MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility for full membership of the AIWCW is available
via either of two pathways.
1.
The first Pathway (A) requires completion of an AIWCW
Approved Course at an Approved Campus.
2.
The second Pathway (B) requires evidence of an Other
Relevant Qualification, professional experience and attainment of AIWCW Core
Competencies.
If your academic qualification is more than 10 years old, the following
is also required:-
1.
- at least 3 years of relevant professional experience (of
at least 15 hours per week) in the past 10 years – can be paid or voluntary,
but if the latter, must have been adequately supervised by professional
person/s and must have been experience in the past 5 years;
2.
- evidence of Professional Development of at least 20 hours
per year for each of the preceding 2 years;
3.
- the professional experience may be in an “Other Relevant
Occupation” such as psychologist, nurse, community worker, social policy
analyst or planner, residential care worker, and the like.
FULL MEMBERS (F)
Pathway A
A1. Graduates
of a course at a campus which has AIWCW
Approval are eligible for Full Membership.
Such a course will generally:
1.1 Be at least equivalent to an Australian
Qualification Framework (AQF) Diploma,
1.2 Have a curriculum which covers generic
welfare work, including work with individuals (casework), groups and
communities.
1.3 Include at least 400 hours of professionally
supervised fieldwork AND
1.4 Be taught over at least 52 weeks of
full-time study over two calendar years.
Courses
and Campuses which have AIWCW Approval will be issued with AIWCW Approval
Certificates. Before applying, the status of educational institutions may be
checked with the course leader, or on the list available from the AIWCW
website, or from the National Office.
A2. Graduates
of a course at a campus which attained Accreditation or Approval within two
years of the applicant completing the course are also eligible for membership
within this provision (Pathway A).
A3. Campuses
offering an AQF Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Community Services (‘Training
Packages’ - CSTP) in any one of the AIWCW approved 12 specialisations, may gain
AIWCW Approval, but graduates must still have completed the AIWCW Approved
Units, and the requirements for supervised fieldwork. Details of fieldwork and of all units
completed must be supplied for any CSTP course, regardless of whether AIWCW
Campus Approval has been attained. See
the separate AIWCW Requirements for
Community Services Training Packages Diplomas (CSTP).
A4. Graduates
with a CSTP Diploma in Community Services from a campus which does not have Campus Approval should also
supply unit and fieldwork details, but more details and an additional
application fee may be necessary.
The 12
CSTP Specialisations approved by the AIWCW are: Community
B1.1 Graduates
with an Other Relevant Qualification
(ORQ), and who have at least three years of relevant professional experience and averaging at least 30
hours per week, during the ten years prior to the application, and who have satisfied the AIWCW Core Competencies
Requirements.
These
requirements involve an extensive application process and evidence guide, the
details of which are outlined in the separate document: AIWCW Core Competencies
Requirements.
If you
wish to use Pathway B and this document is not enclosed, please contact the
National Office for a copy or see the website.
B1.1.1 An
Other Relevant Qualification (ORQ)
will be at least equivalent to an Australian
Qualification
Framework Diploma which has a curriculum relevant to a closely related
occupation, such as work with disabled, youth, the aged, nursing, physiotherapy
etc; OR which is equivalent to at least a bachelor degree with a major in
psychology or sociology.
B1.1.2 “Relevant professional experience” can
be paid or voluntary, but must be adequately supervised by a professional and
be for at least 30 hours per week for an aggregate of 3 years during the past
10 years. The experience may be in an Other Relevant Occupation, such as
psychologist, nurse, community worker, social policy analyst or planner,
residential care worker or the like.
B1.1.3 The 7
Core Competencies Groups are summarised thus:
1. Practice
in an ethical and professional manner; 2. Communicate appropriately; 3. Assess
plans, projects and work with clients; 4. Implement programs, projects, and
work with clients; 5. Manage, plan and organise, both autonomously and as part
of a team; 6. Use personal attributes appropriately; 7. Use awareness of
societal structures and systems in work with clients. Evidence of ability to
work with individuals, groups, and
communities as “clients” is required.
NON PRACTISING MEMBERS: who satisfy the requirements for Full Membership via either Pathway A or
B, and who are:
NP1 Not working (paid or voluntarily) in
welfare or community work (for more than an average of 4 hours per week) and
not currently seeking such employment.
NP2 Unemployed
and seeking employment in welfare work
NP3 Permanently
retired from the workforce.
VOLUNTEER
PRACTITIONERS (VP): who
are otherwise eligible for Full Membership, if engaged in voluntary or unpaid
professional practice as a welfare or community worker for more than an average
of 4 hours per week for the previous 12 months.
Note: Those who qualify as a full
member (with, e.g. an AIWCW Approved Diploma from a TAFE college) should not
apply for Student status, even if they are studying full-time at university –
the full membership eligibility takes precedence. If not employed, they would
qualify for the “unemployed” (NP or VP) rate of fees, which is similar to the
student fee.
PROVISIONAL STUDENT MEMBERSHIP (SP): Students enrolled in a CSTP Diploma (see A3 & A4 above). Such
students will have all rights applying to Student Members, but will only be
eligible for Full Membership if the campus at which they are studying gains
AIWCW Campus Approval.
AFFILIATES (A): Persons
working (paid or voluntarily) in recognised human service organisations for at
least the equivalent of two years full time; or those with relevant experience
and qualified in an allied helping profession; or those with a relevant qualification which is not Approved
by AIWCW together with less than five years experience; may be granted
Affiliate status. All such experience must have been attained within the last
five years. Full details relevant to these criteria must be supplied.
Affiliates are not designated qualified welfare or community workers and do not
possess individual voting rights and are not covered by Professional Indemnity
or other insurance.
ORGANISATIONAL MEMBERSHIP (O): Organisations,
educational institutions and social and human services agencies related to
welfare and community work for at least the previous 12 months are also
eligible for membership. Member Organisations will receive newsletters and
other publications, and cheaper rates for one representative of an organisation
at conferences and workshops, but organisations will not have the voting rights
nor insurance coverage available to the Institute.
Overseas Qualifications - Those with overseas qualifications should contact the
National Office.
Any enquiries should be
addressed to:
Website: www.aiwcw.org.au Reprinted: