International Conference on Indigenous Social Work Practices (ICISWP) 2025
2025-03-24 | Bandaranayake Conference Hall, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo, Colombo, 00700, Sri Lanka

The 16th National Conference and the 8th Asia and the Pacific Regional Conference on Social Welfare and Social Work
2025-03-24 09:00 - 12:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk) | UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE CENTRE, BANGKOK, The United Nations Building Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand
The 16th National Conference and the 8th Asia and the Pacific Regional Conference on Social Welfare and Social Work!
We’re excited to invite you to join the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand and our incredible partners in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region for this special event celebrating World Social Work Day 2025. Mark your calendars for Monday, March 24, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:40 PM (GMT+7).
This year’s conference will be held in a hybrid format at the UNCC and online via Zoom Cloud Meeting.
It’s a fantastic opportunity for countries in our region to come together, recognize the importance of social work, and share in Thailand’s advancements and achievements in social work and social welfare and development.
We’d like to invite you to explore the registration details and program information available in the poster. We can’t wait to see you there and celebrate the incredible impact of social work together!

CPD Course on Care and Support Systems for Social Workers
2025-03-26 08:00 - 2025-04-16 17:00 UTC
The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), in collaboration with the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), invites professional social workers worldwide to participate in an upcoming Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course titled Understanding Care and Support Systems – Opening a Social Worker’s View/Vision on this Global Concept.
This four-part virtual series, running from 26 March to 16 April 2025, will explore the essential role of social work in care and support systems, addressing critical themes such as human rights, working conditions, and political opportunities for strengthening care structures.
“Care and support are fundamental to social justice, human dignity, and the well-being of societies. This CPD series provides a crucial opportunity for social workers to deepen their understanding, exchange perspectives, and strengthen their role in shaping inclusive care and support systems,” said Priska Fleischlin, IFSW Global UN Commissioner.
Joachim Mumba, IFSW President, emphasised the relevance of this course for social workers globally: “The challenges in care and support systems affect every community. Social workers are at the forefront, ensuring that care is recognised as a human right. This CPD will empower professionals to advocate for equitable policies and sustainable, shared futures.”
Date: 26 March, 02 April, 09 April, and 16 April
Venue: Online
Time: 12:00-13:30 CET
Registration: Register here for participation
Program: The CPD Program
Logistics: Those who attend all sessions will receive a certificate.
Language: The CPD will be held in English.

Social Workers of Korea Gather in One Place!
2025-04-11 | COEX Gangnam Auditorium, 513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Soul, 06164, Korea, Republic of
“Social Workers of Korea Gather in One Place!
National Social Workers’ Convention to Be Held on Friday, April 11, in Gangnam, Seoul”
<Korean Association of Social Workers to Host the 19th Social Workers’ Day Commemoration and 2025 National Social Workers’ Convention>
The Korean Association of Social Workers (President Park Il-Gyu) will host the 19th Social Workers’ Day Commemoration and National Social Workers’ Convention on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the COEX Gangnam Auditorium in Seoul.
Social Workers’ Day was designated to commemorate March 30, the date when the Act on the Improvement of Treatment and Status of Social Workers was proclaimed in 2011. Each year, it is celebrated alongside world Social Work Day to recognize the contributions of social workers and to strengthen pride in the profession.
The ceremony will feature various awards recognizing the contributions of outstanding social workers, including:
– The Local Government Welfare Award: presented to municipalities that have made efforts to improve the treatment of social workers
– The iM Warmhearted Social Worker Award: sponsored by the iM Social Contribution Foundation of iM Financial Group
– The WooCheon Award: presented by the WooCheon Welfare Foundation
– The ‘Seum’ Award for young social workers: selected by the KASW Youth Committee
Following the awards ceremony, social workers from across the country will gather for the National Social Workers’ Convention, where they will share and discuss social welfare policies and current issues.

President Park Il-Gyu of the Korean Association of Social Workers, who is leading the preparations for the convention, stated:
“Social workers in Korea are professionals who stand beside those facing various social challenges, realizing welfare rights and advocating for justice. Furthermore, they raise their voices and take action to improve anti-welfare structures in society, playing a key role in building a welfare state where every citizen can enjoy a dignified life.
The 2025 National Social Workers’ Convention will be a meaningful occasion where all social workers in Korea come together with pride, uniting their strength to elevate the status of the profession. I hope social workers from all over the country will participate and add their voices to this collective movement.”

While this event primarily focuses on domestic policies and raising awareness within Korea, the Korean Association of Social Workers also sees it as an opportunity to engage with the global social work community.

