Hi. My wife is currently studying for her degree in social work. However, she has years of experience of working in the social sector and working alongside social work, mainly in housing and homelessness.

In the (for example) Victorian Sponsorship Eligibility List it states a ‘Minimum of two years experience’ for social work. Could my wife years of experience be counted or do they only look at post-grad experience. If they only look at post-grad then that is taking us close the 45 age!

Thanks for your help

She'll be fine - The qualification bars for social and community work aren't as rigid as the UK (In Victoria at least)

The voluntary sector will sometimes employ 'social workers' even without a formal qualification. Sometimes she can use her CQSW to get into a range of community work positions as well (which, bizarely are often better paid than social work)

State government pay better and will require a formal qualification - but don't have a post qualifying requirement as a general rule - unless its a senior workers post.

AASW can give you some information - but don't bother joining - most employers either haven't heard of them or couldn't care less.

Hi Phlanger. Great news. Many thanks for the info. Are you a Social Worker?

Your wife will however need to have a skills assessment with AASW if you are applying based on her skills. This means she needs to have post qualifying experience as does DIAC.

No - I'm a community worker - (CLADO in Scottish terminology). I've been in "strategic" roles over the past few years with state and local government, working across community development programs.

It's brought me up against both community and social work programs - interesting space to be in - lines are a lot more blurred here.

Shelley's got a good point though - I didn't need AASW verification as I came on a spouse's visa- saved me having to have any truck with them or having to worry about sponsorship - but you might need to think about that.

In terms of employment though - nobody really worries about AASW/AACW at the point of application. Australian State Governments have been holding employment fairs in places like Glasgow to directly recruit social workers - not sure what, if any post qualifying experience they call for - but they clearly recognise UK qual's in this area.

With the AASW they'll register you / give you a positive skills assessment with a four year degree, or a three year degree plus three years post-qual experience. I don't know if they have much discretion / wiggle room. If she doesn't need to register with the AASW then I wouldn't bother, waste of money, most job ads only ask for "eligibility to join AASW" and I've heard they'll accept a social work degree from overseas as meeting this criteria, though never tried it myself. Good luck!