28th Asia Pacific Social Work Conference 2025 (APSWC 2025)

The 28th Asia Pacific Social Work Conference (APSWC 2025) was successfully held in Sri Lanka from 18 to 21 November 2025 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) and the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo. The event was jointly organized by the Sri Lanka Association of Professional Social Workers (SLAPSW) and the National Institute of Social Development (NISD). This year’s theme, “Social Work Responses to Climate Change and Other Environmental Issues,” reflected the growing regional commitment to address environmental challenges through social work practice, research, and policy.

This landmark event marked the first time that Sri Lanka hosted the Asia Pacific Social Work Conference. The inauguration ceremony, held at the BMICH, was graced by several distinguished guests, including the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka; Dr. Harini Amarasooriya, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment; Dr. Upali Pannilage; Prof. Machiko Ohara, President of the International Federation of Social Workers – Asia Pacific (IFSW-AP); Mr. Joachim Cuthbert Mumba, President of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW); David Rose, President of the Asian and Pacific Association for Social Work Education (APASWE); Prof. Premakumara de Silva, Director General of NISD; and Mrs. M. T. R. Shamini Attanayaka, President of SLAPSW. The ceremony was attended by leading academics, practitioners, researchers, and students from across the Asia-Pacific region.

The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Manohar Pawar, Professor of Social Work at the School of Social Work and Arts, Charles Sturt University, New South Wales, Australia. Following the inauguration, the conference proceeded with technical sessions held at the Taj Samudra Hotel, featuring a wide range of presentations, panel discussions, and knowledge-sharing forums focused on climate change, environmental crises, and the evolving role of social workers in addressing these issues.
At the conclusion of the conference, it was announced that the 29th Asia Pacific Social Work Conference will be held in South Korea in 2027, further continuing the regional collaboration and advancement of the social work profession.