Accredited Mental Health Social Worker

Issued by Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)

Australian Association of Social Workers is the professional representative body of social workers in Australia, supporting and empowering the profession to make a positive difference. AASW Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) credential is a formal recognition of the specialised skills and experience of an individual who is delivering clinical social work services in mental health settings and utilising a range of evidence-based strategies.

Type Certification
Level Advanced
Time Years
Cost Paid

Additional Details

Skills

Earning Criteria

Criteria/components to the accreditation process and an applicant (social worker)
- Hold current eligible AASW membership
- Have at least 2 years full-time equivalent (FTE) post-qualifying social work experience* in a mental health setting within the last 5 years, totalling a minimum of 3,360 hours and an applicant must be able to articulate how their experience meets the AASW Practice Standards for Mental Health Social Workers 2014.
- Applicants should be able to demonstrate at least 2 years’ full-time equivalent (FTE) post-qualifying supervision in a mental health setting/field within the last 5 years. Applicants should be able to show that they have been formally supervised, in line with the AASW Supervision Standards.
- Have met the Continuing Professional Development requirements
- Demonstrate ability and knowledge of clinical Mental Health social work practice

Standards

AASW Practice Standards for Mental Health

1. Values and Ethics 2. Professionalism 3. Culturally responsive and inclusive practice 4. Knowledge for practice 5. Applying knowledge to practice 6. Professional development and supervision

AASW Practice Standards

AASW Practice Standards outline the practice expectations of all social workers. They are designed to guide social workers to ensure they fulfil their professional practice responsibilities.

AASW Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics of the AASW, expresses the values and responsibilities that are integral to and characterise the social work profession. It is intended to assist all social workers, collectively and individually, to act in ethically accountable ways, in the pursuit of the profession’s aims.