The National Social Workers’ Convention is open to all licensed social workers in Korea, and registration is available via the QR code provided on the official event poster.
For more information about the ceremony, please visit the KASW website at www.welfare.net, or contact the Planning and Policy Division at

Join IFSW for a side event at the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
2025-07-21 09:30 - 23:00 (America/New_York)

Annual National Conference Of Indian Society Of Professional Social Work
2025-07-30 - 2025-07-31
DIGITAL INDIA AND SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
30 & 31 JULY 2025
In Academic Collaboration with Bengaluru University and Bengaluru North University
Download the flyer here.

International Indigenous Voices in Social Work Conference
2025-08-12 08:00 - 2025-08-15 17:00 (America/Toronto)
SAVE THE DATE!
International Indigenous Voices in Social Work Conference.
Theme: “One Child Every Child: Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Doing, Connecting, and Being for Advancing the Well-Being of Our Future Generations” led by UCalgary’s Dr. Michael Hart, the vice-provost (Indigenous engagement).
Organised by University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date: August 12-15, 2025
Venue: Calgary

IV Congreso Nacional - III Congreso Internacional FENACOTSMEX
2025-08-28 - 2025-08-30 | Mérida, Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico

COSW Policy Forum Focuses on African CSOs in Turbulent Times
2025-09-13 06:00 - 07:30 UTC
COSW policy forum
What it is: The Commonwealth Organisation for Social Work (COSW) is holding a policy forum titled “From Fragility to Fortitude: COSW Policy Forum Focuses on African CSOs in Turbulent Times”
What it’s about: The forum will discuss a new report on the impact of the collapse of U.S. government funding on African civil society organizations (CSOs)4444. The report is based on a survey of 364 African CSOs in 42 countries and presents a “troubling picture of vulnerability and uncertainty” across the sector5555. The event will explore the future global impacts and opportunities resulting from this funding change.
Key finding: A significant number of African CSOs relied heavily on U.S. government funding; in 2024, 35.4% received more than half of their funding from these sources.
How to attend: Via Zoom by COSW

When: Saturday, September 13, 2025.
Time: 06:00-07:30 UTC/GMT and 16:00-17:30 UTC/GMT.
Venue: Online
Fees: Free
Details poster

Encuentro Regional y Congresos de la FITS - América Latina y el Caribe
2025-09-16 08:00 - 2025-09-20 17:00 UTC
Encuentro Regional 2025 de la FITS-ALC
16 y 17 de septiembre de 2025
I Congreso Internacional de Trabajo Social
VIII Congreso Nacional de Trabajo Social
18 y 19 de septiembre de 2025
II Congreso Nacional de Estudiantes de Trabajo Social
20 de septiembre de 2025
Pilar – Paraguay
El Congreso Internacional de Trabajo Social tiene como objetivo generar un espacio de encuentro, reflexión y diálogo interdisciplinario que permita visibilizar y fortalecer el Trabajo Social en la promoción de los derechos humanos, la justicia social y el bienestar colectivo.

Bajo el lema “Fortalecer la solidaridad intergeneracional para un bienestar duradero”, buscamos fomentar el intercambio de saberes, experiencias y buenas prácticas entre profesionales, estudiantes, Academia y organizaciones de la sociedad civil, promoviendo acciones transformadoras frente a problemáticas como la pobreza, el cambio climático, la migración, la desigualdad y los desafíos emergentes en el ejercicio profesional.

Webinar "Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for Enduring Well-being"
2025-09-20 04:00 - 06:00 UTC | zoom
IFSW Asia-Pacific Webinar 2025Theme: Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for Enduring Well-Being

In response to shifting demographics and the growing need for intergenerational connection, IFSW Asia-Pacific will host a webinar focusing on intergenerational caregiving and strategies to strengthen bonds across generations.
📅 Date & Time: Saturday, 20 September 2025, 4:00–6:00 AM (UTC)💻 Venue: Online (Zoom)💰 Admission: Free of charge
Speakers:

Asimah Beevi Abdul & Nur Farhana Harun – Assistant Senior Social Workers, Foundation of Rotary Clubs Singapore Family Service Centre (Singapore)

Mai Yamaguchi – Professor, Japan Lutheran College (Japan)

Yada Ponchamni – Project Manager, Mutual Ground (Thailand)

