Membership Info

·         Types of Membership - Summary

·         Membership Eligibility

·         What AIWCW Offers its Members

·         How to Apply for AIWCW Membership

·         Membership Application Form

·         Schedule of Fees

·         Insurance

·         AIWCW Constitution

 

Types of Membership - Summary

See Membership Eligibility for details.

Full Member

A person who is or was employed, or is seeking employment, in welfare or community work and who is a graduate of a course and campus accredited or otherwise recognised by the Institute; or can satisfy the Institute that they are eligible, based on assessment of other relevant qualifications, work experience, recognition of prior learning, and/or competency assessment.

Non-Practising Full Member

A person who is otherwise eligible for membership, but:

  • Has not engaged in significant paid or voluntary work over the previous 5 years, or
  • Is unemployed and is actively seeking work, or
  • Is permanently retired from the workforce.

Volunteer Practitioner

A person who is 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.

A reduced rate of fees applies to Non-Practising Members and Volunteer Practitioners, who both have the same rights and privileges as do other members.

Student Member

A person currently enrolled in a course and at a campus which is registered with the Institute. Student members pay reduced fees and have restricted voting rights, but may be formally represented at meetings and are covered by insurance.

Affiliate Member

A person who has worked for payment or voluntarily, or has demonstrated considerable involvement and interest in the field of social welfare/human services for at least three of the five years prior to application. Affiliates do not have voting rights, are not recognised for professional practice and cannot be covered by professional indemnity (or public liability insurance).

Other additional categories of membership have been awarded to long serving members - Fellow, Honorary Member and Life Member.

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What AIWCW offers its Members

Full membership entitles you to membership in the national profession organisation for Welfare and Community Workers and documents confirming membership are issued after you join.

There are opportunities to meet and discuss welfare and community issues with other welfare and community work practitioners and educators via informal networks formed through membership of AIWCW, and by attendance at meetings and seminars such as the biennial National Conference and Branch seminars and 'skillsfests' - weekends of skills sharing, informal education and community building.

Members also benefit by the recognition of AIWCW by federal and state government bodies as the national organisation which represents workers in this field - no other national organisation covers the range of occupations listed.

The institute is also involved with:

  • Welfare and community work related Advisory Boards and Course Committees
  • Industry Training Advisory Boards
  • National projects involving this field, such as the development of competency standards and the assessment of overseas qualifications and experience
  • Negotiations with government, non-government and professional organisations
  • Advocacy on behalf of disadvantaged categories of persons

Included in the annual membership fees are premiums for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance (click here for summary of insurance), which covers financial Full Members and Student Members working in agencies, in partnerships or in private practice as counsellors. Further information is available on the Insurance Information Sheet.

Membership Fees also include newsletters and concessional fees for some conferences and seminars.

Through a special arrangement with the Australian Association of Social Workers, members can subscribe to the AASW Journal at a special discounted price.  Click here to access the subscription form.

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How to Apply for AIWCW Membership

Application Forms for Membership are available from the National Office and also from this website. Completed forms and certified copies of documentation together with application fee should be forwarded to the Membership Co-ordinator. Please consult Membership Eligibility before applying.

You may be contacted for further information or your application may be referred to the Membership Assessment Panel for a final decision. Once membership is established you will be asked to forward the relevant membership fee. A Membership Card and documents confirming membership will be sent to you, together with a receipt, once payment has been made.

If you are dissatisfied with the decision or with any other membership assessment matter, information is available from the National Office on established appeal mechanisms.

The National Executive welcomes enquiries and comments regarding the social welfare field in Australia. Although the office is attended on a part time basis, every effort will be made to answer your enquiry as soon as possible.

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Schedule of Fees

 

Effective 1 January 2008.

Application Fees

 

Please note that the following Application Fees are payable by New Members and are in addition to the Membership Fees listed below.

Consult Eligibility sheet for details.

Graduates of AIWCW Approved Campus and Course

$20

Persons applying using "Pathway B" - please refer to Membership Eligibility
- earning $20,000pa or more
- earning less than $20,000pa

 
$100
$50

Persons with a national AQF Diploma in Community Services where the academic institution does not have Campus Approval
- earning $20,000pa or more
- earning less than $20,000pa

 
 
$100
$50

Students enrolled in an AIWCW Approved course

$Nil

Students enrolled in a CSTP Diploma course which does not have AIWCW approval (will not be eligible for full membership on graduation unless the Campus obtains AIWCW approval, but may be eligible for membership using "Pathway B")

 
$Nil

Applicants for Affiliate status

$30

Applicants for Organisational Membership

$50

Re-instatement Fee if membership has lapsed (enclose proof of prior membership. Evidence of still meeting "professional employment" criteria also required if membership originally granted using the "Pathway B" criteria.)

 
$20

 

Membership Fees (for 2008)

Membership fees are due on 1 January each year. A half-year rate is available for new members joining after 1 July (Please contact the National Office).
NOTE: The membership fee includes a very generous Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance cover.

 

Membership Category

Code

Amt

Full Members - Earning $40,000 pa and more

F1

$ 270.00

Full Members - Earning $20,001 to $39,999 pa

F2

$ 240.00

Full members - Earning less than $20,000

F3

$ 180.00

Full members - Employed full time for first year after completion of AIWCW course/campus

FN

$ 180.00

Full Members - Unemployed and not seeking employment

NP1

$  85.00

Full Members - Unemployed and seeking employment

NP2

$  85.00

Full Members - Permanently retired from the workforce

NP3

$  20.00

Full members - Volunteer practitioner - more than 4 hours per week (average) over the last 12 months

 VP

$  85.00

Student Members - (employed or unemployed)

 S

$  45.00

Provisional Student Members from CSTP course (employed or unemployed)

SP

$  45.00

Affiliates Employed (joined before 1999)

AO

$ 180.00

Affiliates Employed (joined after 1998: Insurance not available)

AN

$  50.00

Affiliates Unemployed (joined after 1998: Insurance not available)

ANU

$  20.00

Organisational Members (Insurance not available)

O

$100.00

The Fees quoted include 10% GST


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