The idea of a Commonwealth Organisation for Social Work was first raised in 1992 in a discussion initiated by Anthony Tan (former Chair of the Malaysian Association of Social Workers – MASW) with David N Jones (then BASW General Secretary) and Serge Paul (Chair of the BASW International Relations Advisory Panel). Anthony had been awarded a Commonwealth Fellowship and was in the UK with other Fellows. He pointed out that the Commonwealth engaged with around 80 professional and related bodies but there was no voice for social work.
The BASW team was reluctant to be seen to engage in ‘colonial’ structures and did not wish to undermine IFSW. BASW could not see how additional resources could be found for a Commonwealth social work body.
In subsequent correspondence it was agreed that the idea would be put to a meeting of social work associations from Commonwealth countries at the 1994 world conference in Sri Lanka. This was attended by representatives from more than 10 Commonwealth countries including David N Jones (BASW General Secretary) and Terry Bamford (IFSW Board member).
The idea was very warmly received by delegates from social work associations in Africa, Asia and New Zealand. Australia was cool but supportive and Canada expressed some reservations. The decision was taken to form a Commonwealth Organisation for Social Work, closely linked with IFSW, on the understanding that this would not demand significant new resources from social work associations. The founding President was the Chair of the Sri Lanka association (SLAPSW – Dudley Dissaniake); he died a few years later and the ‘ceremonial’ position of President has remained unfilled. Anthony Tan was elected as Chair and David N Jones was elected as Honorary Secretary and representative to the Commonwealth Institutions in London.
COSW then engaged with the Commonwealth Secretariat in London and received moral support but no resources. COSW was invited to regular meetings of Commonwealth Organisations and contributed to policy discussions with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation. Pro bono advice on the constitution was provided by Bates Wells and Braithwaite (the BASW solicitors). Most of the development work was undertaken by Anthony Tan and David N Jones.
The 1997 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held in Edinburgh, Scotland. COSW had a strong presence, provided a briefing to all national delegations, and participated in the People’s Forum. Anthony Tan (travelling from Malaysia at his own expense) attended the opening ceremony and David N Jones attended the welcome reception for Heads of Government and CHOGM reception, meeting and talking briefly with several heads of government including Queen Elizabeth, Tony Blair, Nelson Mandela, Robert Mugabe, the King of Botswana, the Prime Minister of Australia and many others.
The formal COSW constitution was signed during the 2000 world conference in Montreal and the first formal Board appointed in the launch meeting held at that time, with representatives from each of the 5 regions.
General meetings have been held, with an open invitation, at all world social work conferences since 1994. Membership of the Board has changed as new people become involved. After Anthony Tan, there was joint chairing by Charles Mbugua (Kenya) and Tiong Ngoh Tan (Singapore). They were succeeded by Ai Hua Teoh (Malaysia) and Monique Auffrey (Canada) took over the role of Honorary Secretary. Terry Bamford became the COSW representative to the Commonwealth institutions in London with David Jones and Nigel Hall deputising as needed.
Terry Bamford later stood down as Representative, whilst remaining a member of the Board, handing the role back to David N Jones. COSW played a leading role in the development of the informal network of Commonwealth Organisations which was later formalised as the Independent Forum of Commonwealth Organisations (IFCO), both David N Jones and Godfred Boahen serving on the Steering Group. COSW has continued to play an active role in discussions between Commonwealth Organisations and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Ai Hua Teoh handed over the Chair to Sylvia Daisy Romanus (India) in 2020 with several new members joining the Board. Fiona Robertson handed over the role of Honorary Treasurer to Godfred Boahen at the same time, after serving for almost two decades in that role.
Timeline
1992 Discussions with British Association initiated by Anthony Tan (Malaysia)
1994 First meeting of social work associations from Commonwealth countries in the wings of the IFSW world conference in Sri Lanka agreed to proceed with forming a Commonwealth organisation. Anthony Tan (Malaysia) was elected as Chair, David N Jones (UK) as Honorary Secretary, Dudley Dissanyike (Sri Lanka) as founding President with a steering group of people from the Commonwealth regions including some members of the IFSW global executive.
1997 COSW accredited to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh and submitted a policy paper to all national delegations
2000 COSW constitution signed in Montreal Canada in the wings of the IFSW world conference including signatories from all Commonwealth regions
2002 Commonwealth Professional Fellowship awarded to Max Anyuru (Uganda) supporting a three month placement with the UK Audit Commission working jointly with David N Jones
2005 COSW formally incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee at Companies House, London under UK law – Company number 05616132.
2006 Young carer conference held in Nairobi bringing together social workers (including academics) from across Africa and the UK alongside young carers from East Africa and UK.
2009 Young carer festival
2011 CHOGM in Australia – COSW contributed to development of policy submissions and was active in the Fora in partnership with the Australian Association.
2013 CHOGM in Sri Lanka – COSW contributed to development of policy submissions.
2012 Young carer festival
2015 CHOGM in Malta – COSW contributed to policy submissions and participation in the Fora in partnership with the Maltese Association
2016 Young carer festival
2018 CHOGM in London – COSW actively involved in preparing policy submissions and in the People’s Forum
2019 Young carer festival
2020 COSW webinar hosted by Madras Christian College
2021 Webinar on the history of social work around the Commonwealth jointly with the Social Work History Network
2022 Two day webinar on Commonwealth Histories of Social Work jointly with the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and others.
2022 CHOGM in Kigali, Rwanda – COSW again actively involved in preparing policy submissions and in the People’s Forum, Women’s Forum and Youth Forum.
2024 6 person delegation represented COSW at CHOGM in Samoa with representatives from Aotearoa New Zealand, Fiji, Australia and UK. COSW presented a People’s Forum delegate-led event on ‘Resilient Commonwealth Communities: Indigenous Social Work Responses to Health and Equity in the Pacific Region’, supported the Independent Forum of Commonwealth Organisations delegate-led event on ‘Respecting and Revitalising the Commonwealth’s Commitment to Civil Society’ and contributed to the CHOGM side event organised by the Commonwealth Children Interest Group and the Commonwealth Secretariat on ‘ Respecting and Revitalising The Commonwealth’s Commitment To Civil Society’.
COSW 