Dr Carmela Bastian, Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Flinders University and a Flinders graduate (PhD(SS)’17) has been appointed a Presiding Member of South Australia’s Social Workers Registration Scheme, which will commence in 2025 to develop professional standards in South Australia and build momentum toward national registration for social workers.

Dr Bastian has more than 20 years’ experience working in child protection, family support and human services as a social work practitioner and academic. Dr Bastian will be joined on the board by fellow Flinders’ graduates Kerry Beck (BSocWk(GradEntry)’05), Ruka Taite (BSocWkSocPg ’15) and Nicole Lancaster (BBehavSc’03, LLB/LP ’03). Jane Mussared, Sarah Macdonald and Jodie Stevens are also on the board.

“Registration of social workers in South Australia is a big deal for the profession as it is the first state to implement the social work registration scheme and will lead the nation in this process,” says Dr Bastian.

“The function of the board is to administer the legislation, provide a definition of social work, establish and maintain a register, implement codes of conduct, professional standards and ethical guidelines.

“It is a privilege to be appointed as the inaugural presiding member for the board and I look forward to working closely with the other board members and the Director, Professor Sarah Wendt. The members of the board bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge that will ensure the board will fulfil its functions.”

Check out the full announcement on our newsblog.