Manager, Practice Advancement

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW); Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work

Salary 125k-145k

Parental leave

Ex gratia days

Training & development

Wellbeing events

EAP access

Salary packaging

Job summary

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) invites applicants for a National leadership role in Practice Advancement. You will lead initiatives to advance social work practice, strengthen professional capability, and shape the future direction of the profession in partnership with members and social workers.

Working across sectors, you will influence learning, advocacy and standards while building relationships with communities, government and academics.

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification and AASW membership eligibility.
• Significant senior social work experience and a strong understanding of contemporary practice, workforce and professional issues.
• Experience leading practice advancement, workforce development or capability-building initiatives.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience and the ability to deliver outcomes through others.
• Experience translating evidence, knowledge and stakeholder insights into practical initiatives, resources and organisational responses.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, facilitation, influencing and communication skills.
• Strong critical thinking, strategic judgement and project leadership capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead initiatives that strengthen social work practice, professional capability and professional standards.
• Identify emerging practice and workforce issues and translate evidence, insights and expertise into practical resources, guidance and organisational responses.
• Strengthen practice support services, communities of practice and professional learning networks that build capability and connection across the profession.
• Build strategic relationships with members, First Nations social workers and communities, professional leaders, academics, government and sector partners.
• Lead and support a high-performing team focused on professional excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Work across the AASW to ensure professional expertise and member insights inform learning, advocacy, communications, professional standards and organisational priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Project leadership

Communication

Facilitation

Evidence translation

People leadership

Cross-sector collaboration

Education

Social Work degree

Postgraduate qualifications

Job description

• National leadership role advancing the social work profession
• Flexible location and hybrid working options with salary packaging options

Help shape the future of social work practice in Australia

Join us at a pivotal and exciting time as we strengthen our connection with members and the profession, strengthen professional capability, practice development and practice support opportunities and grow the influence of social work across Australia.

The Manager, Practice Advancement is a significant leadership role responsible for advancing social work practice, strengthening professional capability and helping shape the future direction of the profession in partnership with members and social workers.

You will bring extensive social work experience, a track record of building professional capability and strong strategic leadership to ensure the AASW continues to provide contemporary practice support, resources, networks and initiatives that support members, strengthen the profession and enhance the impact of social work in communities.

Working collaboratively across the AASW and with stakeholders throughout the social work, government, academic and community sectors, you will lead initiatives that respond to emerging challenges, create opportunities for professional growth and capability development, and ensure social workers are well placed to meet future workforce and community needs.

This is a rewarding leadership opportunity to lead a portfolio of work that combines practice advancement, professional leadership, stakeholder engagement, organisational influence and people leadership, while contributing to a stronger and more influential future for social work in Australia.

The opportunity

Reporting to the Director, Social Work Advancement, you'll lead a portfolio of work focused on practice excellence, professional capability and the future development of social work.

You will:

• Lead initiatives that strengthen social work practice, professional capability and professional standards.
• Identify emerging practice and workforce issues and translate evidence, insights and expertise into practical resources, guidance and organisational responses.
• Strengthen practice support services, communities of practice and professional learning networks that build capability and connection across the profession.
• Build strategic relationships with members, First Nations social workers and communities, professional leaders, academics, government and sector partners.
• Lead and support a high-performing team focused on professional excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Work across the AASW to ensure professional expertise and member insights inform learning, advocacy, communications, professional standards and organisational priorities.

About you

You are an experienced social work leader who combines strong professional expertise, strategic thinking and sound judgement with a collaborative and forward-thinking approach. You enjoy bringing people, ideas and evidence together to create practical solutions that strengthen the profession and support social workers across Australia.

You will bring:

• Social Work qualification and AASW membership eligibility.
• Significant senior social work experience and a strong understanding of contemporary practice, workforce and professional issues.
• Experience leading practice advancement, workforce development or capability-building initiatives.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience and the ability to deliver outcomes through others.
• Experience translating evidence, knowledge and stakeholder insights into practical initiatives, resources and organisational responses.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, facilitation, influencing and communication skills.
• Strong critical thinking, strategic judgement and project leadership capability.

Postgraduate qualifications and experience within a professional association, membership organisation, regulatory body, peak body or similar environment would be highly regarded. Experience with partnership-funded, grant-funded or cross-sector initiatives would also be advantageous.

About the AASW

The Australian Association of Social Workers is the peak body for social workers in Australia, representing more than 18,000 members across every state and territory. We set the benchmark for professional education and practice, support professional capability and development, champion social justice, human rights and policies, and advocate for social workers and the individuals, families and communities they serve.

We are undertaking an ambitious period of renewal to ensure the voice and expertise of social workers shapes the work of the organisation and the future of the profession. Our priority is to build a more responsive, member-centred and professionally influential association.

Why Join Us?

Be part of an ambitious period of renewal as we strengthen the voice, influence and impact of the social work profession.

What we offer:

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Salary $125,000 – $145,000 plus superannuation and leave loading - Paid parental leave
• Ex gratia paid days off between Christmas and New Year
• Commitment to your training and development
• Health and wellbeing events and activities
• Access to Employee Assistance Program
• Salary packaging options

The AASW is committed to equal opportunities in employment and embraces diversity and inclusion in its workforce. We encourage applications from culturally and ethnically diverse communities, particularly those underrepresented in the social work profession including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people with a disability.