Community work in Australia
Our organisation was established in 1969 as the Australian Institute of Welfare Officers. From our inception, we had aspiring goals to promote professional standards and support those working in welfare and community roles. Over the decades, we’ve evolved alongside the sector itself — broadening our scope, strengthening our voice, and remaining committed to the advancement of community work in Australia.
Reflecting a growing and changing profession
As the nature of community work expanded, so too did our organisation. In time, we became the Australian Institute of Community Workers, and later the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA), reflecting the increasingly diverse roles and responsibilities of practitioners across the country.
Throughout these changes, our focus remained clear: to recognise qualified professionals, promote ethical and effective practice, and champion the critical role community work plays in building a fairer and more just society.
A new name, a renewed purpose
In 2024, we adopted the name Community Work Australia to better reflect our national scope, the breadth of the profession, and our forward-looking mission. While our name has changed, our commitment to community work professionals remains the same.
Our work today spans education and course accreditation, ethical practice, professional development, and sector-wide advocacy.
We continue to set the standard for community work practice in Australia, working to ensure that those in the profession are skilled, recognised, and supported.
