Report from the National Social Justice Portfolio Convenor presented at the NAPWA Special General Meeting held 29-30 April 2006.

Formation of the Social Justice Working Group

An item in my workplan is the convening of a Social Justice Working Group. I thought this group would be a useful tool to sample issues nationally, to share the workload of the portfolio and to increase skills and knowledge in this area so that future Portfolio Cordinators can be more easily recruited. Bernard Kealey and I met on March 18 to finalise the wording of the Terms of Reference and call for Expressions of Interest for the Social Justice working Group. Thanks to Scott Lockhart for providing a template from other working groups, which we found useful.

After the terms of reference and call for Expressions of Interest for the Social Justice Working Group were circulated I’m informed four written expressions of interest were received and await the Board’s decision on these. One of the first areas of discussion for the group will the criminalisation of HIV transmission and a survey of what is happening on this across various jurisdictions nationally.

Following Bernard Kealey’s recent resignation from the Board, I want to express my thanks and appreciation for his supporting me as my Board Buddy. He has said he may be able to continue working with me as a member of the Social Justice Working Group and I certainly hope that is possible.

John Cumming
National Convenor, Social Justice Portfolio
22 April 2006