Social Workers Registration Act 2021

The Board has the following functions:

to administer the provisions of this Act for the regulation of the practice of social work;

to provide a definition of social work services in accordance with section 19;

to establish and maintain the register contemplated by this Act;

to prepare or endorse codes of conduct, professional standards and ethical guidelines for registered social workers;

to determine the qualifications and other requirements appropriate for registration under this Act;

to receive and determine applications for registration of social workers under this Act;

to establish processes for handling complaints relating to the practice of social work;

to hear and make determinations in disciplinary proceedings against a person;

to carry out other functions assigned to the Board under this Act or by the Minister.

In performing its functions, the Board may consult with authorities that it thinks appropriate.

If a code of conduct, professional standard or set of ethical guidelines is prepared or endorsed by the Board, the Board must—

cause a copy of the code, standard or guidelines to be published on the Board's website, together with a statement of the operative date of the code, standard or guidelines (which may not be a date earlier than the date of publication); and

take reasonable steps to send a copy of the code, standard or set of guidelines to each social worker to whom it applies; and

ensure that a copy of the code, standard or set of guidelines is kept available for public inspection without charge during normal office hours at the principal office of the Registrar, (although proof of compliance with paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) is not necessary for the purposes of any proceedings that involve an alleged contravention of or failure to comply with a code of conduct or professional standard).