The Social Work Stories Podcast

For all the social workers who work on-call, this episode it for you! This is a very special episode with a very special "anonymous guest"... We think you might guess the voice, but you will have to listen along to fully work it out.   p.s. Don't forget to check out the latest episode of our sister podcast  Social Work Discoveries !   p.s.s. We'd love for you to join the conversation on this, so m...

In this powerful episode, a pediatric social worker shares her profound insights into hope as an active social work intervention. Working with children facing complex health challenges, she explores how hope isn't just a concept, but a practice of connection, advocacy, and presence. Through intimate stories of resilience, she reveals how social workers can cultivate hope even in the most difficult...

Mim and Lis hear from a new graduate social worker who landed a position in a rural Allied Health Graduate Program. The social worker shares her journey, from initial hesitation to embracing the unique opportunities and challenges of rural practice. The social worker describes her experience rotating through diverse clinical settings over two years, highlighting the strong support and flexibility...

Join Mim and Lis as we hear a story from an Australian social worker who took his child protection experience and practiced in Türkiye, working with urban refugee populations. He reflects on the challenges of applying Western social work practices in a non-Western context, including navigating cultural differences around mental health, trauma-informed practice, and power dynamics. The social worke...

Join Mim and Lis as we hear an interview with two social workers from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. These passionate social workers discuss the crucial role of social work in family law cases. Their social work story explores how conducting child-centered assessments and gaining the child's perspective can shift parents' understanding of their child's experiences, and lead to...

In this episode, Lis and Mim delve into a rich practice story from a social worker in the disabilities space, supporting a mother and her children experiencing domestic violence, while working to meet the high support needs of one of the children. Then we break down the story and what was happening behind the scenes for that social worker - holding this family with great care, dignity and respect...

Hey! Social Worker!! If you listen to this episode you'll never think of 'discharge planning' as simply admin again... it'll become an act of social justice each and every time! Enjoy.   SIDE NOTE: In this episode, Mim refers to Pamela Trevithick's work. Here's the reference: Trevithick, P. (2012). Social work skills and knowledge: a practice handbook (3rd edn.). McGraw-Hill/Open University Press....

Lis called this episode, "A classic!" and Mim said, "This is going straight onto my University Readings List." So, you know it's going to be worth the listen! We hope that you enjoy.   SIDE NOTE: In this episode, Lis refers to a journal article on 'covert activism'. Here's the reference: Greenslade, L., McAuliffe, D. & Chenoweth, L., 2015, 'Social workers' experiences of covert workplace activ...

Welcome back to the Social Work Stories podcast. This is the first episode released for 2024, and boy-oh-boy do we have a doozy for you!! In this episode, you'll join Lis and Mim in hearing from an anonymous social worker using a practice innovation in an Emergency Department setting. This is a riveting story and discussion, not to be missed!   SIDE NOTE: In this episode, Mim refers to 'Narrative...

Join hosts Lis Murphy and Mim Fox as they delve into the nuanced and delicate role of social workers in supporting individuals through voluntary assisted dying. As the state of New South Wales, Australia prepares to introduce voluntary assisted dying later this month, Mim and Lis frame the conversation by highlighting how this emerging field of practice adds depth to the already established wider...

This episode details the experience of a woman and her social worker seeking an abortion, but who face extreme barriers on multiple fronts to access the care and decision-making power she needs. This is certainly an episode NOT TO MISS! Join Mim and Lis as they navigate this heartwrenching and personal story from our anonymous social worker, as she details the work she does with her client/patient...

In this episode, Lis invites expert special guest Jo McIlveen to come and listen to this moving story of a social worker's intervention using memory making for a grieving family in a hospital setting. Lis and Jo discuss the ins and outs of the story in such great detail, that we think you will want to know more about this kind of social work practice, whether you're working in end of life care or...

