Relational Practice: a social work podcast

Trigger Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions regarding aggression, violence, and antisocial behaviour. We recognize this content may be distressing, so please prioritize your well-being while listening. Aggression is a topic that sits at the very heart of social work practice, yet it is rarely "one-size-fits-all". In this episode, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive into the nuances...

💡 How confident do you feel responding when a client dissociates mid-session? Dissociation is everywhere in our caseloads, yet so many practitioners feel unsure about what it actually is, how to assess for it, and how to safely respond in the room. In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr Jodie Park and Rose Mackey strip away the jargon fog to talk about the gaps between...

Trigger Warning : This episode contains detailed discussions about self-harm (non-suicidal self-injury). We recognize this content may be distressing. Please prioritize your well-being while listening. Discovering that a young person may be hurting themselves often triggers a level of fear and uncertainty in practitioners and caregivers that few other topics can match. Despite how common it is, se...

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey go beyond the catch-all term of "stress" to explore the specific psychological injuries that social workers sustain on the front lines. We often feel that our exhaustion is a personal failure, but today we reframe it as a predictable biological and ethical response to a high-pressure system. Drawing heav...

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey are joined by Professor Joanne Spangaro, a distinguished researcher and academic leader whose career is defined by a deep commitment to addressing gender-based violence (GBV). With a professional journey that began in 1984 as a sexual assault counsellor, Jo brings over four decades of frontline experienc...

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey tackle the heavy weight of professional fallibility. We often feel that because we work with human lives, we aren’t allowed the luxury of being human ourselves, leading to those 3:00 AM "mistake loops" in our minds. Using the seminal work of Professor Eileen Munro, we dismantle the idea that errors are s...

In social work, we are often taught to "reflect" on our practice, but there is a deeper, more transformational layer called reflexivity. In this episode, Jodie and Rose break down these two distinct but interconnected methods for professional growth. Using the analogy of the Rearview Mirror (looking back at an experience) and the Mirror (looking at ourselves in the present moment), we discuss how...

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive deep into the most essential tool in a practitioner’s toolkit: the art of truly hearing what isn't being said. They are joined by Ross Judd , an expert in communication and organizational culture, and the author of Listening: A Guide to Building Deeper Connections . For social workers on the f...

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey explore a strategy often mistaken for kindness or "being an easy person," but which actually carries a high psychological price tag: Appeasement. We examine this issue through a multi-lens theoretical approach to promote deep sense-making for practitioners. By linking Attachment Theory, the Dynamic-Matur...

In this heavy but essential episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey confront the "national crisis" of domestic violence and the predictable patterns that lead to intimate partner homicide. Moving beyond media narratives that describe these tragedies as "senseless" or "out of nowhere," this discussion utilizes research from 2024–2026 to map out the "Pa...

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive into the complex world of supervised birth family contact . Moving beyond the idea that supervision is a passive task, this discussion explores the high-stakes clinical skills required to protect a child’s emotional and psychological well-being during family visits. Drawing on research and lis...

What happens to parenting when the "private" family unit becomes a "public" system? In this episode, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey explore the "Glass House" of foster care, a space where personal lives are visible to the state and parental autonomy is reshaped by systemic oversight. We’re moving beyond the media debate to discuss what it really means to be a Public Parent. To succeed, foster care...

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive deep into the intricate world of Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). Unlike traditional PTSD, which often stems from a single acute event, complex trauma results from prolonged, repeated experiences—often within a relational context where escape is difficult or impossible. We explore: Defining the Difference:...

Trigger alert- there is a small amount of swearing in this episode. It is an emotive topic for us! A Critical, Timely Deep Dive for Professionals and the Community We understand it’s the Christmas period, and this is a heavy topic. But we also know that for many people navigating high-conflict relationships, the holidays can be the most dangerous and suffocating time of the year. This episode is d...

"Stop asking, 'What is wrong with you?' Start asking, 'What happened to you?' In our new episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive deep into applying a Trauma Lens to Emotional and Behavioural Regulation. Think about an Iceberg: the behaviour you see is just the tip. Beneath the surface are protective, biological responses rooted in trauma. Key take...

In this critical episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , we centre the social work imperative: closing the harmful gap between progressive legal policy and inconsistent judicial practice in family violence matters. We tackle the tension where the legislative shift toward safety meets the judicial default of contact, often at the expense of protective mothers and their children. We...

It's time for a radical reframe: stop seeing complex behaviours as "disorganization" and start recognizing them as brilliant strategies for survival. This week, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive into the Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM), an advanced attachment framework that explains how trauma forces the brain to adapt by strategically blocking information. The DMM breaks self-protective strate...

Join Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey for a special Q&A episode where they tackle your most pressing questions about the complex world of social work. In this insightful and essential discussion, Jodie and Rose pull back the curtain on the profession, addressing: The Biggest Misconception: What is the most common misunderstanding about what a social worker actually does? Meaningful Participation...

Ever wondered what’s really going on when a client shuts down in a session? Or why a seemingly calm conversation can suddenly feel tense? This episode of Relational Practice dives into the powerful framework of Polyvagal Theory , a game-changer for social workers. Join hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey as they explore the Polyvagal Autonomic Ladder —Ventral Vagal-safe, social and connected, Sym...

On this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive into the profound role social workers play in supporting people through grief and loss . They approach this topic from a holistic, "person-in-environment" perspective, providing a practical and insightful guide for practitioners. Dr. Park and Rose Mackey explore several key grief theories that...

Join hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey as they dive into the complex world of ambiguous loss, a type of grief that social workers often encounter but may not have a name for. In this episode of "Relational Practice," they're joined by special guest Dr. Kenny Kor, a leading expert on the topic. What You'll Learn: What exactly is ambiguous loss? Dr. Kor breaks down the concept, based on the found...

On this episode of Relational Practice , we explore the crucial topic of practitioner resilience . We challenge the myth of the "superhero" social worker and instead, frame resilience as a skill that can be developed. The episode defines resilience not as a personal trait, but as the ability to adapt and grow in the face of adversity, influenced by both personal coping skills and external support...

You know that feeling when you're listening to a podcast and you need a dictionary just to understand the title? In this episode of Relational Practice , we're tackling a topic that often gets buried in academic jargon: critical reflection . We'll talk about why over-the-top language can be so frustrating—and even harmful—in a profession built on connection. We're cutting through the noise to get...

Have you ever found yourself wondering why some clients adapt to new situations with ease, while others seem to struggle immensely? In this episode, we're diving deep into two fundamental, lifelong processes that shape every individual's development, from childhood through adulthood: temperament and socialization. These aren't just concepts for parents; they're crucial for anyone working with peop...

Join us as we unpack kinship care, a vital arrangement where children who can't live with their biological parents are raised by relatives or close community members. You'll learn why this is Australia's preferred out-of-home care solution and how it aligns with the Child Placement Principle. We'll clarify the difference between known and unknown kinship carers and reveal the critical role of kins...