OASW is excited to announce the development of the OASW Ethics Committee.  We recognize that OASW and social workers across Ontario wrestle with complex ethical dilemmas at every level of social work practice. This committee will provide input to our CEO and the OASW board and staff regarding ethical questions and considerations facing the OASW; and inform the association in considering how to support members with emerging ethical issues in social work. 

The committee’s work will be guided by both the CASW and OCSWSSW Codes of Ethics and aligned with OASW’s Equity Integration Policy and committee work. 

We are thankful for the following OASW members’ for their response to our committee call out, and for offering their time and practice experience on the committee. 

Learn more about our Ethics Committee members

Melissa Devlin is a Registered Social Worker with more than 15 years of experience in acute care hospitals, where she has primarily worked in General Internal Medicine, Palliative Care, and Emergency Departments.

Early in her career, Melissa developed a specialization in Ontario health care law and ethics. She completed a Certificate in Health Law through Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, served a four year term as the elected Chair of a hospital Clinical Ethics Committee, and undertook both a Community Ethics Consultant secondment and an Ethics residency project in Long Term Care. She is an appointed Regional Champion with Hospice Palliative Care Ontario’s Health Care Consent/Advance Care Planning Community of Practice and currently serves on the OASW Health Care Advisory Group.

Melissa has been invited to deliver education on topics such as ethics in hospital social work practice, ethical issues at end of life, advance care planning, consent and capacity, and substitute decision making. Her audiences have included the Law Society of Ontario, the Central West Palliative Care Network, the Region of Peel, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, and multiple GTA hospitals.

 In addition to her hospital work, Melissa maintains a small private practice providing psychotherapy to couples and individuals. She strives to integrate an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens by acknowledging the privilege inherent to her identity and by actively seeking insight from people and communities with lived experience and ways of knowing that differ from hers.  Melissa is honoured and excited to contribute to the OASW Ethics Committee.

Amanda McFadyen, MSW, RSW, is a dedicated and accomplished social work professional with over 20 years of experience in the human services field. Her diverse career spans child protection, probation and parole, public health, academia, and primary care, reflecting her broad expertise and commitment to supporting individuals and communities in need.

Currently working in private practice, Amanda provides compassionate, evidence-informed care, drawing on her deep understanding of trauma, mental health, and systemic issues. In addition to her professional work, she is an active volunteer with Ontario Corps, offering trauma processing support to individuals responding to and experiencing crisis situations across the province.

Amanda has also contributed to community leadership and provincial advocacy efforts, particularly in supporting children with communication disorders. Her professional focus and volunteer service reflect an enduring dedication to fostering resilience, promoting well-being, and advancing equitable access to support for all individuals.

Rakhi Mistry is a Social Worker currently working in Critical Care in the GTA.  Her experience includes work within in-patient medicine, adult mental health, the Emergency department, Ontario Health atHome and the community settings. 

Her leadership experience includes working on various Quality Improvement Initiatives to improve team collaboration and efficiency.  Rakhi was also part of the team that developed the Dementia Care in the Community - Health Quality Ontario Standard.  

Rakhi is currently serving on multiple Research Advisory boards at William Osler Health System.  She is also a member of the committee revising the Standards of Care for Critical Care with Accreditation Canada.  Rakhi's work also includes being a panel member representing Social Work for the RNAO Best Practice Guidelines for Falls.  

Rakhi holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work degree from York University.  Rakhi is excited to be part of the inaugural OASW Ethics Committee