Member benefits
By joining ACWA, you can access the many benefits available to members. We are working on improving and expanding the benefits available to you.
Here are some of the major benefits of your ACWA membership.
Membership identifies you as a professional Welfare or Community Work Practitioner and recognises your qualifications and experience as important and appropriate to the sector.
Members also benefit from the recognition of ACWA by federal and state government bodies as the national organisation which assesses workers in this field.
Included in annual membership fees for Full Members are premiums for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance, which indemnifies Full Members working in agencies, in partnerships or in private practice as counsellors. Insurance currently available to Student Members will not be available from 1 May 2011.
For more information about insurance cover, please read the Insurance Information Sheet.
Members have access to a range of resources, tailored to suit individuals working in the industry.
- regular newsletters
- online access to Practice Reflexions, a professional journal published by Monash University
- discounted subscription to Australian Social Work, the AASW journal
- online discussion forums
- library resources
We're adding to the resources available for members. The members' area, including forums and resources, will be available soon. Keep returning to our website to find out about our new resources as they're released.
Members have the opportunity to meet and discuss welfare and community issues with other practitioners and educators via informal networks formed through membership of ACWA.
Members are invited to attend meetings and seminars aimed at building knowledge and skills, such as the biennial National Conference, and branch seminars and 'skillsfests' - weekends of skills sharing, informal education and community building.
Members receive concessional fees for all ACWA professional development events, conferences and seminars. ACWA membership may also provide a discount to other events or seminars. Look for the ACWA logo or ask the event organiser.
ACWA is also involved with:
- Welfare and community work related Training Advisory Boards and Course Development Committees
- Industry Skills Councils
- National projects involving the community services sector, such as the development of competency standards and the assessment of overseas qualifications and experience
- Leadership in discussions, relationship building and negotiations with government, non-government and professional organisations to improve support and conditions for workers, their clients and the sector
- Advocacy on behalf of disadvantaged groups of persons
