Social Work Spotlight

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 out of supporting people to maintain their empowerment and self-determination, against what society tells them should happen. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Social Work Stories podcast episode ‘Social Work and Voluntary Assisted Dying’ - https://socialworkstories.com/episodes/ep-85-social-work-and-voluntary-assisted-dying-we-have-all-the-tools-we-need This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wlzLg4LM2xtdGrvVJrbk6kFEDuCmTR7bhr3gR0GC5Pg/edit?usp=sharing

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 worker. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Lisa’s Points of Resistance Theory webinar on eiseEducation - https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1209211 Janina Fisher (and her book The Fragmented Self) - https://janinafisher.com/ Pat Ogden - https://sensorimotorpsychotherapy.org/therapist-directory/pat-ogden-phd/ Learning Emotion-Focused Therapy - https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/4317035 Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps The Score - https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score EMDR Association of Australia - https://emdraa.org/ Lisa’s book Finding My Invisible Sun - https://australianselfpublishinggroup.com/finding-my-invisible-sun/ This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tDX4X9nDpOkKhOf8gVPdcU5rPElTM1p36wnp7IR3iDk/edit?usp=sharing

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 Matter (NSW Audit Office) - https://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/our-work/reports/their-futures-matter Transforming Justice Australia - https://www.transformingjustice.org.au/ GambleAware - https://www.gambleaware.org/ This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RTEirXjQIgNYsZLNSJS7nvp9XOzgGacbwJk0GaFGNx0/edit?usp=sharing

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 gaps in the sector.  Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Critical Conversations for Social Work Podcast - https://linktr.ee/criticalconversations4sw Jean’s PhD (Critical Performance Pedagogy: An approach for developing critical praxis in social work education) - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02615479.2023.2285848 NNN training (NNN Name, Narrate, Navigate) - https://www.namenarratenavigate.com/ Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_of_the_Oppressed Stephen Brookfield - https://www.stephenbrookfield.com/ Henry Giroux’s ‘On Critical Pedagogy’ - https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/on-critical-pedagogy-9781350144989/ Patricia Hill Collins ‘Intersectionality as Critical Social Theory’ - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/hypatia/article/intersectionality-as-critical-social-theory-patricia-hill-collins-durham-nc-duke-university-press-2019-isbn-9781478005421/132219F147E569254907767E780ED974 Bell Hooks - https://www.britannica.com/biography/bell-hooks This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y-Y11XPu3pf4IFrDzhwcPwfvqrQoZF_mKaZkAyTRPVI/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Harveen, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who has worked as a mental health clinician in both public and private hospital settings with a passion for supporting individuals and groups across a range of mental health journeys and trajectories. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: NEAMI National - https://www.neaminational.org.au/ St John of God Health Care - https://www.sjog.org.au/about-us This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zh0ug2rkebscBOWPMt5iAuhWp_mqWQQPX0ZSdeQ1-gw/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Yaleela, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist and private practice owner in Queensland. She is deeply passionate about Social Work practice because she understands the significant impact of social, economic, and political factors on the health and well-being of our children, families, and communities. Yaleela is dedicated to the profession and actively participates in the Australian Association of Social Workers and the Play Therapy Practitioners Association, as well as building capacity for other First Nations allied health practitioners. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Yaleela’s business - http://yaleelatorrenssocialwork.com.au/ Bindi Bennett’s publications - https://www.bindibennett.com/copy-of-resources Dr Bruce Perry - https://www.bdperry.com/ Dr Dan Siegel - https://drdansiegel.com/ Mental Health Academy - https://www.mentalhealthacademy.com.au/ Mindsight Institute - https://mindsightinstitute.com/ Lisa Sion - https://lisa-dion.com/ Stan Grant’s IQ2 Debate speech - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEOssW1rw0I&ab_channel=TheEthicsCentre This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pRIC3EYIRcMq5TBhPjhAsLwXnqPTWmZmqMCUeriboGE/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Kit, a descendent of the Wampanoag tribe in Canada and with German, Scottish and Irish ancestry. Kit has worked as a counsellor and trainer for over 20 years specialising in mental health and addictions and is currently a clinical supervisor and the founder and director of Nature Based Therapy in Victoria. