Social Work Spotlight

In this episode, I speak with Dalia, who has held diverse roles across both non-government and government sectors in all different capacities. Currently, Dalia is a Work Integrated Learning Officer at the University of NSW, identifying and assisting with student placements. She describes it as a privilege to be in these positions, working alongside people with the same values and commitment to equ...

In this episode I speak with Tony, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and founder of the Child Protection Party, which came about due to his commitment to working with families who have had their children removed. Tony has worked in generalist and gambling rehabilitation counselling services, was a founding member of the Confronting Violence and Abuse Group which provided a team of group fa...

In this episode, I speak with Scarlett, who started her career in the drug and alcohol field before moving into acute hospital work. She currently works in the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department of a busy Sydney hospital. Scarlett has previously worked as the General Manager of two homelessness/drug and alcohol NGOs in Sydney and in the juvenile justice field. She is a child protection t...

In this episode I speak with Lauren who has had over 10 years experience in social work with a diverse career history, including working in remote Aboriginal communities, and in one of Australia's largest children's hospitals. Currently she practices as a school counsellor in Western Sydney. Lauren has a lifelong interest in social justice and advocacy which has led her to an interesting p...

In this episode, I speak with Stephanie who has worked as a clinical social worker in both the homelessness and drug and alcohol sectors over the last 10 years. During this period she has developed a strong interest in challenging systemic and structural barriers, identifying solutions, and championing diversity. She completed a Masters of Public and Social Policy in 2020 and currently holds the r...

In this episode, I speak with Ben, a Ph. D. candidate at Western Sydney University with a social work practice background in community mental health, group work with men and boys, and community development (with the Penrith Panthers Rugby League Club). He is the founder of two social work-focused podcasts ( Social Work Stories and Social Work Discoveries ), and has been tutoring across various soc...

In this episode, I speak with Lachlan, an early career Social Worker whose final placement saw him working in a youth drug and alcohol NGO providing specialist homelessness services. This piqued Lachlan's interest in the social complexities of this client group and saw him working as a new grad Social Worker in an Opiate Treatment Program based in the inner city, where he has found a passion f...

In this episode, I speak with Eileen, a Senior Social Worker who started her career in child protection before transferring to health. She worked for 10 years in the spinal and rehabilitation field across acute, subacute and community areas and was a Social Work Team Leader at Royal North Shore Hospital Cancer Services Team working in medical oncology. Currently, she works as a Case Manager at The...

In this episode I speak with Dr Grahame Simpson who has 30 years of experience as a practitioner and clinical researcher in the field of traumatic brain injury. He is recognised internationally for his work in conducting epidemiological, clinical and psychometric, intervention and translation-based research in suicide prevention, positive sexual adjustment, the community-based management of challe...

In this episode I speak with Madison, currently undertaking her third year of a Bachelor of Social Work at The University of Sydney. Madison works for an Employment Service Provider contracted by the Department of Human Services and has experience in aged care in-home support work under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, and disability support work with TAFE NSW. Her goal is to eventually wo...

In this episode I speak with Felicity, who in addition to social work, has trained in art therapy and education, psychotherapy and corrective services. She worked in the prison system for 18 years supporting inmates and running groups and workshops. She now works as a teacher of Community Services, Ageing & Disability & Community Arts & Cultural Development at TAFE , supporting a combi...

In this episode I speak with Shiri, a Clinical Social Worker and Art Therapist. She has spent over 25 years working with children and adults who have experienced trauma, and mental health professionals who work with them. Her work spans private practice, public facilitation and research. Throughout her work, Shiri has found that art is a wonderful tool in which children (and adults) can communicat...

In this episode I speak with Lucia, a social worker and rehab case manager, specialising in acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, and mental health. Lucia worked for many years in the disability and social services in England and Spain before arriving in Australia in 2012 and commencing work as a Case Manager. She provides a person-centred approach to assist individuals to achieve their goals...

In this episode I speak with Alys, an experienced Trauma Specific Therapist and Social Worker specialising in children, young people and families who have experienced trauma, abuse, out of home care and the child protection system.  Alys is also a yoga teacher trainer, combining yogic healing modalities with trauma counselling to provide holistic healing and self care opportunities, that increase...

In this episode I speak with Jon, whose life has been dedicated to living and serving amongst Australia’s most disadvantaged. His work has seen him sharing his home with people seeking asylum, refugees, people in recovery, and ex-prisoners. Born in Malaysia and migrating to Australia in the 1970s, Jon’s life is testament to the power of hospitality. Jon heads up Wayside Chapel and continues Waysid...

In this episode I speak with Gabriela, a student in her final year of Social Work at the Australian Catholic University. Originally from Brazil, she has lived in Italy and London, and has been involved in charitable work from an early age. During her degree she has had the opportunity to work within a number of different organisations advocating for various social issues, including child protectio...

In this episode I have two guests joining me for the first time. I speak with Robina and Belinda about their work in the Disability and Sexual Violence Team at the NSW Health Education Centre Against Violence. This portfolio funding has come out of the Royal Commission into responses to abuse in institutionalised settings to improve responses to people with disability who have experienced sexual v...

In this episode I speak with Lara, whose interest in Social Work began with volunteering for the Dublin AIDS Helpline in 1990, working with non-Government organisations in an administration role, training in welfare in the late '90s and commencing as a case manager for a women's refuge.  Lara completed her social work degree in 2010 while working as a Housing Support Officer for ACON and i...

In this episode I speak with Vanessa, who works for The Blue Knot Foundation’s National Counselling & Referral Service supporting The Disability Royal Commission & COVID19 Disability Information Support Line. Vanessa has practised as a social worker in the disability, employment, aged care and organisational psychology fields, as well as for Centrelink offices in Darwin and Alice Springs,...

In this episode I speak with Ashton, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Supervisor, Trainer, Consultant and Private Practice Owner, having completed both a Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice degrees. She has many years of experience working with children and families and is passionate about working with people who have experienced trauma, collaborating w...

In this episode I speak with Alexis Stonebridge, NSW/ACT Manager of Social Work Services at Slater and Gordon Lawyers, with previous experience in the fields of out of home care, homelessness, drug and alcohol, family counselling and mediation. Slater and Gordon was the first private law firm in Australia to employ social workers to provide free clinical support to its legal clients.  In this role...

In this episode, Candice and I discuss her passion for ongoing learning and improving outcomes and opportunities for people living with a disability. Candice is the Professional Leader of Social Work at Royal Rehab and their inaugural sexuality services Team Leader. In addition to her Social Work Bachelor’s degree, Candice has completed a Master's in Public Health and post graduate studies in...

In this episode, James and I discuss his work in the Aged Care team at St George Hospital, involving discharge planning, support coordination and bereavement counselling. James has also worked within the Social Programs team at the City of Sydney, supporting the development, implementation and evaluation of various social inclusion and community development programs. With a strong passion for empo...

In this episode, Michelle and I discuss her extensive experience in the adult and youth homelessness services, family and domestic violence services, asylum seeker service and NSW Health. Michelle has provided care coordination and counselling with people experiencing substance use disorders, mental health, physical health and trauma histories. She uses a trauma-informed framework, strengths-based...

In this episode, Maegan and I discuss her work as a perinatal social worker providing services to pregnant women receiving care through a general obstetrics clinic and a hospital Women and Newborn Drug and Alcohol Service. Maegan enrolled in a PhD at UWA in 2020 where she will use qualitative methods to conceptualise the phenomenon of hospital-based infant removals by child protection grounded in...