Australian Journal of Community Work
The collated volume of our relaunched journal, Australian Journal of Community Work (AJCW), is now online.
AJCW is designed to stimulate discussion, debate and research on all aspects of community work, and we believe this volume, designed by Studio Pearl, will do just that.
The journal's publication is also part of our commitment to foster shared practice wisdom and rigorous research.
We must say thank you to AJCW's first editor Annette Maher, who has been instrumental in the successful relaunch of the journal. We would also like to welcome her successor Anne Jennings who has accepted the editor position.
Ms Jennings has just completed her PhD thesis (congratulations!) and has an all-encompassing background as a community work practitioner, researcher and educator.
We hope you enjoy reading the Journal and, if you are a keen researcher yourself or have practice wisdom or experience from the field, keep an eye on our e-news for calls to contribute.
| | Serving communities during COVID-19 ACOSS has published a new report which focuses on how the community sector met community needs during the pandemic and how they are addressing them during the recovery process. As restrictions eased, many leaders reported new financial and logistic issues as their organisations juggled hybrid models of service delivery - continuing to offer the digital options that appealed to some client cohorts while also re-introducing face-to- face options. Read the full report Updates: workforce pay and conditions This month has seen two significant wins for community workers in relation to pay and conditions. Firstly, the Federal Government has committed to extend homelessness funding which means guaranteed equal pay funding for homelessness services and security for community workers who may have otherwise lost their jobs. Secondly, a Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission has issued a provisional decision in relation to the SCHADS Award and substantive issues claims. The Commission reviewed the minimum terms and conditions that apply to community services workers and issued draft determinations. These determinations include that travel time should be paid and that employees who work a broken shift should be paid an allowance. It is important to note that these changes are not yet in effect. We will keep you in the loop as the formal process progresses. Read the Fair Work Commission's decision summary Read the ASU's summary | | |  Child Protection Practitioners – Preston and Bendigo
Due to new investments in Child Protection within Victoria, DFFH are looking for Advanced Practitioners, Senior Practitioners and Team Leaders to join our Child Protection teams in our Preston and Bendigo offices.
Applicants with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality services to vulnerable children and families are required.
We can offer –
- Exposure to Innovative Social Work Practices
- Ongoing Professional development
- Generous leave entitlements
| | | Practice resources
Organisational support for community recovery
Community Services Industry Alliance (CSIA) has released a series of resources to support community organisations responding to new and emerging cohorts of people seeking support. The series includes five information guides which can be customised by your organisation and distributed to people looking for support. Access the resources Evaluation in DFV services and programs ANROWS has uploaded a recording of its recent webinar on evaluation in the violence against women sector. The webinar features a panel of experts sharing examples of evaluations they have implemented and discussing strategies and tips workers can use when evaluating their own services or programs. Watch the webinar
Best practice for supporting family violence workers
Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre has launched best practice guidelines for supporting the wellbeing of family violence practitioners during times of emergency and crisis. The guidelines draw on the findings of a study of practitioners conducted during the 2020 COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria. Read the guidelines
Telepractice in family and relationship services
A new Child Family Community Australia paper reviews the evidence for telepractice as a service delivery method in the family and relationship services sector. It describes the acceptability of telepractice as an option for both clients and practitioners, the enablers and barriers to uptake and implementation, and the current evidence on client outcomes. Read the paper Watch the related webinar | | | Research corner The 2020 financial services human rights benchmark report Source: University of Sydney This report assesses the performance of 22 financial companies against six human rights categories: privacy and information; anti-discrimination; economic security; health and safety; voice and participation; and right to remedy. Read the report A review of the evidence on developing and supporting policy and practice networks Source: Carnegie UK Trust This rapid review looks at networks (specifically those that support policy and practice development) from the point of view of charities and NFPs that may want to use them to achieve social change. Read the report Disability support workers: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and communication needs Source: Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health This report presents findings from a survey of disability support workers about their perceptions of their risk of infection, their intentions for vaccine uptake and, for those who were hesitant, the reasons why. Read the report Patterns of intensive alcohol and other drug treatment service use in Australia - 1 July, 2014 - 30 June 2019 Source: AIHW This report examines the treatment patterns of clients who received treatment from publicly funded specialist AOD services during five collection periods. Read the report Caseworkers' Communication with Children and Young People in Out-of-Home Care and their Caregivers. Source: NSW Department of Communities and Justice This report explores the factors that influence effective communication practices between caseworkers and children as reported by children. Read the report Strategies for Promoting Client Self-Determination: A Review of the Literature Source: Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics This article is based on a systematic literature review that sought to understand strategies used by social work practitioners to promote client self-determination. Read the report | | | Calls to action EOIs: Leadership and Governance Program (WA) Western Australia's Office of Multicultural Interests is seeking people of cultural and linguistically diverse (CaLD) background with a keen interest in participating in decision making processes to enrol in its Leadership and Governance Program. The program seeks to encourage greater representation of people of CaLD backgrounds on boards and committees and involves a training and mentoring component. Learn more and apply Consultation: Community services qualifications SkillsIQ is undertaking a project to update qualifications, including the Diploma of Community Services, and has released draft documents for consultation. ACWA supports the proposed changes and will make a submission with recommendations on behalf of members. Individuals and organisations are welcome to provide their own feedback. Get involvedConsultation: Mental health standards for CMOs The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is developing national standards for community managed organisations (CMOs) that provide mental health services and has invited responses to its consultation paper. Get involved
Survey: Skills development for aged care staff
Australian Healthcare Associates (AHA) is seeking the views of aged care management and staff (including allied health and personal care workers) to inform a training program for staff working in home-based and residential aged care. Take the survey | | | National conferences
Child Inclusive Practice Forum 2021
7 June 2021, Online
The 2021 Child Inclusive Practice (CIP) Forum gives us the chance to think how children's lives intersect with decision making situations. It will cover:
- Programme design improvement incorporating the feedback of children
- The role of telepractice when working with children
- Child inclusive practice within family law
- Child inclusive practice across service domains/contexts
| | | Featured jobs Remote Services Practitioner - Wurrumiyanga, Arafura Region NT Territory Families, Housing and Communities Learn more and apply Remote Services Practitioner - Daly River, Arafura Region NT Territory Families, Housing and Communities Learn more and apply Remote Services Practitioner - Darwin - Jabiru NT Territory Families, Housing and Communities Learn more and apply Child Protection Practitioner - Katherine NT Territory Families, Housing and Communities Learn more and apply Child Protection Practitioner / Senior Child Protection Practitioner - Darwin NT Territory Families, Housing and Communities Learn more and apply Youth Justice Worker - Parkville, Malmsbury Youth Justice Precincts Department of Justice and Community Safety Learn more and apply | | | | |
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