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Norma Parker Address Delivered by Jo Gaha at the 2003 National AASW Symposium held in Canberra ………………………………………………………………………………………………… Co-operating for Social Justice Jo Gaha Norma Parker can truly be called a national member of the Australian Association of Social Workers. She began her life in Western Australia, established herself as a social work practitioner in Victoria and developed social work education in New South Wales. It has been said that the profession of social work in Australia owes more to Norma Parker than to any other single person. Her interest in social work was generated in her undergraduate days at the University of Western Australia. There was, at the time, no education for social workers in Western Australia, so she left for the United States in 1928, having obtained a scholarship to attend the Catholic University of America, in Washington DC. She graduated with the degree of Master of Arts and the postgraduate Diploma in Social Service. On her return to Australia, and after a period of further training, she established, in April 1932, an almoner’s department at St Vincent’s Hospital, in Melbourne. She repeated this achievement at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, in 1936. Norma Parker joined the staff of the University of Sydney in March 1941 as Assistant to the Director of the Board of Studies, which had commenced training social workers in the University the previous year. She remained at the University of Sydney until 1965, with the exception of a brief absence in 1943 and 1944 during which she established at Calan Park the first social work department in an Australian psychiatric hospital. She was promoted to senior social worker in 1946. From 1955 she was supervisor of professional training, a post that controlled and directed the social work content of the course. In February 1966 Norma Parker accepted an invitation to become Associate Professor and 1 Head of the Department of Social Work in the School of Sociology at the University of New South Wales. During her three-year term that department became a fully independent school. She retired in February 1969 but continued to share her experience and insights with the social work community. Norma Parker demonstrated her leadership in professional and public affairs, as well as in the educational sphere. She worked for the establishment of the Australian Association of Social Workers and was its first President, from 1946 to 1953. At the very first AASW National Conference in 1947, Norma Parker gave the opening address. She was at the time President of the Association. At the 11th National Conference, held in Tasmania in May 1969, the Norma Parker Address was established in recognition of her contribution to the development of social work in Australia. It is delivered by the AASW National President at each National Conference as one of the key presentations at the conference, the first one having been presented by Professor John Lawrence. In 2003, it will be presented by the current National President, Jo Gaha. NORMA PARKER ADDRESS It is again a privilege to present the Norma Parker Address. Norma Parker is one of Australia’s most distinguished social work practitioners, teachers and leaders and is recognised as the founder of the AASW. In my third Norma Parker Address at this the Association’s 28th bi-annual conference I – will examine the issue of social workers as citizens of their own profession co-operating for social justice. In past addresses I have spoken about broader social issues. At this point in the AASW’s history I am more concerned about issues closer to home, namely those impacting on our professional organisation. I address my remarks to members and non- members alike as the profession belongs to both, and will only thrive if supported by larger numbers of social workers than currently support the AASW I am always conscious in giving the Norma Parker Address that I am privileged to be able to put my point of view to the profession simply because I am the President and not because of any particular merit I might have as a speaker or any particular excellence that I might bring. Other plenary speakers pass far more rigorous tests than being elected by the membership 2 to fill a position before they are invited to speak at national conferences. On this topic, though, I think I do have a valuable and unique perspective to offer. I have been actively involved in the AASW since the early 1970s when I first joined the NSW Branch Committee of Management. More recently I have been a member of the Board of Directors since 1989, as a Director, then Vice President and now as President for the last 6 years. In this role I chair the Board and do not engage in the debates that occur nor do I vote except in a casting capacity on a tied vote – a function I have never invoked. Tom Heuerman in his paper The New Leaders: From Appearances to Authenticity, makes the biting observation that: Potential leaders are confronted with a crucial life choice: to discover, trust and listen to their inner wisdom and to move toward their deepest authenticity as human beings or to continue on with the mindless and mechanical conformity required to receive the approval and acceptance if others. If one is to lead today, a personal decision to live from integrity, whatever the cost, must be made. While I have always acted with integrity, I have been constrained in saying what I thought by the requirements of the office of President and Chair of the Board. To use an old and highly successful Labor Party election slogan, ‘It’s Time’ for me to present my views on the Association and its recent history, and give a view on its future direction. The Norma Parker Address is the most fitting vehicle for me to do this for my concerns echo those of Professor Parker and her colleagues of more than 56 years ago. Norma Parker worked to establish this Association and countless committed social workers (including many in this room) have worked to ensure its continuance and growth. In the words of Imelda Dodds, Immediate Past President of AASW and now President of our parent body the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), Norma Parker and her colleagues ‘…were concerned that the fledgling profession should develop a voice, a vehicle, a means of connection. The organisation ... would ensure that the services provided by social workers were contemporary, ethical and grew from strength to strength ...’ (1997 Norma Parker Address, p. l). As we are not attracting young members to join and fewer and fewer volunteers are willing 3 to participate on committees, and we dispute amongst ourselves, I have good reason to be concerned about whether the organisation can achieve what it is set up to achieve and be an association for the twenty first century. My concern is tempered by an awareness of the many deeply concerning and frightening world events that place what is happening within the AASW in perspective. Yet a sense of urgency is required to bring about change (Kotter, 1996) and I would like to impart this sense of urgency in relation to the AASW to you and other social workers across Australia. What are my concerns? Membership has been static for some time while schools of social work graduate hundreds of workers each year. Student members and new graduates find little to attract them to the Association. Tensions exist within our quasi-federated company structures and we accuse each other of either being centralist, or parochially concerned with branches, and at rimes the board and branches seem pitted against each other. There are financial concerns, albeit ones we are addressing. The division of labour between staff and volunteer workers is unclear and problematic. Branches find it increasingly difficult to attract members to join committees or to attend functions. A state-based branch structure with a committee of management located in one part of the state is increasingly unable to meet the many and varied and different needs of urban and rural members. Conference attendance is steadily declining. The board is too large for meaningful dialogue and active and full participation in decision- making. Directors of the board constantly struggle with what is best for the Association as a whole then have to return and justify this to branches. 4 Not many people want to do the level and amount of volunteer work required to hold office – our paid work commitments have increased and most of us we want a life outside of work This despite the predictions ten or fifteen years ago of shorter working hours and more leisure time for no decrease in pay. The reality seems that fewer are working longer with a concomitant increase in casualisation of work for many. There are more social workers that are not members of the AASW than social workers who are. Why is this? I think I have some of the answers. Values have changed and people more and more look for tangible services when money is outlaid, whereas once joining your association was seen as beneficial because it meant association and connection. Social workers see the AASW fee as expensive for little return. We do not need to be members to practise – we just need eligibility for membership, so there is no external requirement for membership. Many think we are not a loud enough voice for social justice in the welfare debates nor do we champion the industrial causes of members. We argue internally a great deal and don’t seem to be able to move forward with our strategic agenda.

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