Differences Between Association and College
Professional associations provide a "voice" for the profession they represent. This voice reflects the values, interests and concerns of the profession.
All major professions have professional associations. In Ontario, the role of professional associations is separate and distinct from the role of professional regulatory bodies.
To learn more about the role of the regulatory body for social workers in Ontario, visit www.ocswssw.org.
As a bilingual membership association, OASW addresses the interests and concerns of the profession at the local, provincial, national and international levels. OASW has 15 branches across Ontario, is one of ten provincial/territorial organizations that comprise the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW), which in turn, is a member of the 78-nation International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW).
The role of OASW is:
to provide critical analysis of provincial government social policies
to advocate for reforms to policies and programs to ensure that all members of the community have the same basic rights, protections, opportunities and social benefits
to provide critical analysis on government policies and practice that impact on social wok practice
to advocate on behalf of the profession when there are threats or impingements on practice
to enhance the understanding of the role of social workers by the public, the media, government and other professions
to provide professional practice and employment supports, as well as tangible and intangible benefits to members.
As society becomes increasingly complex, social workers, more so than ever before, need a strong articulate voice speaking on their behalf. The strength of OASW's voice and the issues it can address are dependent upon the commitment of individual social workers to support the work of OASW through membership.
Join OASW to:
support professional and social advocacy initiatives
keep informed on current issues related to social work practice
access professional development and employment opportunities, including access to www.SocialWorkJobs.ca
network with social workers in similar fields of practice
get advice on workplace issues
be eligible for special services and benefits available only to members (e.g. substantially discounted professional liability insurance).
Do you need to belong to both OASW and the College? Yes, OASW and the College play separate and distinct roles. The interests and concerns of the profession are served by belonging to both organizations.
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