IFSW Newsletter
ASIA & PACIFIC REGION

Issue 2, December 2015

This issue includes:
Editorial
News from round-about
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IFSW Asia Pacific Joint Report from IFAP Regional
President & IFAP Member-at-Large: December
2015
IFAP-APASWE Joint Regional Social Work
Conference 2015, Bangkok, in pictures…
Pre-Conference Workshop: Alternative Solutions
in Social Work
Consultation on the Global Agenda from the Asia
Pacific Region
YGUSSWP Report…
Papua New Guinea Social Workers Association
Incorporated – Revived!
Statement by IFSW Against the Administrative
Detention of our Social Work Colleagues in Israeli
Prisons – 6th September 2015
IFSW & COSW Executive Meeting, London
Upcoming Events in 2016
Upcoming Conferences in 2016

Editorial
Another eventful year is over but the good and bad
memories of events, economic and politicalbrouhaha, disasters and human tragedies are carriedover into 2016. The New Year is expectant of fears
that world economy, political and social security, andenvironmental disasters may take a further toll on
populations. Yet, the new year also brings hope thathumanitarian goodness and sanity will prevail, thatgovernments will manage better, that more
appropriate, effective and efficient planning andintervention will reduce the risks of disasters andloss and damage to human lives and livelihood.
In this regard, it is encouraging to note the action
taken by the United Nations Social and Economic
Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Its recently
launched Asia Pacific Disaster Report 2015 –Disasters Without Borders, “provides an overview ofthe state of disaster resilience in Asia-Pacific region,and places disaster risk reduction at the heart ofsustainable development. It identifies emerging new
risks in the region and the sectors that are most at
risk. The report focuses on cross-border disasters, suchas earthquakes, droughts, tropical cyclones and floods,
and highlights that only by coming together in thespirit of cooperation can the Asia-Pacific region hope
to become truly disaster resilient. The report identifies
several neglected areas of disaster risk reduction thatneed to be addressed urgently. Drought, a forgotten
disaster in Asia-Pacific, pushes vast numbers of people
into debt and poverty. The report shows how the
impact can be mitigated by treating drought as a longterm, recurring risk. The report also analyses the valueof early warning systems and maps out how to provide
right information to right people at the right time. The
report concludes that while investing in disaster risk
reduction is proven cost effective, the politicalcommitment has not transformed into adequate
actions on the ground.”Realistically there is a lot more to be done and in its
own way IFSW-AP attempts to address some of the
weak areas by investing in enhancing the
preparedness and capacities of social workers in the
Asia Pacific. So far, it has encouraged and supported
5 workshops on Disaster Response with another one
planned for January 2017 in Malaysia.
Looking back we had a wonderful experience during
the Regional Joint Conference in Bangkok, so thankyou to the organisers and supporters for making
many things possible like providing space and timefor IFSW-AP to hold its General Meeting, Global
Agenda Meeting and Pre-Conference Workshops, notforgetting the generous hosting of an enjoyabledinner on the White Orchid Cruiser!
In this issue we also take note of social workers whoare being politically oppressed and pray for theirrelease soon. We are happy to welcome Nepal andIndia into the fraternity as well as to know that the
Papua New Guinea Social Workers Association isrevived.
This issue is delayed but not too late to wish
everyone a Happy and Peaceful New Year!

IFSW Asia Pacific Joint Report from
IFAP Regional President & IFAP
Member at Large: December 2015

Mariko Kimura
IFAP President

Rose Henderson
Member-at-Large

Greetings from the President and Member-atLarge
Since the two of us were elected to the positionsof Regional President and Member-at-Large inJuly 2014, we have been fulfilling our duties at
the Asia-Pacific Region of IFSW as a team. We
sincerely thank everyone for their support, since
we have been able to manage our work only withassistance from the Executive Committee and ourmember countries as well as backup from theJapanese
Coordinating
Body
for
IFSW
Membership. We truly hope that 2016 will be ayear in which the networks of social workers at
IFSW-AP and IFSW itself grow stronger and social
workersareempoweredworldwide.
Furthermore, we wish that it will also be a year
for us to work for peace and equality all over theworld and for the promotion of human dignity.
The President wishes to continue to attend as
many events organised by member associations
as possible, get to know the activities carried out
by social workers and their organisation as muchas possible, and communicate the uniquesituation and the common themes to as manymember nations as possible, and additionallymake an appeal for our cause to the globalorganisation!