👉 To register: Click here
For inquiries:
Flyer: AP Webinar 2025_Flyer_20250901

IFSW Europe regional conference 2025
2025-10-06 08:00 - 2025-10-08 17:00 (Europe/Paris) | Oslo Congress Centre, Oslo, Norway, Oslo, Norway
The IFSW European Regional Conference 2025
Date: 6th-8th October 2025.
Venue: Oslo, Norway, at Oslo Congress Centre.
Call for abstracts: submissions and registration is now open
Conference title: Bridging Communities: Building Sustainable Futures
Main themes:

Green social work/eco social work
Climate change
UN’s sustainability goals
Indigenous peoples’ perspectives

Sub-themes

1. Green Social Work and Social Work in the Face of Climate Change
2. Indigenous Wisdom and Environmental Stewardship
3. Education and Training for a Sustainable Future
4. Inclusion and Accessibility for All
5. Protecting Children’s Rights and Welfare
6. Health and Well-being in a Sustainable World
7. Gender Equality, Social Justice, and Human Rights
8.Digitalization and Its Role in Sustainable Social Work

Conference details
Contacts

IFSW Side Event at the Second World Summit for Social Development, Doha
2025-11-04 16:30 - 18:00 (Europe/Moscow)
The IFSW side event on Strengthening Social Integration through Intergenerational Solidarity: A Foundation for Inclusive, Sustainable Societies, during the Second World Summit for Social Development, Doha, Qatar from 4 to 6 November 2025. The will be in-person only, and we exploring ways to share the session with members who are unable to attend. The plenary sessions of the Summit and the companion NGO Forum will be available for online viewing on UNTV.
This side event will explore the critical role of intergenerational solidarity in advancing social integration and sustainable development. As societies face profound demographic, social, and environmental challenges, intergenerational approaches provide opportunities to strengthen social cohesion, build mutual understanding, and ensure that policies and practices reflect the needs and contributions of all generations.
Venue: Doha, Qatar
Time: 16:45 – 18:00 (Qatar Time)
Room: 4
Speakers and Facilitators
Moderator: Priska Fleischlin (Switzerland, IFSW)
Panelists:

Akudo Amadeugwu (UK, IFSW)
Lynne Healy (USA, IASSW)
Benjamin Lough (USA, ICSD)
Bernard Mayaka (Kenya, IFSW)
P. K. Shajahan (India, ICSW)

Organisers
This event is jointly organised by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW), the International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD), and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW).
For details and concept, please read here

APSWC 2025 Pre-conference Workshop: Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for the Future in the Asia Pacific Region
2025-11-17 13:00 - 17:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Taj Samudra Hotel, No 25, Katunayake, Colombo, 00300
APSWC 2025 Pre-conference Workshop: Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for the Future in the Asia Pacific Region

Date: Monday, 17 November 2025Time: 1:00–5:00 pm (Reception starts at 12:30 pm)Venue: Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka (same as APSWC 2025 venue)Admission: Free of charge (application required in advance)Application deadline: Tuesday, 30 September 2025Notification of acceptance: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
The International Federation of Social Workers Asia-Pacific (IFSW-AP) invites participants to a special Pre-conference Workshop ahead of the Asia-Pacific Regional Social Work Conference (APSWC 2025).
Under the theme “Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for the Future in the Asia Pacific Region – Focusing on Climate Change and Other Environmental Issues,” this workshop will explore how social workers can build stronger bonds between generations to create resilient communities and ensure long-term ecological well-being.
Distinguished speakers from across the region will share insights and experiences:

Amarawansa Ranaweera – Former President, Sri Lanka Association of Professional Social Workers (Sri Lanka)

Pen Sophanara – President, Association of Professional Social Workers of Cambodia (Cambodia)

Cheng-Hsin Lee – Deputy Director, Rerum Novarum Center (Taiwan)

Manohar Pawar – Professor, Charles Sturt University; Former President, International Consortium for Social Development (Australia)

How to apply:Scan the QR code on the flyer or visit the application form.Please note that successful applicants will be notified after the deadline.
For inquiries, contact:
Please note: This workshop is free of charge but separate from the APSWC 2025 conference registration, which must be completed independently.

Click HERE for the flyer

IFSW Asia Pacific regional conference 2025
2025-11-18 08:00 - 2025-11-21 17:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo, Colombo, 00700, Sri Lanka
The deadline for abstract submission has been extended to June 25, 2025!

