Social workers help vulnerable people navigate some of their toughest challenges, thereby contributing to create more resilient communities. Working hand in hand with other field officers to ensure social protection and development, they play a vital role in building inclusive, just, and compassionate communities.
Yet, what do we really know about the role of a social worker? No, social work is not the same as social service, social welfare or social development, though all aim to improve societal well-being.
Social services are the programs and activities that deliver support, while social welfare is a broader concept encompassing the well-being of a population and the systems that support it. Social development is a more holistic approach to improving the overall quality of life and potential of individuals within a society.
Social work is a distinct profession focused on helping individuals, families, and communities enhance their well-being. Social workers stand with people facing adversity, whether it is poverty, displacement, trauma, or discrimination, and help them find a way forward with dignity and hope. Yet, until recently, their efforts and professional role have received little attention.
SLAPSW President Shamini Attanayake
Over the years, social work has evolved to be a more structured and professional discipline, addressing complex and ever-changing social issues. With solid academic training and a growing professional network, social workers in Sri Lanka have come a long way. Today, they provide services in a wide range of fields from child protection to eldercare, mental health to disaster response. Their journey reflects the strength of a profession that has adapted, expanded, and continued to rise to the needs of society.
What makes social work unique is its combination of empathy and expertise. Social workers connect with people on a deeply human level, while also working within systems and institutions to bring about lasting change. As Sri Lanka faces the realities of economic hardship and environmental threats, the role of the social worker has become more relevant than ever before.
Social workers for environmental justice
It is in this context that Sri Lanka has received the opportunity to host the ‘Asia Pacific Social Work Regional Conference’ of the International Federation of Social Workers – Asia Pacific (IFSW-AP) and the Asian and Pacific Association of Social Work Education (APASWE). This biennial event was last held in the Philippines in 2023.
Organised under the theme “Social work responses to climate change and other environmental issues”, the 2025 conference will be held from November 18 to 21, with a pre-conference on November 17 and a study tour on the final day. The event is organised by the ‘Sri Lanka Association of Professional Social Workers’ (SLAPSW) in collaboration with the National Institute of Social Development (NISD).
SLAPSW President and former NISD Director General Shamini Attanayake said that about 250 foreign delegates and 350 local delegates are expected at the conference. Speaking to the Sunday Observer, she said the keynote speech would be delivered by Social Work Prof. Manohar Pawar, School of Social Work and Arts, Charles Sturt University, Australia, on the topic “The role of social work in environmental justice and resilience”.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya will be the Chief Guest, while Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Minister Dr. Upali Pannilage and Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi will also participate.
The conference aims to bring together scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and activists in social work and related fields to explore innovative strategies and collaborative approaches to tackle global environmental challenges.
“Climate change and environmental degradation are among the most pressing issues of our time. They affect communities across the globe, particularly the most vulnerable populations. Social work, with its commitment to social justice and human rights, plays an important role in addressing these concerns,” said Attanayake.
The event will include panel discussions, workshops and case study presentations aligned with the main theme and 12 sub-themes, namely, “Social work ethics in community resilience building, Climate change and environmental justice, Rights in the climate crisis: Social work’s role in environmental justice, Policy advocacy and legislative action, Strengthening cross-sector collaboration for sustainable solutions guided by the SDGs, education and awareness campaigns, Cultural competence and indigenous perspectives in climate actions, Youth engagement and intergenerational equity, Empowering hope: Psychosocial interventions for climate-anxious communities, Wellness in crisis: Integrating health and psychosocial support for climate-affected communities, Disaster response and recovery and Social work in economic crisis”.
The 2023 Asia-Pacific Conference in the Philippines
“The delegates will be taken on a study tour to Kandy on November 21, including visits to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Sri Dalada Maligawa, and an eldercare home in Kegalle,” she said.
Interested individuals are encouraged to register by October 5 via the conference website “ifswapap2025.slapsw.lk”.
Growing in numbers and quality
“The NISD is the first government institution in Sri Lanka to offer a professional degree in social work. Today, Colombo, Peradeniya and Sri Jayewardenepura Universities also offer social work as an academic discipline,” the former NISD Director General said.
The NISD has offered a Diploma in Social Work since 1964, launched its Bachelor of Social Work program in 2005, and introduced a Master of Social Work in 2008. Established in 1952 as the ‘Ceylon Institute of Social Work’, it was taken over by the Government in 1964 and renamed the ‘Sri Lanka School of Social Work’, before receiving its current name in 1992 through an Act of Parliament. The University Grants Commission (UGC) recognised the NISD as a degree-awarding institution in 2005.
The SLAPSW, established in 1962 and incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 2014, has long been at the forefront of promoting social work education and practice in Sri Lanka.
“Out of about 1,000 qualified social workers in Sri Lanka, about 400 are members in our Association. At SLAPSW, we are dedicated to advancing the field of social work, fostering professional development, and addressing social issues through innovative and effective interventions. Social workers also play a role in policymaking, particularly in the area of social welfare,” said the SLAPSW President.
The IFSW, the global body for professional social work, says that promoting social change, social development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people are core mandates of the profession. It adds that every social worker should respect the inherent worth and dignity of human beings, respect diversity, and uphold human rights and social justice.
“Social workers help people build the kind of environments they want to live in, through co-determination, co-production and social responsibility. Economic health cannot be achieved without social health,” IFSW said.
28th Asia Pacific Social Work Regional Conference from November 18- 21, at the BMICH and Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo
Theme : “Social work responses to climate change and other environmental issues”
Organised by : Sri Lanka Professional Social Workers’ Association and the National Institute of Social Development
Keynote speaker : Manohar Pawar, Prof. of Social Work, School of Social Work and Arts, Charles Sturt University, Australia.
Chief Guest : Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya
Target audience
· Social work professionals and educators
· Environmental activists and representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations
· Researchers and academics
· Policymakers and government officials
· Community leaders and members
· International organisations and funding agencies
About 250 foreign delegates and 350 local delegates are expected.
Registrations open till October 5.
Conference email: [email protected]
Conference website: https://ifswapap2025.slapsw.lk/
Phone Number +94 777 649 310 / Whatsapp +94 702 690 666