 This year’s main news
Unfortunately, many disasters hit our region thisyear too. The Asia-Pacific Region is frequently
affected by disasters, so skill development forsocial work professionals and the establishmentof an Asia-Pacific regional aid network is andstays a most important task for us. Our next
collaboration is with the Indonesian Associationof Social Workers and the Ministry of Social
Affairs to hold a Learning Forum Program on
Psychosocial Support in Disaster Situation: The
Roles and Skills of Social Workers in Asia Pacific.
It was held from 12-14 January 2016 in Jakarta.
 Most recent news
(1) The Asia-Pacific Regional Joint Conference on
Social Work hosted by APASWE and IFSW-AP washeld in Bangkok at the Dusit Thani Hotel from22nd to 24th October 2015. The Conference saw
the participation of more than 250 delegates from25 countries with nearly 100 presentations inpapers and posters on the theme ‘Growth &Crises: Social Work & Policy Discourses’.
(2) Preceding the conference, we organised 2 PreConference Workshops on 20th October 2015 byutilising IFSW’s Development Fund. More than
170 people from Korea, Japan, Philippines, India,
Nepal and Bangladesh participated including Thai
social workers. The topics covered ‘Gender
Sensitivity in Social Work Practice’ and‘Promoting the Rights of Children’ with specificfocus on ‘Child Labour and Children on the Move’.
Michiko’s brief report is included below.
(3) Consultation on the Global Agenda was heldon 22nd October 2015 during the AP Regional
Joint Conference in Bangkok. Dr.Bala Raju Nikku’sreport is included in the following pages.
(4) A proposal for the regional amplification of
the global social work definition was compiled
through joint efforts by APASWE and IFSW-AP at
the Bangkok conference. This version will
undergo public review until February 15th 2016
before the proposal is finalised at the next
regional joint conference.
(5) Celebrating new IFSW member countries: We
were honoured to welcome Nepal and India as
IFSW members. With regard to India’s admission,
6 professional social work associations agreed toform a national coordinating body called theIndian Network of Professional Social WorkAssociations. Their membership was approved inearly October 2015.
(6) Additionally, the South Asian Conference ofProfessional Social Workers was organised by
Karnataka Association of Professional Social
Workers (KAPSW) and Department of Social
Work, Christ University in Bangalore on 27th and28th August 2015 with 387 people from all overIndia participating. The IFSW-AP President was
invited to inaugurate the conference.
(7) We constantly hear news about the flow of
Syrian refugees and asylum seekers to Europe.
Several governments, especially EU nations andother European states as well as North Americancountries, etc. are making statements about
accepting these people. Social workers andrefugee support organisations will probably be
actively engaged in specific assistance in the
future. At the same time, we have to watch
humanitarian efforts and responses by national
governments very carefully.
(8) The Hong Kong Social Workers Association
completed the Chinese version of the new Global
Definition and it has already been uploaded to the
IFSW website. It will hopefully be of reference tomany colleagues all over the world who have
Chinese cultural origins. We want to thank the
HKSWA for their most meaningful effort.

IFAP-APASWE Joint Regional Social
Work Conference 2015, Bangkok, in
pictures…

Organising Committee Members and Conference Delegates

Closer look at some of the delegates

Some of the happy delegates with the Organising Chairman(9) The Executive Committee is proposing for IFAP to have its own logo and would therefore liketo invite members in the region to submit designs
for the Committee to consider. We are looking
forward to receiving creative and inspiring ideas
which reflect social work in the Asia Pacificregion.
(10) IFAP and APASWE held discussions during
the Conference in Bangkok to consider China
Association of Social Workers’ sole application tohost the next regional joint conference in 2017
and this has been generally confirmed. Further
information will be announced in due course.

