One of OASW's major roles is to comment on public policies that affect clients whom social workers serve. Human rights and the needs of under-served or at-risk populations are priorities. Poverty reduction is a major focus of social advocacy.

In addition, OASW focuses attention on increasing public awareness on the important role played by the profession related to service delivery.

Furthermore, OASW speaks on behalf of the profession regarding a wide array of professional practice and employment issues such as government or organizational policies that potentially infringe on social work's scope of practice. With looming human resource shortages in many other professions, OASW is promoting the valuable services social workers provide and the under-utilization of our skills.