The Board is tasked with maintaining a robust registration framework that is fair, balanced and promotes consistent, high quality service delivery across the sector.

The main functions of the Board are registration, quality practice, and responding to concerns and reports.

The SWRB SA is committed to engaging and partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to ensure appropriate cultural governance and leadership across the Board’s key functions.https://www.swrb.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/1143258/Carmela_Bastian.jpg

Board Members

The SWRB SA Board consists of:

Five Members with Significant Social Work Experience:

These members bring extensive practical knowledge and experience in the field of social work, ensuring that the Board's decisions are informed by real-world insights.

One Legal Member:

This member provides essential legal expertise, ensuring that the Board's actions and decisions comply with relevant laws and regulations.

One Community Member:

Representing the interests of the broader community, this member ensures that the Board's decisions reflect the needs and perspectives of the public.


Dr Carmela Bastian, Presiding Member

Carmela has extensive practice and senior management experience in social work, regulatory frameworks, and compliance requirements. She recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Governance and Risk Management and was recently appointed as a board member of the Accreditation Council for the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Carmela is an academic at Flinders University and her social work research in is known internationally and informs her teaching of social work students. She is a current member of the Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee (CDSIRC) in South Australia.

Ms Jodie Stevens, Deputy Presiding Member, Community Member

Jodie is the representative of the general community of South Australia and has extensive experience, including in her current role as the Manager, People & Culture at the City of Port Adelaide Enfield Council. Jodie is a proud descendent of the Wiradjuri people who is committed to building capability and creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within South Australia and interstate. Jodie has had previous experience as a Board member with the Zahra Foundation, Australia and is a current Board member with Women’s Safety Services SA and Headstart Homes.

Ms Nicole Lancaster, Legal Member

Nicole has a Double Degree in Laws/Legal Practice (Honours) and Behavioural Science (Psychology). Nicole has a long career history working with social workers, including her current position as Manager, Legal Services with DCP. Nicole has an in depth understanding of State Government, including the processes and systems required to implement the Government’s priorities.

Ms Jane Mussared, Social Work Member

Jane has a master’s degree in social work (majoring in social policy and research) from the University of Michigan and has worked in a wide range of social work and leadership roles in state government and the not-for-profit sector. Jane was most recently an Advisor with the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care. She has also been the Chief Executive of the Council on the Ageing in South Australia (COTA SA) and a senior executive with a not-for-profit aged care provider. Jane has served on several boards and advisory committees at a state and federal level.

Mr Ruka Taite, Social Work Member

Ruka has extensive experience in social work, including working with people from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background. Ruka is an Indigenous man from New Zealand with strong bicultural connections to local and interstate Aboriginal leaders. Ruka’s cultural connections greatly assist in SWRB’s engagement with a diverse range of people from Aboriginal groups and communities.

Simone Mather, Social Work Member

Simone has extensive experience in the social services sector as well as a strong background in business administration and management. After over a decade working for Life Without Barriers SA, Simone has most recently been appointed Executive Director of Out of Home Care with the Department for Child Protection SA.

Tracey Greaves, Social Work Member

Tracey is a highly experienced social worker with over 30 years of practice across health, gendered violence, and sexual and reproductive health sectors. She has worked extensively in both health and mental health contexts and brings a strong focus to the intersections of social disadvantage, trauma, and mental health. Tracey is deeply committed to anti-oppressive and social justice principles, and her practice is grounded in developing micro-level social work interventions that are both ethically sound and responsive to individual and systemic needs. She currently holds a part-time role as Principal Social Worker with the Central Adelaide Local Health Network and maintains a private practice as an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. .

The Board fulfills several responsibilities that require specialised knowledge and expertise, which are supported through subject-specific expert committees.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People's Committee

The SWRB SA decisions and actions will impact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce.

In recognition of this, the Board has established an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People's Committee (the Committee) to work alongside the functions of registration, quality practice and responding to concerns and reports (See separate page for details).

Finance Committee

To ensure compliance with its financial obligations, the Board has established a Finance Committee. This Committee is tasked with overseeing the finances of the Board, and reports to the Board at regular intervals.

Disciplinary Board

The legislation requires a Disciplinary Board to make decisions about concerns and reports made to the Board. The Disciplinary board is made up of three SWRB SA Board members.