* Lead regulatory and accreditation functions
* Shape professional standards for the profession
* Peak body for social workers (appointee can be located anywhere in Australia)
About the organisation
The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is the peak professional body for social workers in Australia, representing more than 17,000 members. AASW sets benchmarks for professional education and practice, and advocates on matters of social justice, human rights, and quality of life. Operating nationally, the association delivers education, programs, services, and advocacy for the benefit of its members and the broader profession. Australian Association of Social Workers is currently entering an exciting period of transformation as it seeks to strengthen the profession's voice and impact nationally.
About the role
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the General Manager, Professional Standards & Regulation leads the ethics, migration eligibility assessment, credentialling, and accreditation teams. The role holds strategic and operational accountability across AASW's ethics complaints management processes, higher education accreditation, skilled migration assessments, and individual credentialling programs. This includes oversight of the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards, the Code of Ethics, and the Ethics Bylaws, as well as providing advisory support to the National Ethics Panel and Accreditation Council. The appointee will also support the CEO in ensuring the organisation operates a robust and contemporary self-regulatory environment, lead strategic policy and process reform and manage escalated ethics cases and appeals in accordance with natural justice principles. Budget accountability and stakeholder engagement with government bodies, universities, and regulatory authorities are central to the role.
About you
You bring leadership experience gained within highly regulated environments, ideally across health /social services, education, or the public sector, together with a strong practice-based understanding of professional standards within the social work context, supported by relevant tertiary qualifications in social work and eligibility for membership with Australian Association of Social Workers. You have demonstrated success developing and implementing regulatory frameworks, accreditation standards and policy, underpinned by a sound understanding of the legislative and governance environments in which professional bodies operate. Your stakeholder engagement capabilities are highly developed, enabling you to confidently advise CEOs, boards, expert panels and external regulatory authorities. Underpinning your capacity to build team capability, manage competing priorities and deliver outcomes in complex, fast-paced environments is your collaborative leadership style. Political acumen, sound judgement in sensitive matters, and experience overseeing ethics or complaints processes will be important to success in the role.
How to apply
Click 'Apply' to submit your CV along with a covering letter. For more information prior to application, please contact Bruno Conti at SHK on 0439 033 518 or via email on Bruno.conti@shk.com.au, quoting reference 3594932. Direct and third-party applications will be forwarded to SHK.
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