1970

1970

Singapore Association of Professional Social Workers (SAPSW) and Singapore Association of Medical Social Workers (SAMSW) were merged to form the present Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW).

1971
1971

1971

The registration of the Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW) took place on 5th February 1971.

1972
1972

1972

  1. ‘Social Dimensions’ newsletter was launched
  2. SASW and the Department of Social Work and Social Administration organised the Social Work Congress to celebrate 20 years of social work education in Singapore.
1973

1973

  1. Ministry of Education (MOE) set up its 1st social work unit in support of the schools’ effort to help children in need of counselling.
  2. Medical Social Workers celebrated their 25th anniversary from 28 October 1973 to 3rd November 1973.
1974

1974

SASW and the Social Work Unit of Ministry of Education organised a joint seminar on ‘Problem Children or Children with Problems’.

1975

1975

SASW held a series of successful coffee sessions to discuss topics on improving public image of Social Work and reviving interests of Social Work

1976

1976

A pilot Family Service Centre (FSC) was set up at Macpherson

1977

1977

The Pung Eng Huat Memorial Lecture Fund was established by the Association.

1978

1978

The first Family Service Centre (FSC), Ang Mo Kio Social Service Centre was set-up.

1979
1979

1979

SASW hosted the 5th Pan-Pacific Conference of the International Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled

1984
1984

1984

The 1st President of Singapore Association of Social Workers, Dr S Vasoo, was elected as Member of Parliament

1987
1987

1987

The Honours Programme was introduced by the Social Work Department of the National University of Singapore (NUS)

1988

1988

Mrs Ling-Saw Wei Ling, SASW’s representative to IFSW, attended the 10th Social Workers World Conference held in Stockholm.

1989

1989

SASW and the Department of Social Work and Psychology of the National University of Singapore hosted the 10th Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar on Social Work from 28 to 30 Aug 1989

1990

1990

A Brain Flow committee was set up to address concerns pertaining to the welfare of social workers in the various organisations.

1991

1991

The Executive Committee of SASW submitted a proposal to the 25th anniversary endowment fund for funding the capital and operating costs of the FRTC. The proposal was accepted and $450,000 was granted towards the development of FRTC

1992

1992

  1. Family Resource Training Centre (FRTC) was established as a training organisation for social services in Singapore.
  2. Social workers celebrated 40th anniversary of the Social Work Profession in Singapore
1993

1993

The term “Fellows” for honorary members who are professionally trained was introduced.

1994
1994

1994

  1. The Premise for Family Resource and Training Centre was officially opened on 30th April 1994
  2. An Inter-Ministry Committee on Dysfunctional families, drug abuse and Juvenile Delinquency (IMC) was formed
1995
1995

1995

  1. The FRTC launched its Diploma Course – A systems approach to marital and family counselling on 21st January 1995
  2. SASW President, Dr Elena Lui and SASW’s representative to IFSW met up with the President and Secretary General of IFSW to exchange ideas on International Social Work.
1996

1996

SASW submitted proposal to Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports on the Registration of Social Workers in Singapore.

1997

1997

The Ministry of Community Development (MCD) set up a task force comprising MCD, NCSS and SASW to address the issue of need for recognition and registration of Social Workers.

1998

1998

The Outstanding Social Worker Award (OSWA) was introduced

1999

1999

  1. A Social Worker who became the 6th President of Singapore – the late His excellency Mr S R Nathan
  2. Ms Sudha Nair and Ms Winnie Phoon were the first two winners to receive the Outstanding Social Workers Award.
  3. The first President’s Tea for Social Workers was held at the Istana
  4. The first Social Work Induction Camp was organised.
2000

2000

The Professional Code of Ethics was reviewed, and an elaborated version was developed

2001

2001

A Manual on Social Work Supervision was introduced

2002

2002

  1. The Medical Social Work (MSW) Chapter was launched
  2. A Public Education booklet on Social Work to introduce Social Work to the public was released
  3. Associate Professor Ngiam Tee Liang became the 1st NUS Social Work lecturer to be a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP)
  4. Dr Mohamed Maliki Bin Osman, was the 2nd NUS Social Work lecturer, after Dr S Vasoo, to be elected as Member of the Parliament
2003

2003

  1. The School Social Work Pro-tem committee was initiated
  2. SASW advocated work against WSQ’s Social Work Competency Plan
  3. The Social Service Training Institute (SSTI), together with the Monash University launched the Monash Bachelor of Social Work (Singapore) degree.
2004

2004

The Registration of Singapore Social Workers was launched by SASW

2005

2005

The School Social Work (SSW) Chapter was formally set up in September 2005.

2006

2006

Social Work as a profession is included in the Workforce Development Agency’s Social Service Competency Map.

2007

2007

SASW organised the 1st Social Workers’ Day in Singapore’s history.

2008
2008

2008

SASW’s first publication: “A World to Change: Inspiring Lives in Social Work” was launched by the late President S R Nathan on 15th April 2008, on Social Workers’ Day.

2009

2009

The Accreditation System for Social Workers and Social Service Practitioners was launched on 1 April 2009.

2010

2010

SASW organised its first symposium which was held on Social Worker’s Day (SWD).

2011

2011

  1. SASW celebrates its 40th Anniversary.
  2. Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW) organised its first Minister Dialogue with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam
  3. The SASW-MSF Supervision Programme was launched.
2012

2012

  1. SASW organised its second Minister Dialogue with Mr Chan Chun Sing, Acting Minister for MCYS.
  2. SASW started a Course Accreditation Scheme ‘Accreditation Project Rebuild’.
2013

2013

The first ASIST Train-the Trainer Programme in Singapore was launched by SASW.

2014

2014

  1. The School Social Work Chapter (SSW) organised a multi-platform learning session on 7 March 2014.
  2. A 2-Day Social Work Professional Ethics Training Course, the first of its kind, was launched by SASW.
2015

2015

  1. The National Social Work Competency Framework (NSWCF) was launched.
  2. The Social Work Accreditation and Advisory Board (SWAAB) organised a seminar– “Social Work Supervision: Challenges and Advances” to provide supervisors with a platform to learn together as a community of supervisors and to initiate reviews on current supervisory practices.
  3. The SASW-MOH Supervision Programme was launched.
2016

2016

SASW organised and hosted the 8th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health (ICSW) from 19 to 23 June 2016

2017
2017

2017

  1. SASW Code of Professional Ethics 3rd Edition was completed and approved at the Annual General Meeting.
  2. Social Work Accreditation and Advisory Board (SWAAB) launched the Social Work Supervision Guidelines.
  3. ‘PULSE’ was launched in February 2017. It was a platform formed to foster the generation of ground up ideas and partnerships in response to social issues.
2018

2018

  1. The Disability Pro-Tem Committee was approved to be incorporated as a Chapter.
  2. A Crisis Response Team was formed.
  3. The Practice Research Special Interest Group was formed in September 2018
2019

2019

  1. The Social Work Accreditation and Advisory Board (SWAAB) commemorated its 10th Anniversary.
  2. OSWA’s 20th Anniversary was commemorated during the Award presentation ceremony.
  3. SASW’s Mentoring Programme was launched in November.
  4. SASW office and Family Resource & Training Centre was given a full makeover for the first time in many years.
2020

2020

  1. The Crisis Response Team was activated to support the National CARE Hotline in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
  2. The Guide on ‘Person Centred Approach in Care Transition’ was launched in November.
  3. The Criminal Justice Social Work Pro-Tem Committee was approved to be incorporated as a Chapter.