Social Work Spotlight

In this episode I speak with Carol, a dedicated and trauma-informed therapeutic social worker with a degree also in Criminal & Community Justice. As the child of immigrant parents, Carol's upbringing instilled a deep understanding of the systemic barriers many individuals face, as well as the importance of empathy, empowerment, community care and social justice. Carol is highly experienced...

In this episode I speak with Celesty, a registered social worker and music educator committed to intersectional practice. With experience across domestic violence, refugee support, and community development, she centres healing, autonomy, and relational care. As a queer, neurodivergent professional with South Indian heritage, Celesty draws from ancestral resilience, person-centred frameworks, and...

In this episode I speak with Charlotte, the Program Manager of a youth crisis refuge and outreach program in Sydney. She has been in the housing and homelessness sector for the past five years and has also worked in men’s domestic and family violence and community outreach roles.  Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Y Foundations - https://www.yfoundations.org.au/ Inner Sydney Voi...

In this episode I speak with Nicky, who has worked throughout the UK, Cape & Torres, and Cairns, with over 20 years’ experience in Queensland Health and the mental health system. Nicky makes use of a variety of psychotherapies in her practice including EMDR, having recently finished a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy and strategic psychotherapy. Links to resources mentioned in this we...

In this episode I speak with Rachel, the Principal Accredited Social Worker and Founder of Lighting Your Way Social Wellbeing, a practice she built to be a safe, inclusive, and neuroaffirming service for people who often fall through the gaps. Alongside working directly with clients, she actively advocates for systemic reform by feeding back injustices and gaps in services to policymakers, as a pe...

In this episode I speak with Aishwarya, a passionate social work graduate from India, currently pursuing her Master’s of Social Work at RMIT University in Melbourne. With hands-on experience across diverse sectors including community development, youth education, aged care, and mental health services, Aishwarya brings both compassion and insight to her work. Deeply committed to advancing mental he...

In this episode I speak with Braden, a social work leader and supervisor from New Zealand. He has worked most of his career in the field of child protection and has recently completed his doctorate which explored how child protection social workers can support children to thrive after they have experienced adversity. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Training through Social Care...

In this episode I speak with Heath, a recently graduated social worker who has been studying the last six years and is currently working in the child protection space in the NGO sector. He has also completed a five-year internship in counselling whilst studying and now also works in private practice as a social worker. Heath has a strong passion for critical social work practice and strives for in...

In this episode I speak with Eileen, who has over 30 years of experience in child abuse, family violence, mental health and trauma and is passionate about the safety of children and ensuring the voices of children are heard. In 2022 Eileen launched her own company as a way of promoting primary prevention in the areas of child abuse and family violence. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s e...

In this episode I speak with Kristen, a passionate early career practitioner in the children, young persons and families space who in her spare time is also continuing her professional development by completing a Master’s of Social Work. Kristen uses relationship-based practice to work alongside young parents in supporting them to improve child developmental outcomes, breaking the cycle of generat...

In this episode I speak with Calum, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Psychotherapist, with 10 years of experience across specialist mental health services both in Australia and the UK. Calum also runs a small private practice, Stoa Therapy, and is undertaking further education in Family Therapy. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Calum’s private therapy practice, Sto...

In this episode I speak with Stacey, a social worker and program manager with extensive experience in youth homelessness, leading crisis refuges and transitional accommodation services. Passionate about trauma-informed care, she also leads initiatives supporting male survivors of domestic violence and is pursuing a PhD focused on suicide bereavement in Australian adult males. Links to resources me...

In this episode I speak with Mel, the founder and CEO of Social Care Solutions, a leading child safeguarding organisation in child protection assessment, training, support and consultancy across Australia and Aotearoa. With over 20 years of experience, multiple industry awards, and a passion for improving outcomes for children and young people, Mel is a recognised thought leader and advocate in th...

In this episode I speak with Korin, who has been working in the disability space for the last 4 years, currently working in behaviour support and supporting a team of practitioners under NDIS. In this role Korin supports people from various trauma backgrounds and helps to improve their lives and educate support workers, families and other providers to enable them to live out their full potential....

In this episode I speak with Yulia, a social worker and psychosexual therapist specialising in youth mental health and sexual health. She has worked in digital mental health spaces, clinical education, and peer support, bringing a diverse and holistic approach to her practice. Yulia completed her Master of Science in Medicine (Sexual and Reproductive Health), specialising in psychosexual therapy,...

In this episode I speak with Evanthea, a Social Worker and Counsellor with experience in child protection, out of home care, disability, and therapeutic roles. She currently works as the Director of her business, Budding Resilience Therapies, specialising in supporting individuals with complex psychosocial needs and offering experienced practitioners who have a multifaceted approach to supporting...

In this episode I speak with Mish, a plural system that is non-binary, queer, disabled, and neurodivergent, as well as beng awarded the 2024 Australian Social Worker of the Year. As a social worker of colour, their practice is grounded in identity affirming anti-colonial and anti-oppressive practices from which they have built their skillset of supporting people through a range of therapeutic moda...

In this episode I speak with Kimberly, who has 25 years of practice experience working alongside individuals, families and communities, responding to interpersonal, institutional, and colonial violence. She teaches in various universities nationally and internationally and provides supervision to social workers and therapists. Kimberly lives and works on Yuin country and identifies as a non-Aborig...

In this episode I speak with Loren, who has predominantly worked within the domestic, family and sexual violence sector. Loren discusses how her career has intersected with other disciplines along the way and how these experiences have shaped how she practices as a social worker. Loren currently works as Senior Practitioner supervising an interstate team supporting victim-survivors of financial ab...

In this episode I speak with Dr Josie McSkimming, who has practised in a wide range of settings for over 40 years, including hospital social work, inter-country adoption, post-adoption services, drug and alcohol treatment, individual and couples therapy and adult mental health. In addition to her private practice providing therapy and clinical supervision, Josie is an adjunct lecturer at the Unive...

In this episode I speak with Jordan, an accredited social worker and clinical supervisor. Jordan has worked in a variety of fields such as service coordination, aged care, mental health, drug and alcohol, and currently works within schools. Jordan is passionate about connecting with others and hearing their stories. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: NAPCAN’s Love Bites program -...

In this episode I speak with Amanda, a Social Worker who has spent most of her career working with older people. Recently, her passion for research and search for clarity in her career lead her to enrol in her PhD, researching Access for People with Dementia to Voluntary Assisted Dying. She balances part time work, part time studying and full-time parenting to two young boys. Amanda gains value ou...

In this episode I speak with Lisa, an accredited mental health social worker, psychotherapist, and author of Finding My Invisible Sun: Overcoming Trauma . Lisa has lived experience of trauma, mental illness and institutionalised discrimination and has practised therapy for a combined 15 years within a domestic and family violence prevention service and then as an accredited mental health social wo...

In this episode I speak with Rey, an emerging social worker from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, dedicated to supporting families, children, and young people. She currently specialises in assisting families impacted by the criminal justice system and also serves as a casual university social work supervisor.  Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Their Futures Ma...

In this episode I speak with Dr Jean Carruthers, a lecturer at the University of Newcastle who received her PhD in 2020 for her work on performance as a critical social work pedagogy. She has built on this to explore a range of creative methods in social work education and practice, with her current work focused on mental health and whether transformative wellbeing practices can be used to address...