All Heads on stage

Reported by:
Mariko Kimura, IFAP Regional President
Mkimura1951@gmail.com
Rose Henderson, IFAP Regional Member-atLarge
Rose.Henderson@cdhb.health.nz

Malaysian delegates with Organising Chairman

Speaker: Emeritus Prof. Jim Ife

Speaker: Prof. Vimla Nadkami
Delegates on the Sea Cruiser**********************************************************

Speaker: Prof. Dr. Tatsuru Akimoto

Prof. Dr. Ismail Baba, Dr. Fentiny & Ms Naomi Masilamany

Dinner on the White Orchid Cruiser

IFSW-AP Ex-Co members enjoying a break

Pre-Conference Workshop:
Alternative Solutions in Social
Work Practice
On October 20th, two Pre-Conference Workshops
were organised by IFSW-AP with thecollaboration of Thailand Association of Social
Work & Social Welfare Education (TASWE) at
Dusit Thani Hotel. There were more than 170
participants from 12 different countries at theworkshop. The main theme was Alternative
Solutions in Social Work Practice. The topic for
Session I was Gender Sensitivities in Social Work
Practice presented by panelists, Manuel da Quinta
from UNAIDS Bangkok and Kath Khangpiboon
from AP Transgender Network. The topic for
Session II was Promoting the Rights of Children(Child Labor and Children on the Move). The
speakers were M.V. Sriganesh from India, Dr Bala
Raju Nikku from Nepal, Md Habibur Rahman
from Bangladesh and Sompong Srakaew fromThailand.

Speakers & participants at the Pre-Conference Workshop

Rose Henderson summarised the workshop as
follows: “There are great similarities in theindustries’ exploitation of children and migrantlabour across India, Nepal, Bangladesh andThailand as well as other countries. There is aneed for social work educators and practitioners
to raise the profile and the role of the profession
to promote the elimination of child labour andalternative means of addressing poverty. The
third theme from there was a call forinternational linkages through IFSW to unite
against child labour and to free the children sothey can pursue an education and a career of
their own choice.”
Reported by: Michiko Hirata, Treasurer
IF-AP Executive Committee
mhirata33@nifty.com***********************************************************

Consultation on the Global Agenda
from the Asia Pacific Region

Nurul Eka presenting Indonesia’s GA Report

At the end suggestions and comments were
provided by the participants. It was agreed thatby the end of the December the representatives /presenters will be sharing a further detailed
report from their countries, schools of social
work and associations. The idea is that we shallbuild on the momentum that has been generated
to date and send a brief report to the global
committee but the detailed report from the Asia
Pacific will be made available for public
consultations via website, etc.

Hosted by: IFSW-AP and APASWE
Moderated by: Ms Rose Henderson & Dr. Bala Raju
Nikku on 22nd October 2015

Question from the floor

The consultation workshop went very well withactive participation of 25 social work educators,
practitioners and representatives from national
associations from all over the Asia Pacific Region.
Altogether, eleven presentations were made.

1.
2.

India

Sriganesh MV

Nepal

Bala Raju Nikku

Indian Network of Professional
Social Work Associations
Nepal School of Social WorkHabibur Rhaman

Bangladesh

Elsie Lee
Jarwin Navarro
Nurul Eka Hidayati

MASW
PASWI
IPSPI

Bangladesh
Malaysia
Philippines
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
New
Zealand
Australia
Hong Kong

Machiko Ohara
Dr. Nikku on behalfof KASWJames
Makowharemahihi
Karen Healey
Irene Leung Pui Yiu

Japan Coordinating Body for
IFSW Membership
KASW & Korea Council on
Social Welfare Education
ANZASWAASWHKASW

The major themes that emerged from thepresentations are: poverty, furthering humandignity by enhancing mental health services,
strengthening social work national associations
by bringing state associations together, social
work practice innovations and lobbying withgovernment and other non-state actors.
It was decided that we write the report using the
emerging themes (rather country-wise) from theregion for the global report. For example,
Indonesian social workers have focused theirefforts on increasing access to mental healthservices by ordinary citizens and through which
they would like to address the human worth anddignity of the people. In Nepal, the social work
educators and students, being disaster victim
survivors themselves, are involved in assistingother individuals and communities in surviving
and building resiliency among them using
existential and humanistic social work
approaches.

