President, International Federation of Social Workers

Dear Colleague

Australia is my home country, October 2004 approaches and it is my special pleasure to invite you to register for the 17^th World Congress of the IFSW which is being held in conjunction with the 31^st Bi-Annual Congress of the IASSW and the 29^th National Congress of the AASW.

The theme Global Social Work 2004: Reclaiming Civil Society is especially important at this point in world history. Many of the themes of the last century will continue into this century and that is not surprising. We have been trying to address issues of poverty, ill health, access to education and the impact of war and disaster since social work began. Themes of the latter part of the 20^th century such as globalisation, the impact of refugees from armed conflict or famine and internally displaced persons, the effects of global communication, increased population mobility and environmental degradation will continue to provide a major challenge to the international community and social workers as a profession.

The impact of globalisation, heightened conflict and rapid change all contribute to a world struggling to find lasting solutions to poverty, illiteracy, pandemics, violence and xenophobia.

Set against a backdrop of finite or shrinking resources, practitioners and educators in every region of the world are confronted with increasing demands upon their knowledge and skills. Social work has always operated in the most difficult realms and under very strained circumstances. We will continue to operate in diverse settings and our practice will need to reflect that context. However our connection with our colleagues at an international level will remain vital, not only in the sharing of practice wisdom but also as a critical vehicle for the attainment of a civil society. The relationship between social work practice and education has been marked by a strength, which recognises and values diversity and remains unified in its commitment to social justice.

The Adelaide 2004 Congress provides us with the opportunity and challenge to strengthen the unity between practice and education, reconsider the role of social work in a global context, develop new partnerships and strategies to address both familiar and new problems and to position the profession to influence emerging social issues whilst maintaining our core values.

I encourage you to register now to join us all in Adelaide in October 2004. Your contribution to this vital congress is central to our goal - exchange, dialogue, diversity and plans for reclaiming a civil society.

I look forward, together with all my colleagues, national and international, to seeing you in Adelaide in October.

Best wishes

Imelda Dodds
President

President, International Association of Schools of Social Work

Dear Colleagues

We live in an interdependent and uncertain world. Natural disasters, armed conflicts, and disease have produced greater instability in social relations between people and countries. At the same time, different ways of reviving social, political and economic institutions at the local level have inspired hope in difficult situations. People are reclaiming their rights and traditions in a world that is becoming increasingly culturally homogenic under the forces of globalisation. These conditions provide social work practitioners and educators with the challenge of developing new models of intervention that can link the local and the global to influence both in realising human well-being. To move forward in formulating these, we need to dialogue with each other across our own differences and model the processes that we want reflected in practice in our own interactions.

The Joint IFSW-IASSW-AASW-AASWWE Congress 2004 in Adelaide, Australia offers you excellent opportunities for meeting colleagues and friends who share your concerns and ambitions for a better world for us all. I am inviting you to join us. The theme focuses on globalisation and reclaiming civil society - issues that lie at the heart of social work. Understanding these and learning from others how they have addressed them will help us all rethink how we can have a better impact upon policymakers and resource holders to create a safer, healthier and more sustainable social and physical environment for us all. We have a stimulating intellectual programme and exciting social events for you to participate in.

Come and join us. Your views can make a difference. You will also find a friendly welcome awaiting you.

See you in Adelaide.

Dr Lena Dominelli
President

Australian Association of Social Workers

On behalf of the many thousands of Australian social workers, the national board of the Australian Association of Social Workers extends an invitation to guests, friends and colleagues from around the world to join us for an energising international congress "Global Social Work 2004: Reclaiming Civil Society". The congress host city is Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. As a small city it provides a relaxed venue for delegates to meet, walk, talk and celebrate together. Adelaide is a city that bears a proud history in the development of social action and legislation to address inequality. In 2004 it mirrors many of the experiences of other cities and work places around the world grappling with the impact of globalisation. A large group of committed social workers from South Australia are actively working toward making this a memorable congress. You are invited to reinvigorate a civil community that respects and values diversity, to debate and reflect on current research, to promote social movements for change, to engage in scholarship, to develop networks, to rekindle friendships and to gain new ones and to laugh, sing and enjoy our time together.

We look forward to meeting you in October at the congress.

The National Board AASW

President, Australian Association for Social Work & Welfare Education

In my role as President of AASWWE I extend a warm welcome to you all to this international congress: Global Social Work 2004: Reclaiming Civil Society, held in conjunction with IASSW, IFSW & AASW - all dynamic organisations working towards enhancing the quality of social work practice and education throughout the world as well as locally and nationally.

Adelaide in Australia is a beautiful setting for what promises to be an exciting and rewarding exchange of information. It is also an opportunity to renew contacts with colleagues from around the world and form new alliances in our mission to promote excellence in social work and welfare education and at the same time create, foster and maintain a dynamic community of educators in our respective settings.

AASWWE as a national organisation of social work and welfare work educators works towards promoting the scholarly pursuits of teaching and research and collecting and publishing information about the function and needs of social work and welfare courses throughout Australia. This congress offers us all a valuable opportunity to continue to make a positive contribution to identify and respond creatively to the pressing social, political and economic needs that concern us all in promoting a truly civil society.

I welcome you all to this exciting congress.

Dr Carolyn Noble
President AASWWE