Formed from the Australian Association of Social Workers, which had been in existence since 1955, the Australian Social Welfare Union came into being in 1976. In 1992, it amalgamated into the Australian Municipal Transport Energy Water Ports Community and Information Services Union, known as the Australian Services Union. Members of the Australian Social Welfare Union now form the Social and Community Services Sector Industry Division at a Branch and National level. The addition of the SACS area into the ASU provided a vital link into the private sector, bringing together workers within local government with their colleagues employed by non-government agencies.