Group of IFSW-AP Delegates after the GA Consultation***********************************************************YGUSSWP Report…

Introduction
The humanitarian situation in Yemen has
deteriorated following the escalation of conflict
beginning on 26 March 2015, resulting in a
breakdown in the provision of basic social
services. In January 2015 some 15.9 million
people in Yemen (61% of the population) were inneed of humanitarian assistance, including 7.4
million children. The current crisis isexacerbating the vulnerabilities of these
populations as well as creating new humanitarianneeds for people not previously in need ofassistance. For example, prior to the conflict,there were 847,445 children under 5 sufferingfrom acute malnutrition, and 160,629 children
from severe acute malnutrition.
In November 2015 an estimated 14 million
people lacked access to health care (including
522,000 pregnant women), 14.5 million are inneed of food security, 19.3 million people require

access to safe drinking water and sanitation, 1.3
million children are at risk of malnutrition(320,000 of which are at risk of severe
malnutrition), 2.8 million require shelter and NFI.
The recent conflict has seen the closure of healthand nutrition facilities in some areas. Some 2
million children have been affected by the closureof over 3,700 schools. Child rights violations
continue to be on the rise with alarming trends inthe recruitment and use of children in conflict.
Priority humanitarian needs include medical
supplies, safe drinking water, fuel, and food. Mass
casualty management is critical and protection
remains a grave concern. Due to the conflict thatstarted in March 2015, the YGUSSWP planned torespond to the children’s needs as they are themost affected and vulnerable people in thecommunity.
We have conducted a child protection rapid
assessment in the 4th week of May 2015 in Sana'a
province among 5 districts for the purpose ofidentifying the effects of the conflicts on children
and the child protection needs to inform planningfor the response. This assessment was funded by
UNICEF office in Sana'a, and the YGUSSWP
participated in editing the CPRA questionnaire
tool, collecting the information, analyzing thedata and sharing the final report of the study with
UNICEF.
Based on the CPRA findings we found that there
were significant changes in the behaviors of thechildren and their parents due to the conflict inYemen, and for that the YGUSSWP have planned
and responded to the children’s needs throughthe CFS (Child Friendly Space) project funded by
UNICEF.

Children drawing activity in Hamdan CFS

YGUSSWP has been a partner with UNICEF inestablishing and implementing a CFS in Sana'aand we are looking forward to becoming astrategic partner for UNICEF in PSS in Sana'a andAmanat Alsamaih. We have successfully
established 4 CFS which conducted activities forthe children during the period of August –October 2015 in Sana'a and among the 4 districtsof Arhab, Nehm, Hamadan and Bani Hashish.

and other interventions. We have issued birthcertificates for 300 children, identified 46
disabled children and referred them to the Fund
Care and Rehab for Disabled People which issued
ID cards to entitle them to certain benefits fromthe Fund. We have identified 48 children who
were out of the school and conducted awarenesssessions and provided them with school bags andother interventions; we have identified andsupported 5 early marriage cases, 10 GBV issues,
10 nutrition cases, 1 sexual abuse case, and wehave provided PSS for 6 cases experiencing
psychosocial issues from the conflict.

Children in Hamdan CFS

Through these protected environments we haveenabled the children to participate in organizing
CFS activities where they played and gained
knowledge, learn to express themselves, andreturn to their normal lives. We have also linked
the children with the society and contributed
towards the implementation of development
programs for self-reliance, and the protection ofchildren. In the 4 CFS we have succeeded inproviding psychosocial support for more than
700 children (males and females) as stated in ourreports. We have conducted more than 30
awareness sessions on CP issues for more than
800 parents, community leaders and youth (bothmales and females) from the 4 districts. We haveestablished 4 community based protection
committees and we have raised their awarenesson child protection issues and these committees
have played a key role in sensitizing thecommunities on CP issues, identified vulnerable
children, and promoting sustainability of the CFS.
However, most of the basic services have beenclosed since the conflict started.
In addition, we have conducted a mapping ofservices in Sana'a and Amant Alasmah, and wehave developed a referral system that enhances
access to available services. In the 4 districts
through the CFS we have identified andresponded to the children’s needs and referredthem to services providers, enhanced theirfamilies’ awareness, offered school bags,
inclusion support and provided PSS for childrenChildren having drawing activity in Bain Hasiash CFS

