

Scenario 1: As a qualified social worker, you may work in policy, research, or community development for example, which is not the protected work as defined by the social work services definition. However, you want the professional status of social worker and are working in the social work scope of practice, so you are entitled to register and call yourself a social worker if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Scenario 2: You may have a qualification in social work, and are employed in policy, research, or community development (not the protected work), but you do not want the professional status of a social worker, because you do not identify as a social worker. You are therefore not required to register. However, it is important that you do not hold yourself out to be social worker if you are not registered. 

Remember regulation protects two things:

1. Title of social worker in a scope of practice.
2. Protected work as defined by the social work services definition (that only that someone registered can perform).

We understand that this is complex information, so we want to reassure you that we are always here to support you through this change.  Please reach out to discuss any questions you may have swrb@sa.gov.au.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Committee Update 

There is strong international support, both in research and policy, for alternative pathways to social work registration and licensing, especially those that recognise the unique contributions and rights of First Nations and Indigenous peoples. These pathways are seen as essential for decolonising the profession, improving equity, and ensuring that social work serves all communities effectively.

We are very pleased to be able to have these conversations with our newly formed Aboriginal and Torres Straite Islander Committee which will be announced very soon!

Stakeholder Engagement 

The SWRB SA has recently met with the following organisations:

•  APHRA
•  Salvation Army
• EQUALS (Higher Education Sector)
•  Department of Correctional Services.

We are looking forward to co-hosting forums in October with Embolden and CAFFSA to work with sector specific agencies in Domestic, Family and sexual Violence services and Out of Home Care agencies.  If you want to know more about these specific forums, please contact us swrb@sa.gov.au 

Left to Right:  Kate Swift (Salvation Army) Sarah Wendt, Louise Butler (SWRB SA) Alex Josheph, Kim Herbert, Michelle McGeachie (Salvation Army) 

Reminder!

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. 

Please note that these sessions are recorded and will be available on the website. 

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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.