SWAN Ireland leaflets at union conference on regulation May 29th 2012

SWAN Ireland leaflets at union conference on regulation May 29th 2012

S.W.A.N Ireland attended an IMPACT union conference today which focused on the issue of regulation which is being introduced in Ireland over the next year. Social workers are the first profession out of twelve to be regulated. The body which will regulate social workers is called "CORU". There are many issues that social workers have with CORU, none of which CORU is actively engaging with social workers in addressing. Because of this, SWAN Ireland believes it is very important to ensure our union pro-actively acts on our behalf in relation to these issues. Read the text of our leaflet below which addresses only a few (!) of our concerns. Read More
Fight Back Teach-In: US

Fight Back Teach-In: US

The following movement in the US was noticed and shared with us by Dr Maria Pentaraki of Liverpool Hope University: “The fight goes on across the Atlantic too. Check the very interesting link of Fight Back USA: http://www.fightbackteachin.org/  One of ... Read More
Progressive Social Work Manifesto, Hong Kong

Progressive Social Work Manifesto, Hong Kong

SWAN is excited to share with you the manifesto of Hong Kong's Progressive Social Work Network (PSWN), which formed last year: Progressive Social Work ManifestoProgressive Social Work Network(PSWN)September 2011, Hong Kong In the past decade, the prevalence of neoliberalism and managerialism has seriously trampled upon Hong Kong’s welfare system. This dominance is reflected in the government’s policies of competitive bidding of service, adopting the principle of users pay, introducing Lump Sum Grants(LSG), reducing social security assistance, closing down single families and new arrivals service centers, and even using political tactics to suppress discontent. Read More
Norbert Ferencz is NOT the sinner! Statement from our Hungarian colleagues

Norbert Ferencz is NOT the sinner! Statement from our Hungarian colleagues

Norbert Ferencz is NOT the sinner! (The statement of the Hungarian Social Vocational Federation) Norbert Ferencz is a member of the Új Szemlélet (New Approach) group. This vocational action group and workshop formed by social workers aims to call the public’s and the political and professional decision makers’ attention to the humanitarily unacceptable, socially unfair, professionally inefficient and contraproductive arrangements. Read More
Say no to the imprisonment of homeless people in Hungary!

Say no to the imprisonment of homeless people in Hungary!

Rea Maglajlic posts a message from The City is for All, a grassroots group fighting for the right to housing in Hungary. The group is asking for solidarity with and support for Hungarian homeless people in the face of an increasingly difficult situation there. This is the campaign with which social worker Norbert Ferencz has been involved. Read More
Gaza: Resilience, resistance, rights, freedoms and humanitarian help

Gaza: Resilience, resistance, rights, freedoms and humanitarian help

From Newsletter #2 Autumn 2010 Lorty Phillips, a youth worker from London, gives an eyewitness account of the attack on the Freedom Flotilla taking aid to Gaza in May this yearI was motivated to join campaigns to alleviate the Gaza siege after the bombing of the strip in winter 2008-09.  After finding out more about the history and facts I resolved to get more involved with campaigning.  Anyone who finds out about the atrocities there finds a way to respond – direct action involving aid convoys to Gaza is my way! I have travelled to Gaza once before with the Viva Palestina land convoy and set sail with the seaborne Freedom Flotilla that was violently intercepted in international waters on route to Gaza on 31st May 2010.   Read More
International SWAN

International SWAN

Building global links and resistance SWAN is keen to develop our international links with individuals and organisations who share our values and perspectives. If you wish to discuss attending SWAN conferences or events, or inviting SWAN speakers to your country ... Read More
Welcome

Welcome

In this Section we aim to provide space for discussion around international social work, welfare and social justice. In September 2008, a group of social work academics and practitioners met up as part of the 3rd SWAN annual conference in Liverpool. This meeting included delegates from Greece, Spain, India, South Africa, Colombia, Japan, Canada and the United States. The delegates discussed the condition of social work in their countries and highlighted the impact of neo-liberalism at an international level. More importantly, they agreed to facilitate a debate about the existing “resources of hope” and the promotion of social work practice engaged with social justice. The main aspects of this debate include: Read More

Join Swan Now

We want to develop a network of service users, practicitioners, academics and students to support radical and progressive social work. We need a social work that is ready to challenge oppressive practice, that means working collectively across the country and internationally to advance Social Work.