The Asia Pacific regional conference 2025 will be held on;
Date: November 18–21, 2025
Venue: The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Theme: Social Work Responds to Climate Change and Other Environmental Issues.
Contacts: APSWC Conference or Email
Host: website
Brochure:
● General Information (Tri-folded)
● Pre-Conference Workshop
● International Comparative Symposium
● Jane Hoey Auction Scholarship
● Post-Conference Study Tour
● Jane Hoey Auction
Program:Conference programe_20250410

International Comparative Symposium – The Development of Standards for Social Work Education & Training in Asia-Pacific Countries
2025-11-19 16:20 - 18:20 (Asia/Kolkata) | Taj Samudra Hotel, No 25, Katunayake, Colombo, 00300
International Comparative Symposium – The Development of Standards for Social Work Education & Training in Asia-Pacific Countries

The International Federation of Social Workers Asia-Pacific (IFSW-AP), together with the Asian and Pacific Association for Social Work Education (APASWE) and the Japan College of Social Work, will co-host an international comparative symposium during APSWC 2025:
📅 Date & Time: 19 November 2025, 4:20–6:20 PM (IST)📍 Venue: Anthurium Ballroom, Hotel Taj Samudra, Colombo, Sri Lanka
This symposium offers a unique opportunity to explore how social work education is developing across Asia and the Pacific. Country representatives from Aotearoa/New Zealand, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan will share their challenges, achievements, and aspirations, reflecting on the Global Standards.
Highlights include:

Opening remarks by Prof. Machiko Ohara, President of IFSW-AP

Symposium objectives by Prof. Mariko Kimura

Reports and discussion with leading educators across the region

Closing comments by Assoc. Prof. David Rose, President of APASWE

🔸 This event is exclusively for APSWC 2025 registrants – no separate registration required.
📄 Flyer download:International Comparative Symposium flyer
For inquiries, please contact Dr. Viktor Virág at 📧 .

IFSW Africa 2025 Conference - Senegal
2025-11-26 08:00 - 2025-11-30 17:00 UTC
Social Work in Africa: Navigating the Challenges of Social Cohesion and Sustainable Development
Le Travail Social en Afrique: Relever les Défis de la Cohésion Sociale et du Développement Durable
Download Flyer

IFSW side event at the 64th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development
2026-02-04 16:45 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Join the Conversation: Inclusive Social Policy in an Eco-Social World
The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) invites you to a vital virtual side event in support of the 64th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development.
This session, titled “Inclusive Social Policy Through Rights-Based Social Work in an Eco-Social World,” features a panel of distinguished experts dedicated to equity, disaster response, and global social development.
Details about the theme: IFSW CsocD64 published statement
Event Details

Date: February 4, 2026

Time: 4:45 PM – 6:00 PM EST (10:45 PM – 12:00 AM CET)

Format: Virtual

Featured Speakers

Elizabeth Hill, MSW: A scholar-practitioner with 25+ years of experience in disability justice and language access.

Dr. Golam Mathbor: Professor and Interim Dean at Monmouth University, specializing in disaster relief and international social work.

Falon M. Alo, MSW: Director of Humanitarian Services at iParametrics LLC, with extensive experience in global crisis response operations.

How to Join
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with leaders shaping the future of global social policy.
Register Today here
For any questions regarding the event, please contact Anne Deepak at Email

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Course: Human rights of Social Workers and their Human Rights Responsibilities for Service Recipients
2026-03-27 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-04-10 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-04-24 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-05-08 12:00 - 13:30 UTC
Background and Rationale
Social workers work daily at the frontline of human rights. They support individuals and communities while navigating complex systems, legal frameworks, and institutional expectations. In doing so, social workers areboth holders of rights—including the right to decent work, safety, and professional autonomy—and professionals with responsibilities to respect and protect the human rights of service recipients.
Social workers often face difficult dilemmas linked to their multiple roles: as professionals guided by ethics, as employees paid by the state or public institutions, and as actors expected to improve and reform statesystems. High expectations from governments, institutions, and communities, combined with limited resources and restrictive policies, can place social workers in situations where their own human rights are at risk and where the rights of service recipients may be compromised.
This CPD provides a space for reflection, learning, and exchange, enabling social workers to better understand and apply human rights and labour rights standards in their everyday practice.
Objectives
The CPD aims to:

Strengthen social workers’ understanding of their own human rights and labour rights;

Clarify human rights responsibilities towards service recipients in complex practice settings;

Support practical skills for analysing and addressing real-life professional dilemmas;

Identify shared advocacy and policy priorities at national and global levels.

