Honouring Legacy,
Focusing Future
For 25 years, the Outstanding Social Worker Award has been a cornerstone of the social work profession, a powerful symbol of pride and identity conferred by the President of Singapore. While the 2024 award marked the final edition of that format, the message from our fraternity is clear and united: the OSWA legacy must continue.
In response to the feedback, Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW) is proud to launch the renewed Outstanding Social Work Awards, generously sponsored by our longstanding partner, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. This evolution from honouring the individual worker to celebrating the impactful work reflects the collective and systemic nature of modern social work practice. The Awards will be presented at our annual Celebrating Social Work Excellence event, alongside Social Work Day.
Introducing the New Awards
The new OSWA comprises two distinct categories, designed to spotlight the breadth and depth of our profession:
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Outstanding Social Work Award – Practice (OSWA – Practice): Recognising outstanding social work initiatives that epitomise the purpose, value, and impact of our profession.
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Up to 3 Awards a year​
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Outstanding Social Work Award – Practice Research (OSWA – Practice Research): Honouring outstanding research by social workers that has advanced advocacy and/or improved social work practice.
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Up to 2 Awards a year​
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Prize & Recognition
For both categories of the Outstanding Social Work Awards, each winning individual/team will be awarded the following:
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Cash Prize of SG$5,000* sponsored by ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd
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A plaque
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A certificate
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A dedicated media campaign will also spotlight the award winners and their projects across professional platforms, mainstream media, and social media, helping to strengthen the public image and recognition of the social work profession.
*We encourage awardees to use the prize to further contribute to the sector through training, knowledge-sharing, or publications.
Eligibility &
Selection Criteria
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All nominees are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents.
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All nominees are members of the SASW and are accredited by the Social Work Accreditation and Advisory Board (SWAAB).
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The project, initiative or research embodies 6 core values of the social work profession (ref SASW Code of Professional Ethics or on the SASW website).
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The project, initiative or research nominated should advance the distinct identity of social work.
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The project, initiative or research must be implemented in Singapore or based in the Singapore context.
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For the Outstanding Social Work Award – Practice, the main active phase of the initiative must be implemented between 2015 to the date of this nomination.
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For the Outstanding Social Work Award – Practice Research, the research study must have been completed between January 2022 to the date of this nomination. The findings must also have been disseminated via a conference, publication, report, seminar, or other knowledge-sharing platforms.
Outstanding Social Work Award – Practice
Selection Criteria
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1. Impact and Outcomes on Service Users and Community:
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Demonstrated positive change and measurable outcomes for beneficiaries (individuals, families or communities)/systems (e.g. improved policies, service gaps addressed).
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Sustainability of the benefits beyond the project’s duration.
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2. Innovation and Creativity:
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Use of new or creative approaches to address social issues.
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Unique contribution to advancing social work knowledge or practice.
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Adaptation to emerging trends (e.g. digital tools, community-led solutions).
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3. Collaboration and Partnership:
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Effective engagement with stakeholders, including service users, families, partner organisations and the wider community.
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Builds cross-sectoral partnerships.
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4. Leadership & Capacity Building:
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Project demonstrates strong leadership by social workers on the project team.
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Contributes to building capacity in the profession (training, mentoring, or skills transfer).
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Strengthens organisational or community resilience.
Outstanding Social Work Award – Practice Research
Selection Criteria
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​1. Contribution to New Knowledge:
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Demonstrates how the research provides fresh insights into a social issue or population.
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Contributes to filling existing gaps in the literature, theory, or practice.
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Evidence that the knowledge generated is relevant, significant, and applicable to the social work profession and/or wider society.
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2. Informing Intervention & Practice:
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Shows how the research has informed the development or refinement of practice models, tools, or intervention strategies.
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Demonstrates innovation in tackling social problems, improving service delivery, or enhancing client outcomes.
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Provides evidence that the intervention has been piloted, tested, or adopted in practice.
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3. Influence on Organisational Change / Policy Consideration:
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Illustrates how the research has prompted organisations (e.g., social service agencies, NGOs, institutions) to review, adapt, or improve their policies, structures, or services, including but not limited to: influence on organisational priorities, staff training, or resource allocation.
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Provides evidence that the research has informed strategic decisions or operational improvements.
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Demonstrates how the research findings have been communicated to, or considered by, policymakers at the national level with evidence (e.g., citations in policy documents, use in consultation papers, parliamentary debates, or government reports, etc.)
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Shows the potential or actual influence of the research on shaping legislation, funding priorities, or systemic reforms.​
Key Dates to Take Note Of
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Nomination Period: 28 October 2025 – 28 November 2025
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Selection Interview Period: mid January 2026 – mid February 2026
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Awards Presentation: at the annual Celebrating Social Work Excellence event (with Social Work Day), slated to be in March 2026