Now there is an urgent need to follow up the 126
cases that we have supported and referred toother humanitarian actors and Government
institutions as they are still in need of further
services. Moreover, during 17-18 of November,
we identified new vulnerable cases in need ofurgent intervention for symptoms of psychosocial
distress due to the conflict, other cases physicallyaffected by the airstrikes, and new cases of
disabled children who need support. The
YGUSSW is planning to respond to their needs inour upcoming project that we hope UNICEF willcontinue to support.
The YGUSSWP plans to establish another 2 CFS, 4teenage committees/clubs, and 2 mobile CPteams of social workers in Sana’a province. The
YGUSSWP will improve and devolve the CFS
activities and tools to receive physically and otherdisabled children, conduct training for the CFS
volunteers on how to deal with disabled children,
provide PSS for disability based organisations inAmant Alasmaih, and continue to identify
vulnerable cases and refer them for appropriate
intervention.
Our upcoming interventions will focus on thecase management and referral path way for thevulnerable cases which have been facing
difficulties accessing services to cope with theirsituations. In order to achieve this goal we areplanning to improve coordination with key
service providers, update mapping of services,conduct advocacy activities and coordination to
include vulnerable children who have no accessto services and have specific needs. app We will
work towards the appointment of qualified social
workers from the community to be based in every
CFS to monitor and identify vulnerable cases andprovide PSS, and we will link these social workers
with the MOSAL to ensure sustainability of theirrole to improve the case management andreferral path way. We will also look into theappointment of a case management and referral
coordinator in the project for better identificationof vulnerable children, case management,
referral, and follow up of the cases.

than 5 conflict affected provinces in Yemen, andto provide them with 63 skilled social workers to
conduct the psychosocial support and casemanagement and referral path way in the CFSs
that DRC implemented and funded in 5 provinces.
YGUSSWP needs assistance from the IFSW,APIFSW, and IFSW Europe
There is an urgent need to conduct special
training for our social workers in PSS torehabilitate children who have been affected
physically or psychologically and for whom the
CFSs activities have not been useful as they needmore specialised PSS. The YGUSSWP would likethe support of the IFSW, APIFSW, IFSW Europe
colleagues in preparing a specialised TOT course
on PSS for the 5 YGUSSWP master trainers sothey could train other Yemeni social workers. If
you are interested in supporting us, pleasecontact us at email address: yuoswp@gmail.com.
Information and Public Relations Officer
YGUSSWP
amr.ygusswp@gmail.com***********************************************************

Papua New Guinea Social Workers
Association Incorporated – Revived!
Reviving the Papua
Workers Association

Sport activity for children in Hamdan CFS

NewGuineaSocialThe Papua New Guinea Social Workers
Association has been revived after it suspended
its activities for four years since 2010. The
political impasse that took place in the country inAugust 2011 has had an adverse flow-on effect on
the location and administration of the
Association’s activities.
The Department for Community Development
which housed the PNGSWA desk was affected by
the changes in the management with theappointment of a non-social worker by the new
government as the head of the department. She
has no professional knowledge and appreciationof the roles and functions of the Association norof the social work profession in general.

Sport activity for children in Bain Hasiash CFS

In November 2015 the YGUSSWP agreed tosupport DRC in implementing their CFS in more

A group of academics from the University of
Papua New Guinea’s Social Work Discipline
headed by the Association’s current President(Mr George Wrondimi) called a meeting early thisyear. And with enthusiastic social workcolleagues from the field and senior social work
students of the University, the meeting through a
resolution appointed a Working Team whichpulled together several activities for the members
during the year.
The Working Team among its list of activities for2015 was also tasked with the responsibility to
produce an Annual Activity Plan for 2016. The
PNGSWA 2016 Annual Activity Plan has been
completed and circulated to members inNovember. It will be submitted for endorsementby the Association at its first General Meeting in
mid-February 2016.
Among its list of activities in 2016 is to seek
advice and make fresh applications for renewal ofits membership to both the IFSWAP and the
IFSW. The plan also contains the PNGSWA’s
intention to participate in the activities of both
the Regional and Global bodies such as the World
Social Work Day, and the Regional andInternational Conferences in 2016.
I would therefore like to appeal to both bodies togenerously provide the PNGSWA with the list of
their events for 2016 so that we can include themin our calendar of activities for 2016. I am very
optimistic and equally confident that the
Association will be fully re-established andbecome soundly operational by mid-2016.

