The Australian Association of Social Workers' formal response to the 2013 - 2014 Federal budget (AASW Media Release 15.5.2013) clearly reflects its commitment to human rights and social justice. (AASW Practice Standards Draft 2, 2013) It delivers a report card, from the point of view of a significant human service profession, on a document which will have a profound effect on the lives of Australians in the coming year and beyond.
It applauds the Australian Government
for a budget that will increase support to people living with disabilities,
better target family tax benefits to lower income families, and significantly improve the
level of oral health care for children and young people. It likewise compliments the
Government on establishing a secure funding base for both the NDIS and the Royal
Commission into Institutional Responses to Childhood Sexual Assault, and it supports the increase in funding for the Mental Health Nurse
Incentive program which targets disadvantaged people suffering from mental
illness.
It expresses its concern, however, that the Newstart Allowance has not been increased, leaving the unemployed and many single parents on very low incomes. And it also criticizes the Government for its very substantial cuts (2.3 billion dollars) to Higher Education Funding.
Like the multitude of other interest groups within our community, the AASW is using the avenue of the Media Release (on this occasion within the context of the budget process) to put its views to our political leaders and to the community generally.
The media release, strategically used, can be a powerful tool of public influence. The priorities of the AASW are not, of course, shared by everyone (economists, for example, may well have a different view) but the AASW has taken the opportunity, in its release on the latest Budget, to clearly signal its own position on social justice and its defence of the rights of all members of our society.
It expresses its concern, however, that the Newstart Allowance has not been increased, leaving the unemployed and many single parents on very low incomes. And it also criticizes the Government for its very substantial cuts (2.3 billion dollars) to Higher Education Funding.
Like the multitude of other interest groups within our community, the AASW is using the avenue of the Media Release (on this occasion within the context of the budget process) to put its views to our political leaders and to the community generally.
The media release, strategically used, can be a powerful tool of public influence. The priorities of the AASW are not, of course, shared by everyone (economists, for example, may well have a different view) but the AASW has taken the opportunity, in its release on the latest Budget, to clearly signal its own position on social justice and its defence of the rights of all members of our society.
References:
Australian Association of Social Workers Media Release Professional Body for Social Workers Welcomes 2013 - 2014 Budget AASW Canberra 2013 Web.
Australian Association of Social Workers Practice Standards (Draft 2) - Consultation AASW Canberra 2013 Web
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