The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) is steadfast in its commitment to developing and implementing an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Accessibility (EDIRA) framework across all regulatory functions. This initiative is a pivotal step towards redressing historical and systemic harms caused by social work.
As we seek to transform the systems around us, we must also transform ourselves.
To promote meaningful collaboration and true representation, in 2025 we are engaging with partner organizations that serve (and are substantially led by) equity-deserving groups (Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, disability, newcomer, French, and 2SLGBTQIA+) to increase our understanding the unique cultural context and needs of these communities. Some partners are gathering perspectives from their communities themselves, while others have asked us to share public calls for focus groups.
Focus groups that include a public call for participants will be added to this post as they are scheduled.
Social workers are not eligible to join these focus groups (our members will have many other opportunities to contribute to this process in the coming months).
Open focus groups
- June 5 — African Nova Scotian (Online)
- June 13 — African Nova Scotian (New Glasgow)
- June 16 — African Nova Scotian (Halifax)
- June 25 — Disability (Halifax)
Some closed sessions have already been held. Additional sessions for other groups will be scheduled in spring and summer.
Spread the word
Sharing a link to this page is the best way to pass the invitation on to someone who is eligible to join these discussions.
Purpose
By engaging these equity-deserving communities in meaningful conversations that foster partnership, trust, and inclusivity, we aim to gain insight into further action we can take to improve ethical practices in social work regulation and service delivery.