The Social Work Historical Collection was established by the School of Social Work and Social Policy at the University of South Australia to collect material about the history of social work in South Australia. It includes material donated from researchers at the three South Australian universities, social work practitioners in in the government and non-government welfare sector. Donors include: Clare Withers, Elaine Martin, Dale Bagshaw, Margaret Brown, Judith Pink, Cynthia Duncan, Geraldine Jones, Marie Mune and the Anglican Social Welfare Library.

The Collection includes published and unpublished material including reports, papers, policies, correspondence, newsletters, newspaper clippings and audio recordings including oral interviews as well as a collection of books. Study guides and notes from former social work students and lecturers are also included.