Target Audience
Practising social workers, members and representatives of national social work associations, educators, and other professionals engaged in social work policy and advocacy.
Programme Structure
Session 1: Human Rights, Labour Rights, and Social Work Frameworks (1.15h)
This session will introduce key concepts and standards from human rights, labour rights, and social work perspectives. It will provide a common framework to help participants analyse professional dilemmas and casestudies.
Sessions 2–4: Learning from Practice – Case Studies (1.15h)
Each session will begin with a case study shared by a national social work association or similar organisation. The cases will focus on:

The multiple roles and expectations placed on social workers;

Tensions linked to public employment, authority, and legitimacy;

Efforts to improve state systems while protecting human rights.

The three organisations OHCHR, IFSW, and ILO will analyse each case along their framework. Participants will jointly examine the cases, identify relevant rights and responsibilities, and discuss practical ways to addresschallenges and improve outcomes for both social workers and service recipients.
Expected Outcomes
Participants will

have a clearer understanding of their human rights and professional responsibilities;

feel more confident in applying human rights principles in daily practice and policy discussions;

contribute to identifying key areas for collective advocacy and policy action at the global level.

Organisation
Language: English, no translation available
Platform: zoom, broadcasted to Youtube
Certificate: a certificate of attendance will be provided.

International Congress for Community Wellness (ICCW 2026)
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-03 | Free International University of Moldova, Chișinău, Moldova, Republic of
CALL FOR CONGRESS PARTICIPATION

Fifteen years ago, a team of European and American educators launched a new model of social work education in the Republic of Moldova. Through the dialogue, collaboration, contention, and experiment, a new pedagogical model has evolved. For the past 12 years, dialectic social work acquired theoretical cohesion and methodological effectiveness, as well as a cadre of acolytes – graduates of the Master of Social Work program at the Free International University in Moldova.
Dialectic social work educators and practitioners in Moldova formed the National Association of Social Work in Moldova and organized six consecutive conferences in Eastern Europe – all dedicated to promotion of dialectic social work in post-Soviet countries and beyond.
The nexus of the social work tradition in the West and opportunities for educational and professional innovation in Eastern European countries, where social work was a novelty, brought about new perspectives on human needs, human capacities and professional practice.
The Sevenths Congress on Community Wellness is dedicated to reconnecting those scholars and practitioners, who are committed to competence in the rapidly changing world. The complexities of today’s society can only be understood through the dialogue across national, sectarian, and professional lines.

You are cordially invited to the Rites of Spring – the Seventh Congress on Community Wellness.

Topics (Tracks)
1.⁠ ⁠Community health & mental wellbeing
2.⁠ ⁠Education and social development
3.⁠ ⁠Group work praxis: Resilient communities through social entrepreneurship
4.⁠ ⁠Culture, identity, and social cohesion
5.⁠ ⁠Ecological stability through preservation of culture.
We welcome
Conceptual papers, research papers, case studies, educational models, interdisciplinary perspectives, and practice-based interventions.
Abstract submission
Submit to:
Abstract deadline: February 28
Acceptance notification: March 13
Abstract length: 100–200 words
Please include: title, author(s), affiliation, country, email, and 3–5 keywords
Presentation formats: Individual (15 min), Panel (60 min), Workshop (15–30 min)
Language
The proceedings will be conducted in English.
Registration & fees
Congress participation is free of charge. Optional add-ons for international participants:
Day 3 field visit (Voievodatul Cărbunei) with dinner & entertainment: 50 EUR/person
Accommodation package (3 nights): 300 EUR/person (upon request)
Visa support / invitation letters and supporting documents: upon request
Tentative program (preliminary)
Day 1 (10:00–21:00): Opening & Cultural Welcome — Opening ceremony; congress overview and presentations; cultural visit to the “Rites of Spring” Festival at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History
Day 2 (10:00–17:00): Congress Sessions — Plenary and parallel sessions; panels, workshops, and roundtables
Day 3 (10:00–20:00): Closing, Field Trip & Gala Dinner — Final presentations and closing ceremony at ULIM; trip to Cărbuna; gala dinner at “Pestera Balaurului” cellar
Please see the attached PDF for full details.

The Joint Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development
2026-06-26 08:00 - 2026-06-29 17:00 UTC | Nairobi
SWSD 2026: Uniting Social Workers to Tackle Global Challenges
The Joint Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development is a biennial event that brings together members of the Associations of Social Work to exchange experiences, explore current trends, and share best practices in the field of social work worldwide. It serves as a vital platform for networking, presenting research, showcasing best practices or theoretical developments, and fostering shared learning. Across the globe, social workers confront a wide range of challenges, including—but not limited to—war, climate change, and poverty.
Theme: Harambee for Sustainable Shared Futures
