Joint Committee on the Social Workers Registration Bill

The Hon. R. SANDERSON (Adelaide—Minister for Child Protection) (11:35): I move:

That the final report of the committee be noted.

The Social Workers Registration Bill 2018 was referred to the joint committee on 29 November 2018, and it began hearing evidence on 30 January 2019. On 3 December 2020 I tabled the final report of the Joint Committee on Social Workers Registration Bill 2018. Twenty recommendations were made relating to the provision for the registration of social workers and the establishment of a social workers registration board with powers to investigate complaints and enforce penalties for practitioners who breach competency and ethical standards.

As part of its inquiry, the committee heard from a range of interested parties, including the Australian Association of Social Workers, social welfare agencies and education providers. Nine written submissions were also received. The committee also wrote to the federal government, as well as all state and territory jurisdictions, seeking feedback regarding the registration of the social work profession. Oral evidence was heard from 11 separate stakeholders, some of whom had also provided written submissions. The committee also heard, by teleconference, from the peak body representing social workers in New Zealand.

The submissions received informed the 20 recommendations made in the report. The committee produced a revised bill as part of its deliberations which, in line with the original intent of the bill, seeks to enhance the professional standards of the social work profession and better protect the safety of the community.

Much of the evidence expressed general support for registration rather than drawing attention to specific sections of the bill. The report reflects those aspects of the bill that were emphasised in the submissions received. I acknowledge the efforts of the members of the committee and the secretary for all the work that was undertaken. The state government supports, in principle, both the bill and the joint committee's findings. The AASW has publicly welcomed support for a registration scheme, and maintains the need for a national scheme with oversight from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Registration of social workers would have a range of benefits, including improved public safety, higher standards of conduct and accountability through the provision of accessible mechanisms for complaints and review, and improved professional development opportunities for people within the profession. The government will continue to advocate for a national scheme under the registration and accreditation scheme with oversight from AHPRA.

Ms COOK (Hurtle Vale) (11:38): I am speaking on the Social Workers Registration Bill committee, and thank my fellow committee members for the hard work and commitment they have displayed—including your fine self, sir—in a process whereby we would see the registration of social workers rolled out under legislation in South Australia.

We as a Labor parliamentary party support the registration of social workers and applaud the work in the previous parliament by then health minister, Jack Snelling. He tried to bring the federal health ministers and other ministers together to have a conversation and roll out a federal scheme which, as stated before by the Minister for Child Protection, the member for Adelaide, is the preferred scheme under AHPRA, where the professional practice and standards of social workers would be truly acknowledged and transportable from state to state and a mechanism acknowledged as the most appropriate for other health practitioners and professionals, such as nurses, doctors, etc.

I think it is a big shame that the federal government is not showing leadership on this and ensuring that social workers get that support and recognition: it is high time. Social workers are not only some of the most compassionate and committed workers in the multidisciplinary team but they are pragmatic and careful problem-solvers. They need a mechanism whereby standards are observed and supported and a professional practice and professional development regime as well acknowledged.

While that is the most preferred or the number one preference, of course we support the presentation of legislation formed here under our committee in South Australia and would like to see the commitment that was given prior to the last election by the Liberal Party to get this bill drafted, which is now so. I question what work has been done under the current state government as to delivery on that commitment to get registration of social workers in practice, but it was not clear from the member for Adelaide whether or not there has been any work behind the scenes in preparation now for the ratification of this report.

I am questioning whether or not we will see any action now in respect of this very important issue, and it is more important now, given we have enormous crises in health care, child protection and housing all coming to a peak at the moment on the background of COVID and other contributing factors in our state. I think it would be great to see that registration happen and that acknowledgement of social workers so they can just get on with their business and support people in our community in the way they do.

I again thank all contributors to the committee. We had great contributions from social workers' associations from South Australia and federal members as well as that committee, SACOSS and many other fantastic contributors, such as the university. I think we have good evidence, we have a good bill and we would like to support its passage as quickly as possible. I hope to see it presented very soon into the house so that we can just vote on it and let social workers get on with doing what social workers do best—that is, supporting people who live on the margins in our society. I commend the report.

Motion carried.