detention are now on the 17th day of their hunger
strike and international action is needed to bringan end to unjust administrative detention and to
free the imprisoned social workers. The following
letter was written by the IFSW Palestinian
member alerting the global social workcommunity to this problem:“The Palestinian Union of Social Workers andPsychologists (PUSWP) are extremely concernedthat the Israel authority are using Administrative
Detention are detaining our social workcolleagues, against basic humanitarian principles
and international agreements. Administrative
Detention has affected thousands of Palestinians,
including our own social work members. Thereare currently several of our own colleagues
undergoing this detention who have also taken
the decision to go on hunger strike in order toconvince the Israeli occupiers to end their
Administrative Detention. These include ourSocial Work Union administrative member inBethlehem, Nidal Abu Aker, who has been an
administrative detainee for a year and a half.
Along with him there is Gassan Zawhra, a social
work student in Al Quds Open University. Bothare participating in a hunger strike for 17 days
with other colleagues who have been in Israeli
detention. All were working peacefully as social
workers supporting families and communities,
people with disabilities and others at the time of
their arrest.

Thank you.
George H. Wrondimi
President***********************************************************

Statement by IFSW Against theAdministrative Detention of ourSocial Work Colleagues in Israeli
Prisons – 6th September 2015
IFSW supports the call from the Palestinian Unionof Social Workers and Psychologists (PUSWP) to
end Administrative Detention which includes
arrest and imprisonment without trial ofPalestinians by the Israeli authorities. IFSW isparticularly concerned that Palestinian social
workers who have been conducting their work
peacefully and professionally have been detainedin such a manner. Two social workers under

Administrative Detention was initially used by
the British government in Palestine in 1945 andhas continued to be used by the Israeli authorities
who have detained 100,000 people since 1967.
Administrative Detention is against the Geneva
Convention and the special agreement for civilian
and political rights. Administrative Detention isimprisonment following a military order leading
to the arrest of individuals without being accusedof any particular crime, based on the use of secretintelligence and those subject to it are unable topresent any defence as no charges have been
made in open court. There has been – andcontinues to be – an international campaign tocancel the use of Administrative Detention.
The PUSWP requests the International Federationof Social Workers (IFSW) and all it is members tocampaign to save the lives of our detainedcolleagues from the likely possibility of deathfollowing this hunger strike and to oppose the use
by Israel of collective punishment meted out on
Palestinians to break their will.

www.niscc.info, has developed an opportunity
for clinicians seeking CPD points to have theirwork effort and experience recognised as alegitimate learning and development activity, inlieu of paying to attend training. Most Australiansocial work clinicians have limited career paths.
So this appears to be a welcome CPD
development.

Our colleagues today are fighting with theirempty stomachs for their dignity and humanrights!
We should not stand aside and allow this tohappen, and instead we should stand together toprotect them and campaign for their release assoon as possible.
In solidarity,
Palestinian Union of Social Workers andPsychologists (PUSWP)***********************************************************IFSW & COSW Executive Meeting,LondonOne intention of this article is to assist members
to be aware of international opportunities forsocial work. As an AASW member you are also amember of the IFSW. The AASW e-bulletins havea link to IFSW newsletters which share news
from social work colleagues from around theworld.
Another is to inform you of COSW’s work. Whilein London recently, I was delighted to prompt ameeting of the COSW Executive. It was a great
opportunity to catch up with British colleagues
who are highly engaged in wide ranging
international work. Congratulations to Terry
Bamford on the publication of his book, ‘A
Contemporary History of Social Work’, Publisher
Policy Press, 2015.
We shared news of initiatives and projects. For
example the Northern Ireland Social Care Council,

