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World Social Work Day 2023

World Social Work Day 2023

RESPECTING DIVERSITY THROUGH JOINT SOCIAL ACTION

21 March 2023

World Social Work Day 2023

 

Every year, World Social Work Day is celebrated across the world on the third Tuesday of March, and events are organized throughout the month of March. The day is an opportunity for social workers and others in the social service sector to celebrate their achievements as well as to raise awareness and support for the important role that social workers play in the lives of children, families and communities facing adversity. The day calls attention to the need for further planning, development and support to the profession and social service sector.  

The next World Social Work Day takes place on the 23 March 2022. The theme, Respecting diversity through joint social action’, stems from the People’s Charter for a New Eco Social World and recognises that change happens locally through our diverse leaderful communities.

Return to this page for more details on events and activities taking place to celebrate World Social Work Day. We also invite you to share with us your initiatives, events and proposals to celebrate #WSWD2023. We will upload information about your planned event on this page and distribute them among social service workers across the globe.

Advocate for greater support and funding

Help advocate for greater support of and funding for the social service workforce on World Social Work Day as well as in the months and years to come. The Alliance has numerous tools and resource to assist in all of your advocacy efforts. The following advocacy materials, specific to World Social Work Day/Month, are also available.

IFSW Poster

The global poster from IFSW with this year's theme is available in 55+ languages. All are welcome to co-brand the poster by adding their logo alongside the IFSW logo. Access the poster. 

National Association of Social Workers Toolkit

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in the United States has developed a toolkit of materials for Social Work Month, including social media posts, proclamations for sign on, a sample press release and a sample letter to the editor. Their theme for the NASW-sponsored Social Work Month 2023 is Social Work Breaks Barriers. Use the items in the toolkit to celebrate and advocate.

Social Media Messages

The Alliance has developed advocacy messages specific to World Social Work Day. Simply copy and paste the messages below into your social media channels. 

  • This #WSWD2023, I join @SSWAlliance in calling for greater investment in & support for the #socialserviceworkforce. An investment in a strong #socialserviceworkforce is an investment in a just, peaceful & prosperous society. Share if you agree!
  • In a world where too many people face inequality & social injustice, #socialservice workers are critical agents of change. Today, on #WSWD2023, I join @SSWAlliance in celebrating these heroes.
  • Thank you to all #socialservice workers. We see the crucial role you play in creating a more just and inclusive world, one community at a time. #WSWD2023. 

Additional Alliance Advocacy Tools

We encourage you to continue advocating for the social service workforce in the months and years to come. The Alliance has numerous tools and resource to assist in all of your advocacy efforts, including:

Global Events

British Association of Social Work (BASW): World Social Work Month

BASW is hosting a full month of activities and events to promote and celebrate social workers. Learn more. 

Events include:

Social Work England: Social Work Week 2023

Social Work England will be featuring 19 virtual headline sessions from 20 to 24 March. The week aims to bring people together to learn, connect, and influence a nationwide conversation on social work. Anyone can book free tickets for 19 virtual headline sessions curated by Social Work England. In addition, individuals and organisations will be delivering free sector-led events across the country, primarily online, with some also in person. Learn more.

[Webinar] Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge & Approaches into Social Work Practice & Education | 21 March 2023, 8:30am - 1:30pm (MYT)

The Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW) will be organizing an online webinar on Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge & Approaches into Social Work Practice & Education. Register.

[Conference] National Association of Social Workers of Uganda's World Social Work Day Conference | 21 March 7am - 3pm (EAT)

This conference will bring together students, academicians and practitioners of social work from across Uganda. It will take place at the University of Kisubi in Entebbe.

[In-person Networking] Breaking Barriers, Building Bonds | 29 March 2023, 12pm (EST) and 5pm (EST)

ISS-USA invite you to their networking events to discuss the challenging, rewarding and intricate nature of cross-border case work. It’s open to all social workers as an opportunity to network and hear about ways to grow skills working on cross-border cases. They’ll have two drop-in sessions in Baltimore, MD. Learn more.

Social Work Day at the UN: Creating a More Inclusive World: Overcoming Barriers to EnABLE Environments | 3 April 2023, 10-12pm (EST)

The 2023 Social Work Day at the United Nations in New York aims to further understanding of disability issues in human rights and developmental contexts. It seeks to highlight a full spectrum of this discourse, tackling theoretical aspects and down-to-earth issues encountered by practitioners and policymakers. The presentations on promoting enabling environments will identify ways in which socially discriminatory barriers  can be reduced or eliminated. Learn more and register.

Other ways to get involved

Donate to the Alliance

With your support, the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance can continue to bring attention to and build support for the social service workforce and provide the knowledge, evidence and tools necessary for a well-supported workforce. Donate today!

Follow Us

Throughout March we will be sharing event updates, advocacy messages and other material on our website and on Facebook and Twitter. Follow and use these hashtags to join in the conversation: #WSWD2023

Share Content

Are you planning an event or developing promotional materials? Let us know so we can share widely with this network. We are also anxious to receive updates following events to share messages, photos and outcomes. Highlights from prior years can be viewed on our website.

Encourage colleagues to become Alliance members

Increasing and diversifying our membership allows us to continue to build a movement to strengthen and advocate for the social service workforce.