Proud of the profession.
Loud for the people we serve.
Around 35,000 people work as social workers in Australia. The AASW has about 17,000 members, including students, so many social workers have no shared voice.
Inspired by the UK's Stand Up for Social Work campaign, we set out to build a platform every social worker can stand on, whatever their registration, membership or job title.
To give every social worker in Australia a voice, and the public a true picture of what social work is.
A profession that is understood, recognised and fairly paid, and a community where no social worker works alone.
Our values
Social justice
Fair systems, not just fair services.
Human rights
Dignity for every person we work with.
Collective responsibility
We're stronger as one profession.
Respect for diversity
Many cultures, many ways of knowing.
Inclusion
Open to every social worker.
Grounded in the IFSW Global Definition of Social Work.
We are
- A grassroots platform
- A storyteller for the profession
- A campaign amplifier
- Open to every social worker, student, educator and ally
We are not
- A regulator or accrediting body
- A union
- A complaints service
- A replacement for the AASW. We encourage membership.
Who can join
- Qualified social workers, any registration or membership status
- Students
- Educators
- Allies
- People with lived experience of social work services
Built in the open, with the people it serves.
Fair Go is in its founding year. Supporters set the priorities, a small steering group turns them into plans, and open working groups do the work. The First Nations advisory group and reference panels advise directly: they don't report to the steering group.
How Fair Go is organised: supporters vote once a year on priorities, and the founder-convener leads day to day. Both feed into the interim steering group. The First Nations advisory group (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social workers) and the reference panels advise the steering group directly, in both directions. The steering group directs four working groups: Stories, Pulse survey, Campaigns, and Events and community.
No one is paid. Every dollar goes to the profession.
Fair Go is grassroots and volunteer-run. No one takes a salary, including the convener. If we ever receive funding or income, all of it will be used only to promote the social work profession.
in salaries, wages or fees. For anyone, ever.
of any money we receive goes to promoting social work.
Who decides what
Running Fair Go
Operational decisions within the agreed plan.
The convenerNew campaigns and budget
By consent: no one has a serious objection. Not everyone has to fully agree.
The steering groupAnything affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Needs the advisory group's agreement, and it can pause any campaign or content.
The advisory groupCampaign priorities
Supporters rank the proposed campaigns. Results are published with turnout.
Every supporterFrom founding year to elected board
We're starting small and unincorporated, and will move to an elected structure as we grow.
- We are here
Founding year
Now to 12 months
Convener and interim steering group. In-kind support only.
Auspice
Only if a grant arrives early
An existing not-for-profit holds funds for us.
Incorporate
Around 12 months
The interim group becomes the first elected committee or board.
Register as a charity
After incorporating
Apply to the ACNC so donations can be tax-deductible.
Elected governance
First AGM
Supporters elect the board, with seats for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and early-career members.
Who leads Fair Go
Steven Lowrie
Social Worker
Qualifications: BA (Hons) Social Work, Robert Gordon University, Scotland
Founder-convener