Ever thought that maybe taking a client, consumer, patient outside the four walls of your office and into the big, wide world to help with creating some change and perspective? Well this episode is the one to listen to! Join Lis and Mim (and their guests) as they explore 'nature as a co-therapist'.   Special Guests: Josh McLean - josh@geelongadventurespecialists.com.au Amanda Smith - a.smith2@grif...

Exciting news! We are introducing a new podcast project to you all. In this episode you'll hear all about the podcast we've been working on with the Agency for Clinical Innovation and NSW Health called 'Making Visible: Preventing and Responding to Violence, Abuse and Neglect'. We hope you enjoy it. Here's a link to the podcast webpage: https://bit.ly/42pIatp You can also search 'Making Visible: Pr...

We've all been there. That moment on a Friday afternoon, when things are calm and you've wrapped up the working week, about to clock-off and hit the weekend. Then... all hell breaks loose and you find yourself in a classic 'Friday Afternoon Special'. Join Mim and Lis as they listen to this Anonymous Social Worker's practice in the context of a family and domestic violence situation. The expert soc...

How do we measure a successful outcome in our practice? What would we consider a happy ending for the people we work with? Would they agree? In this episode, Mim and Lis explore a story from a social worker in the Early Intervention space. We hear what Early Intervention is, and the approaches for supporting families before their situation reaches a crisis point. Then we hear a powerful story abou...

You probably already know that around Social Work Stories, we’re big fans of stories from social workers who are in unique practice settings... so it's no question that we LOVED hearing this story.  In this episode, we mark World Social Work Day 2023! Then, we hear a powerful story from Jack about his time as a Police Social Worker, working with Pacific Islander youth in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Then...

Ever wondered about what happens in a Family Conference? Well this is the episode that will bring you up to speed. Covering a diverse range of insights around the stages of a family conference, the skills you need to develop to undertake a conference competently, and the language you will use throughout, this anonymous social worker explores this and more in-depth. Join Mim and Lis as they then re...

Our first episode of 2023 starts off with an incredible story of a Mental Health Social Worker in a Hospital Emergency Department. We hear about a patient who comes in needing support, and how the social worker makes quick decisions about his approach towards her needs. We hear a rich internal-dialogue of a skilled clinician going about their work, providing dignity, person-centred care, and a hol...

It's the end of another year, and to mark this space together, Lis and Mim sit down to have a conversation together about sharing stories in the supervision space. Our hope is to offer a different idea about the use of narrative reflection can bring a new richness into supervision, and can create a fresh value in this space. In the midst of the holidays, busyness and newness of a fresh year, we ho...

A very special episode of Social Work Stories - a recording from our very first LIVE SHOW!  As part of the ANZSWWER Symposium in early November, the team hosted a recording session of the podcast in front of a live audience, and we had such a great time. We're so excited to share this with you, and hope it's the first of many.  Join Lis, Mim, and a live audience as we hear from an anonymous social...

Ever heard from a social worker with an ongoing position in a school before? How about a social work student with an intensive field placement in a school? In this episode Mim & Lis sit down with Professor Myfanwy Maple of the University of New England (Australia) to talk through what might come from the opportunity of having social workers and social work field placements in schools. Enjoy the ch...

Join Mim and Lis as we listen to a story about narrative therapy, disenfranchised grief, and intensive work with mothers whose children have been removed. Hear about the importance of documenting people’s stories, working for justice, and navigating the politics of storytelling. Mim and Lis share their thoughts and reflections about this unique and fascinating practice space. We also put a call ou...

Join Mim and Lis as they sit down with Jo McIlveen for an in-depth conversation about social work in the bereavement space. Jo discusses companioning in end of life care, and brings in her extensive knowledge of research in the death & dying space that informs her practice in this area. Lis and Mim also share their own experience in this space, providing a rich discussion which will no-doubt bring...

You're on the ward, it's late at night, and your job is to assess the patient's belongings as part of hospital protocol. You open up a container that you find in the person's bag, and there staring back at you is a large, hairy, creepy spider... This story is sure to have you listening with keen ears to find out how it is that social workers can find even the smallest moments to practice respect f...