Collaborations and partnerships

An innovative partnership between The Centre, its members, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and La Trobe University, Switch to Social Work builds a contemporary, highly skilled, diverse, and purpose-driven child and family services workforce through a new and innovative employment-based Master of Social Work (Qualifying) degree.

Combining postgraduate education with immediate employment opportunities, Switch to Social Work allows students to seamlessly apply their learning in practical settings immediately.

Formed in 2017 in response to concerns that conditional welfare policies at the federal level were negatively impacting children and families and the delivery of state-funded services, Treating Families Fairly is an alliance of child and family service organisations, peak bodies and academics, focusing on the intersections between poverty, child and family wellbeing, and government approaches to social problems and advocates for social security reform. Treating Families Fairly creates a more equitable society that supports the wellbeing and development of children and their families.

Policy areas the alliance has considered include addressing the adequacy of social security payments, challenging initiatives like the Cashless Debit Card trials and advocating for the implementation of Child Impact Assessments

The alliance is co-chaired by Michele Lonsdale, Deputy CEO and Director of Social Policy and Research at the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, and David Tennant, CEO of FamilyCare.