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
qualification is appropriate for a Pathway A application and it 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.
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
1.4 Be
taught over at least 22 months 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.
A2.1 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),
providing that there has been no significant change in the course or campus
during those two years.
A2.2 Graduates from an AIWCW Approved course and
campus who obtained credit or RPL for more than 25% of their course units from
other courses or experience must provide details of such credit/RPL, and these
must be taken into account when determining eligibility for membership.
A3. Campuses offering a
A4. Campuses offering the
A5. 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.
A6. Graduates of a course in social work that
is recognised by the Australian Association of Social Workers are also eligible
for membership via Pathway A.
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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
(consisting of a number of elements in each) 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: