Membership
Our Strategic Focus
(CPD) Training & Networking Sessions
Our primary focus is to ensure that our members benefit from frequent and periodic Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training workshops.
According to the South African Council for Social Service Professionals(SACSSP), Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a meticulously planned and structured process mandated for every registered professional, it aims to uphold the standards of professional practice by engaging in a variety of learning activities that consistently enhance the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and professional integrity of social workers, social auxiliary workers, child and youth care workers (professional category), and child and youth care workers (auxiliary category).
At YSWN SA, we prioritize the continued professional development of our members. Our network ensures that our members have access to CPD training workshops that are not only affordable but in many cases, free of charge. The majority of the trainings we facilitate are free & accessible to all social workers across the board, irrespective of their membership status with us.
Social Research and Development
At Young Social Workers Network SA, we are committed to ensuring that our members professionally engage with all four methods of social work: Case Work, Group Work, Community Work, and Research.
Research and development are paramount to us, which is why we have established both national and SADC-based large-scale research projects for our members to participate in.
Our Shake Africa Research Program serves as a platform for capacitation training, designed to enhance the research skills of social service professionals who seek to advance their expertise in this field. This program is also open to student-social workers, providing them with invaluable training on the latest research methodologies.
Our research programs offer members an invaluable opportunity to engage in international social work at both the SADC and international levels through collaborative research initiatives within the SADC region and beyond.
YSWN Student Social Work Participation
At YSWN, we firmly believe that to effect impactful and lasting change in the future of social work in Africa, fostering strong student participation is essential. We see student involvement as a primary catalyst for transformative and sustainable change within the field.
YSWN is dedicated to nurturing student careers and leadership development through various initiatives. Our YSWN Student Chapter Program operates both nationally and within the SADC region, catering to the needs of student social workers from their first year through to their final year of study.
Through the YSWN-SADC Social Workers Student Chapter Program, our key objectives include:
- Providing avenues for participation in inter-country (SADC) joint-research projects.
- Offering opportunities for involvement in international conferences and webinars.
- Connecting student social workers with local and international growth, development, and potential employment opportunities abroad.
Furthermore, we offer career readiness and mentorship programs led by seasoned and experienced social workers in the field, ensuring that students are well-prepared for their professional journeys.
YSWN Social Workers In Trauma & Disaster Program
Climate change-induced disasters, such as floods, heavy storms tornadoes and wildfires not only devastate communities physically but also inflict deep emotional wounds, contributing to heightened vulnerability and collective trauma. Our trauma & disaster response team provides survivors of disasters with trauma debriefing counselling, and mental health support services. The program is designed to help individuals and communities process and cope with the psychological aftermath of disaster. trained professionals offer compassionate and culturally sensitive support, creating safe spaces for survivors to share their experiences, express their emotions, and begin the journey toward healing and recovery.
At the forefront of our efforts are trauma-debriefing programs designed to help individuals and communities process and cope with the psychological aftermath of disaster. Our trained professionals offer compassionate and culturally sensitive support, creating safe spaces for survivors to share their experiences, express their emotions, and begin the journey toward healing and recovery.
Our 10 Pillars
Our Pillars
- We are an interest group for Social Service Professionals within the SADC.
- We are a professional and academic body that exists to help facilitate growth platforms for Social Workers in SADC.
- The Creation & Facilitation of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training for Social Workers. SADC
- Creating multidisciplinary partnerships with professionals from other fields in SADC.
- Provide a platform where we support professional Social Work Authors, Researchers, as well as Entrepreneurial Social Workers in their respective fields of practice
Our Pillars
- Conducting and facilitating our own Organizational Research Projects in our sphere of practice.
- Facilitating platforms where senior social workers can serve as mentors for younger Social Workers in the field within the network.
- Creating stakeholder partnerships with all Universities that offer Social Work as a major in Africa.
- Engagement in SADC large-scale Psychosocial Community Development programs to empower our communities.
- Supporting Student Social workers by incorporating them within the structures of the Network.
Membership Benefits
- The Network facilitates opportunities of Growth, Participation and Development to all Social Services Professionals, this includes our all members who are registered & practicing Social.
- Access to lifelong Free Professional Mentorship Development Programs geared towards students as well as social services professionals across the board, Workers, Social Auxiliary Workers, as well as Child and Youth-Care Workers.
- Access to a pool of resources at our disposal at the Network,
- Unlimited access to our Continuous Professional Development Workshops, and training sessions,
- An opportunity to present papers, as well as speaking-engagement platforms at our conferences and summits at both National and SADC region.
- An opportunity to Join our team of YSWN Social Work Researchers, taking part in regional, provincial as well as SADC-level research projects that are geared towards engineering change in our communities.
- An opportunity to practice international Social Work by taking part at our SADC regional conferences, summits and workshops,
- International Psychosocial programs and project participation.
- Professional Excursions where we travel Nations to learn, for leisure and to explore the world of Social Work as it is practiced at SADC region as well as internationally.
- An opportunity to form part of our Monthly Social Work Conversations webinars and podcasts alongside our pool of seasoned social services professionals across the board.
- An opportunity to develop one’s leadership capacity by joining our rank at district, campus, regional and national Chapter Heads of departments and Executive leadership teams,
- The Network also offers International Leadership Opportunities (ILO) to our members,
- Unlimited Professional Conferences and Summits access for members of the Network,
- For Social Work Authors and Articles contributors, the Network offers a larger platform to market, sell as well as to accentuate one’s products to our international audience and members.
The Term 'Young'
The Word ‘Young’ in our context is not indicative of age but time in the field. initially, when we started, the focus was on new social workers who’ve just entered the field with no experience. the term has since been expanded to mean any social worker who wishes to keep their knowledge formation and acquisition forever ‘young’, this therefore implies that the network is open to all social workers irrespective of age or time in the field.
Join a Chapter
Near You!
membership@yswnsa.org.za
gauteng@yswnsa.org.za
YSWN KZN Chapter
kzn@yswnsa.org.za
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YSWN Gqeberha Chapter
gqeberha@yswnsa.org.za
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YSWN Namibia National Chapter
namibia@yswnsa.org.za
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YSWN Zimbabwe National Chapter
zimbabwe@yswnsa.org.za
membership@yswnsa.org.za
membership@yswnsa.org.za
westerncape@yswnsa.org.za
YSWN Limpopo Chapter
membershp@yswnsa.org.za
limpopo@yswnsa.org.za
YSWN North West Chapter
northwest@yswnsa.org.za
membership@yswnsa.org.za
YSWN Lesotho National Chapter
lesotho@yswnsa.org.za
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YSWN Swaziland National Chapter
swaziland@yswnsa.org.za
membership@yswnsa.org.za
YSWN Pretoria Chapter
membership@yswnsa.org.za
pretoria@yswnsa.org.za
YSWN Mpumalanga Chapter
mpumalanga@yswnsa.org.za
membership@yswnsa.org.za
YSWN Northern Cape Chapter
northerncape@yswnsa.org.za
membership@yswnsa.org.za
YSWN Botswana National Chapter
botswanayswnsa.org.za
membership@yswnsa.org.za
Membership Requirements
Criteria for Social Workers:
- The member must be a qualified, and registered social worker.
- Child & youth-care workers, as well as Auxiliary Social workers must also be registered.
- Unemployed social workers are welcome to apply.
- Age and work experience is not important.
- Need to subscribe to our overall vision and values at YSWN Int.
- Membership fee; Onceoff R500 fee for SW, R350 for Auxiliary SW, and R250 for Child & Youth-care workers.
- Monthly Membership fee: R50 across the board.
Criteria for Student Social Workers:
- The member must be a registered student currently pursuing a qualification in either social work, Auxiliary SW or child and youth care work.
- Unisa Social work students are also welcome to apply.
- Experience is not important.
- Need to subscribe to our overall vision and values at YSWN Int.
- Membership fee; R100.
- No Monthly Membership Fees.
Download a membership form
Got Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements needed for Social Workers to join the Network
All members of the Network must have a social work qualification degree, and a registration with the SACSSP in (SA). For Social Workers in SADC, a social work degree shall be enough as most countries in SADC do not have licensing bodies.
Requirements for Auxiliary Social Workers
An NQF Level 4 Auxiliary Social Work Certificate. No experience is needed. For Auxiliary Social Workers outside of South Africa, a certificate/diploma in Auxiliary Social Work should be fine
Requirements for Student Social workers
Proof of registration with an accredited Institution shall be enough.
How to Join our Advisory Board
Send us an email expressing your desire to form part of our Advisory Board. The email must contain detailed academic background information.