1. Introduction
The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is the peak representative body for Social Workers across Australia with currently 6,500 members working in the health, education and welfare sectors including representatives working in a range of leadership, management, academic, research and direct practice roles in the Northern Territory. Social Work is a profession committed to the pursuit of social justice, the enhancement of the quality of life and the development of the full potential of each individual, group and community in society.
Social Workers are concerned with social problems, their causes, their solutions and their human impacts, and work with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. As a profession, social work is committed to the pursuit of social justice, to the enhancement of the quality of life, and to the development of the full potential of each individual, group and community in society.
During 2008 AASW members adopted a new constitution in which the AASW asserts that “professional social workers are dedicated to:
- service for the welfare and self- fulfillment of human beings;
- the development and disciplined use of scientific and other knowledge regarding human behaviour and society;
- the development of resources to meet individual, group, national and international needs and aspirations;
- the enhancement and improvement of the quality of life of people; and
- the achievement of social justice.
AASW’s pertinent company objective to this review is:
- To advocate for the pursuit of social justice and changes to social structures and policies in order to promote social inclusion and redress social disadvantage.