Naomi with David, Terry and Nigel in London

Another is to inform you of the stark reality forcolleagues in developing countries of the very low
rates of pay for public servants. Many report thatthey must earn income from alternative sourcesin order to remain in their paid social work
positions. While I appreciate the generosity ofAustralian colleagues, I also urge you to stretch
that same heart to projects and work which ourinternational colleagues undertake. While it is notalways straightforward to do so, given the costs
associatedwithtransferringmoney
internationally, we remain aware of the value indoing so.
Another intention is to inform you of an ongoingproject of COSW and invite your support for a
Young Carers Project, a project of the East Africa
IFSW and African COSW representatives. At the
London meeting I wondered how Australians can
assist with African initiatives such as this, giventhat a UK trust is also involved with funding thisproject. Enquiries regarding this are welcome tonspencer@csu.edu.au.
Another intention is to let you know of theCommonwealth Peoples’ Forum (CPF), the civilsociety forum held in conjunction with theCommonwealth Heads of Government Meeting(CHOGM). It was scheduled from 23 to 26
November 2015 in Malta. The theme was ‘What
Makes Societies Resilient?’ The forum was achance for representatives of civil society fromacross the Commonwealth to share ideas andengage with government leaders. I have been
invigorated attending several CPF and encourage
you to consider leave in Malta in November!
http://cpf.commonwealthfoundation.com/cpf-malta-2015/
The NSW AASW Branch Committee learned froma recent CPD survey that the majority of social
workers in NSW need to take leave to fulfil theirtraining and development requirements. This canbe irritating or a great incentive to contribute toand learn from our international colleagues.
I enjoy my social work identity and hope you do
too. How are you ‘talking it up’ and is there
something you can imagine doing, but justhaven’t managed to?
Yours in Social Work,
Naomi Spencer
NSW Branch Committee Member and COSW
Executive Member
20 July 2015***********************************************************

Upcoming Events in 2016…
Celebrate World Social Work Day 2016!
Let’s hear from you what’s being planned tocommemorate this special day on 15th March
2016 for social work and social workers allaround the globe. The theme for 2016 is Social
Workers Towards an Undivided Humanity.

Upcoming Social Work Conference in
2016

SWSD2016 Secretariat
B1F Korea National Social Welfare Bldg., 14
Mallijaer-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea 121-706
Tel: +82-566-6031/6033
Fax: +82-2-566-6087
e-mail: seoul@swsd2016.org

Building Resiliency in the Face ofDisasters: A Proposed Design

Ponce de Leon Garden Resort, Puerto Princesa
City, Palawan, Philippines
March 2-4, 2016
Abstract Submission deadline: February 10, 2016
e-mail: paswitraining@gmail.com

The Asian Conference on Education &International Development 2016
ACEID2016

Art Center of Kobe, Kobe, Japan
Sunday, April 3 - Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Abstract Submission Deadline: February 1, 2016
Registration Deadline for Presenters: March 1,
2016
Conference Theme: “Education and Social
Justice: Learning For Global Diversity”
In this conference – one of a series of five held in2016 on education and social justice –participants are invited to explore and question
the ways in which education can become an
instrument for learning through and for global
diversity. Abstracts should address one or more of
the streams below, identifying a relevant subtheme:
 Diversity in Global Contexts
 Education and Socio-Economic Development
 Education and Development: Local andGlobal/Domestic and International

 Education: Public & Private Partnerships
 Economics and Management of Education
 Literacy: Poverty and Sustainability.

To be announced soon…
IFSWAP-APASWE Regional Joint
Conference 2017 in Shenzhen, China.

We now have rich news on our Facebook.
Follow us on
https://www.facebook.com/IFSW-AsiaPacific.

IFSW Asia Pacific Regional
Committee
President:
Mariko Kimura (Japan)
Member-at-Large: Rose Henderson (New
Zealand)Secretary:
Irene Leung (Hong Kong)
Treasurer:
Michiko Hirata (Japan)
Members:
Sung-Kyung Kang
(Korea)Karen Healey (Australia)
Eva Ponce de Leon (ThePhilippines)
Sharima Ruwaida Abbas(Malaysia)
Elsie Lee (Publications
Secretary, Malaysia)
Ex-Officios:
Ng Shui Lai (Human
Rights, Hong Kong)
Elsie Lee (Ethics
Representative,
Malaysia)
Regional Advisor: Justina Leung(Immediate Past
President, Hong Kong)
Editor: Elsie Lee (Malaysia)
Layout: Jodi Johnstone (Australia)
Publisher: Griffith University for IFSW Asia
Pacific Region (Australia)
Note to Contributors:
Please send items, stories and articles
preferably in MS word format as well as photos
to the Editor, Elsie Lee at elsilee@gmail.com.