ASEAN Social Work Journal
ASEAN Social Work Journal (ASWJ) is an international social work journal, double-blind peer-reviewed, open-access journal mandated by the ASEAN Social Work Consortium (ASWC) to be published by the country of Indonesia, specifically the Indonesian Social Work Consortium (ISWC). ISWC was established on the 10th of August, 2011, in Jakarta-Indonesia, following the ASEAN Social Work Consortium (ASWC) at a regional level in Manila, the Philippines. The primary mandate of ISWC is to facilitate strategic initiatives for promoting roles of social work profession and education. The ASEAN Social Work Journal is one of the initiatives that comply with these purposes. It is part of the Knowledge Management work plan formulated by ASWC. AIMS & SCOPE ASEAN Social Work Journal facilitates academic platforms and productive exchanges of knowledge, research, education, practice, and ideas among social work practitioners, educators, researchers, students, and social policymakers worldwide. It aims to innovatively contribute to social work and promote social welfare mainstreaming in the ASEAN region contexts. The journal focuses on the following social work/Social Welfare topics: social work theory/concepts, social work methods, social work practices, fields of social work, social development, management of the humanitarian organization, and public policies. The journal focuses on the following social work/social welfare topics: social work theories/concepts, social work methods, social work practices, fields of social work, the innovative intervention of social work, social development, management of the humanitarian organization, and social policies. Original Theoretical and Empirical Papers: Research-based articles dealing with social work theory and practice in the ASEAN region. In particular, the journal seeks articles from all those concerned with social work and social welfare issues of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and ASEAN Plus Countries (China, Japan and South Korea). The priority is given to articles contributing to the development of knowledge and social work theories, methods, research, and practice in ASEAN region and ASEAN Plus Countries. Brief Communications: Short articles on social work theories and practice. The journal seeks brief notes on developing innovative intervention methods or indigenous social work in the ASEAN region and ASEAN Plus Countries. The journal welcomes manuscripts from social work educators, practitioners and researchers. The manuscripts should be no longer than eight double-spaced pages. Research Proposal: Short articles regarding social work Master and Doctorate research Proposal. The journal seeks a brief research proposal on developing innovative research methodology in social work around the ASEAN region and ASEAN Plus Countries. The journal welcomes manuscripts from social work Master and Ph.D. students. The manuscripts should be no longer than six double-spaced pages.
Articles
63 Documents
<![CDATA[Social Work Activities Supporting Patients at Hospitals in Nghe An, Vietnam ]]>
<![CDATA[Le, Thi Kim Dung]]>;
<![CDATA[Nguyen, Thi Hoai An]]>
<![CDATA[ Asean Social Work Journal Vol. 13 No. 2, December 2025 ]]>
Publisher : <![CDATA[Indonesian Social Work Consortium (ISWC) ]]>
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DOI: 10.58671/aswj.v13i2.160
<![CDATA[Hospital social work in Vietnam has been introduced to support patients, yet faces substantial challenges and has not achieved its intended outcomes. This study, based on quantitative surveys with 500 patients and 255 healthcare professionals, alongside in-depth interviews across five hospitals in Nghe An province, provides a comprehensive overview of current practices. Findings show that social work activities—such as patient reception, information provision, psychosocial support, discharge assistance, and emergency response—are aligned with patient needs and implemented in accordance with Circular No. 43/2015. However, these tasks are often carried out by both social workers and healthcare staff, and remain largely administrative. Key barriers include a shortage of trained professionals, fragmented operational mechanisms, and limited institutional recognition of social work’s role in healthcare. The study recommends strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing workforce capacity, and raising awareness of the professional functions of hospital social workers.]]>
<![CDATA[Criminal Justice Reform, Community Supervision and Social Work in Indonesia: Some Preliminary Observations ]]>
<![CDATA[Gillies, David]]>
<![CDATA[ Asean Social Work Journal Vol. 13 No. 2, December 2025 ]]>
Publisher : <![CDATA[Indonesian Social Work Consortium (ISWC) ]]>
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DOI: 10.58671/aswj.v13i2.165
<![CDATA[Indonesia’s new criminal code is poised to expand non-custodial approaches to sentencing offenders. Enhanced use of alternatives to custody may help reduce Indonesia’s prison population, lower re-offending rates, and enable more supervision of offenders in the community. This review article draws on comparative experience of criminal justice reform and the role of international cooperation to illustrate the opportunities and challenges for implementation. It also briefly surveys linkages between social work education and criminal justice in Indonesia. There are five key observations. First, experience from other jurisdictions suggests that enabling laws are only the first step. The legal proliferation of community-based sentencing options is not by itself sufficient to shift criminal justice away from a focus on retribution towards increased emphasis on restorative justice and rehabilitation. Second, greater use of non-custodial approaches also requires public engagement, sustained political will, and a disciplined public policy focus with a regulatory framework, supporting institutions and predictable resources. Third, professional social work associations, training institutions, and social workers at the intersection of the state, the offender, and the community, have a key role to play in enabling the transition to a more humane approach to criminal justice. Fourth, Indonesian efforts to align with ASEAN regional standards for the integration of social work in the justice sector is a work still in progress. Finally, outreach to international partners and to neighbouring jurisdictions may be helpful to compare experiences, identify effective ways of working, and pilot new approaches.]]>
