Elections 2026: Candidate Vision Damian Spiteri

Damian Spiteri

I am standing for election to the IASSW Board because I believe schools of social work have a critical role in defending human rights, deepening democracy, and responding creatively to global crises such as widening inequalities, forced migration, climate change, and the erosion of welfare systems. IASSW is uniquely placed to connect these struggles across regions and to amplify the voices of schools in small states and peripheral contexts that are often under-represented.

If elected, I would work to strengthen three inter-related priorities. First, I would support efforts to decolonise and democratise social work curricula by promoting knowledge produced in the Global South, small states, and marginalised communities, and by encouraging participatory, critical pedagogies that centre service users’ lived experience. Second, I would advocate for stronger links between universities, NGOs, and practice settings, so that learning, research, and policy engagement are co-produced with those most affected by social injustice.

Third, I would champion the wellbeing of students and educators. Across my work with social workers and managers, burnout, moral distress, and precarity are recurring themes. I would support IASSW initiatives that share good practices in supervision, mentorship, and organisational care, especially in under-resourced settings.

I bring to this role experience in teaching, curriculum development, international collaboration, and practice-based research in disability, health, and welfare. I am committed to working collaboratively with colleagues across all regions to ensure that IASSW remains an active, inclusive, and critical voice for social work education worldwide.