ACHSWE Statement About ASWEAS 20204 V2
The ACHSWE (i.e. the Council) continues to represent more than 90% of social work education providers across Australia. This includes public and private institutions, as well as both established and newer higher education providers. All Higher Education Providers (HEPs) offering accredited social work programs are welcome to join the Council.
The ACCC process has been publicly visible throughout and remains a matter of public record. Sixteen HEPs are currently participating in the ACCC negotiations, with the process remaining open to additional participants. Importantly, all members of the ACHSWE Council voted in support of pursuing the ACCC process.
Phase 1 of the negotiations between the Council and the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) focused on addressing urgent concerns with the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS). This phase has now been completed, with the interim amendments reflected in ASWEAS 2024 Version 2 negotiated by the participating 16 HEPs and supported by the Council as a whole.
We are grateful to the AASW for engaging in a constructive and collaborative negotiation process. We believe that these changes will help protect and strengthen the quality of social work education and graduate outcomes across Australia.
The Council’s position throughout this process has been informed by extensive engagement with the social work education sector. In 2023, ACHSWE partnered with the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) to undertake a national survey of staff involved in social work education regarding the proposed ASWEAS 2024. The survey sought to reach all social work educators across Australia and generated a substantial body of evidence regarding concerns about the draft standards. The findings of that survey are publicly available and informed the issues that the Council subsequently took forward through the ACCC process.
In addition, based on the national survey undertaken by the Council and the NTEU, on 13 October 2024, the NTEU wrote to the AASW Board, the Chief Executive Officer, and newly elected Board members, sharing an Open Letter signed by more than 400 staff, students, practitioners and stakeholders. The letter called for the withdrawal of ASWEAS 2024, meaningful consultation with universities and the broader social work education sector, and greater attention to the educational and workforce conditions necessary to sustain high-quality social work education. These concerns, and the evidence underpinning them, have been consistently communicated publicly and to the AASW throughout the process.
The ACHSWE remains committed to working collaboratively with the AASW, higher education providers, social work practitioners, students and other stakeholders to ensure that accreditation standards support high-quality, sustainable and accessible social work education. We now look forward to Phase 2 of the negotiations, which will address fees and related matters, and welcome respectful sector-wide engagement as we move towards the development of a refreshed ASWEAS through broad consultation in 2027.
Christine Morley, President.