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Nature Based Therapy - https://www.naturebasedtherapy.com.au/ Outdoor Health Australia - https://www.outdoorhealth.org.au Children & Nature Network - https://www.childrenandnature.org Richard Louv’s ‘Last Child in the Woods’ - https://richardlouv.com/books/last-child/ Richard Louv’s ‘Vitamin N’ - https://richardlouv.com/books/vitamin-n/ Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass’ - https://www.penguin.com.au/books/braiding-sweetgrass-9780141991955 Julie Baird’s ‘Phosphorescence’ - https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460710890/phosphorescence/ This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/17hNP3_fXvgJ2cnUOuvISOkuqpJY6ufawgGk61m_vkvw/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Sid, who in her early years of social work has discovered a deep passion for engaging with and supporting individuals navigating PTSD and mental health challenges. Her journey into social work was driven by a profound love for aiding others and a genuine interest in listening to their stories, empowering them to feel like the protagonist in their own lives. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://www.penguin.com.au/books/braiding-sweetgrass-9780141991955 Elliott Connie - https://elliottconnie.com/ Dr Martha Beck - https://marthabeck.com This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CyT_08sMU-ORZatjHTjma1C5hKnh4Gnqh2RkHGhAxls/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Brooke, a senior psychotherapist and Mental Health Social Worker specialising in trauma and attachment, child and youth mental health, perinatal mental health and family therapy. Brooke believes strongly in the healing power of nature and animals, and uses these principles as Director of a clinic near Brisbane offering Equine Facilitated Therapy, working from a body based trauma informed perspective. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Milan Family Systems Therapy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZkhboTUS3s Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture - https://www.vastbc.ca/ BC Centre for Ability - https://bc-cfa.org/ Australian National FASD Program - https://fare.org.au/fasd-program/ Professional Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness - https://www.equinefacilitatedwellness.org/ Therapy Well - https://www.therapywell.com.au/ Social Thinking - https://www.socialthinking.com/ Tara Brach’s guided RAIN meditations - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytr1V1R1rOw&list=PLKVXvQ02E4wqYNDeDvB-V8uYCoDmGVZ-8 Diagnosis in developmental-behavioural paediatrics: the art of diagnostic formulation (O’Keeffe & Macauley) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21790830/ Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy - https://ddpnetwork.org/about-ddp/dyadic-developmental-psychotherapy/ The Theraplay Institute - https://theraplay.org/what-is-theraplay/ Pat Ogden’s Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute - https://sensorimotorpsychotherapy.org/therapist-directory/pat-ogden-phd/ Dan Siegel - https://drdansiegel.com/ Guru Dudu’s silent disco tours - https://www.gurududu.org/silentdisco/ This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RPy4sMMYDublukBAxmddHY1eXWeXxJuPpREnfpOCKwc/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Veronya, an English and Arabic speaking accredited mental health social worker supporting young people in an early psychosis program. Verona has worked as a senior clinician and team leader with Headspace doing single sessions, supporting an outreach clinic and participating in the flood hub in Londonderry. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Australian NeuroFeedback Institute - https://anfi.org.au/ Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score - https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-9dnEqhWu9WaJr1nz5-ZfMJzC2MO8kRh0OXhc9DdHPs/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Sinnead who works with individuals in a Student Wellbeing team in a University setting, supporting students who are impacted by challenges that affect their studies. Sinnead also has experience working with children, adolescents and adults in both disability and mental health, family intervention and domestic violence.  Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: The Orange Door network - https://www.vic.gov.au/about-the-orange-door Orygen’s Under the Radar report sharing insights into some of the challenges university students experience - https://www.orygen.org.au/Orygen-Institute/Policy-Reports/Under-the-radar/Orygen-Under_the_radar_report?ext=. Information about the impact of disruptions such as COVID on student learning and wellbeing - https://www.acses.edu.au/app/uploads/2022/03/Vernon_ECU_FormattedFinal.pdf Australian Universities Accord - https://www.dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/australian-universities-accord-reforms This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K5hwBkOtoQrjx7b8v4NMCG-pyl42yOPArmTuxozOrrc/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Gaul, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who has worked in tertiary level mental health services for 15 years. Gaul currently works in private practice at Psychology Training and Supervision where he specialises in couples and family therapy as well as providing clinical supervision to mental health clinicians.  Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Psychology Training and Supervision - https://psychologytrainingandsupervision.com.au/ Interview with Pam Cohen and Marier Heydon discussing supervision on ‘Just Another Do Gooder - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/just-another-do-gooder/id1360595377 Discussion with Brené Brown and Esther Perel on Partnerships, Patterns, and Paradoxical Relationships - https://brenebrown.com/podcast/partnerships-patterns-and-paradoxical-relationships/ Discussion with Brené Brown and Esther Perel on Artificial Intimacy - https://brenebrown.com/podcast/new-ai-artificial-intimacy/ South Western Sydney Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (ICAMHS) - https://www.swslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/MentalHealth/ICAMental.html HETI’s The Superguide - https://www.heti.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/424859/HETI_Superguide_Txt_WARAHETI_OCT_19.pdf Dr Sue Johnson and EFT work - https://drsuejohnson.com/ Martha Kauppi’s Institute for Relational Intimacy - https://www.instituteforrelationalintimacy.com/ Esther Perel - https://www.estherperel.com/ Brené Brown - https://brenebrown.com/ Chris Voss - https://www.blackswanltd.com/chris-voss This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FFvNPK2zMi7-i9xXTnoHc2wily3oSp2itbNBnKMbHlU/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Thanh, an accredited mental health social worker with intensive experience working with people who have a history of complex trauma and addiction. She has recently developed her own private practice and is passionate about addressing stigma and improving access and engagement in mental health services for Vietnamese and Asian populations more generally. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk - https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score In an Unspoken Voice by Peter A. Levine - https://www.penguin.com.au/books/in-an-unspoken-voice-9781556439438 Thanh’s business ‘Embracing Us’ - https://embracingus.com.au/ This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/13jsH53ibRd7txrPj_DZasJkt5Am2mQFuFBOyteaBxB0/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Su, a care manager at The CareSide, assisting and manage clients in accessing support through their home care packages. Originally from Shanghai, Su spent three years as a corporate banker before moving to Adelaide to complete her Master's degree at Flinders University in 2019, chasing her desire to make a meaningful difference in people's lives through social work. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: The CareSide - https://www.thecareside.com.au/ The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - https://au.themyersbriggs.com/themyersbriggs-all-about-the-mbti-assessment.aspx My Aged Care - https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/ This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CTrdY18zbBAKC2Dq9fmOSNWVfzhiUQq93mDO198OP4s/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Stef, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who works in private practice at Clarity Therapy in Gymea, Sydney. He has a background in child protection and Out of Home Care, and utilises an integrated therapeutic approach, drawing on evidence based modalities as well as social work theory, aiming for a holistic approach to improving mental health. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: The Ankali Project - https://thealbioncentre.org.au/ankali-project/ Barnardos Australia - https://www.barnardos.org.au/ Clarity Therapy - https://claritytherapy.com.au/ Building Your Ideal Private Practice by Lynn Grodzki - https://www.wiley.com/en-au/Building+Your+Ideal+Private+Practice+A+Guide+for+Therapists+and+Other+Healing+Professionals-p-9780393709483 PESI continuing education - www.pesi.com.au Ashton Hayes’ podcast Becoming an AMHSW - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/becoming-an-amhsw-the-podcast/id1642275191 Interview with Brené Brown and Esther Perel on New AI (Artificial Intimacy) - https://brenebrown.com/podcast/new-ai-artificial-intimacy/ This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S3KYUnQrF4r4wr7DOw1CnCPY7njgtEbdBSKoSxvm5z4/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Jamie, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and a Senior Social Worker who works both in private practice and within a community mental health service. Jamie has experience working in the UK and Australia and has a special interest in providing psychological therapy to older adults. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Brené Brown’s conversations with Drs John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman on The Love Prescription - https://brenebrown.com/podcast/the-love-prescription-part-1-of-3/ The Gottman Institute professional training - https://www.gottman.com/professionals/training/ Esther Perel’s podcast ‘Where Should We Begin?’ - https://www.estherperel.com/podcast Social Worker in Private Practice podcast (Tammy Roche) - https://open.spotify.com/show/4vaR5Bgkh2oMeopl5U9ETD?si=fe544c2d2a3b46d4 Dr Russ Harris’ workshop ACT Made Simple - https://www.actmindfully.com.au/product/act-made-simple/ The Happiness Trap resources (Dr Russ Harris) - https://thehappinesstrap.com/free-resources/ Cognitive Behaviour Therapy - Basics and Beyond (Judith Beck) - https://www.cbtaustralia.com.au/shop/p/cognitive-therapy-basics-and-beyond-89ew4 Mental Health Academy - https://www.mentalhealthacademy.com.au/ SW Spotlight episode with Kristin (UK-based social worker) - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/socialworkspotlight/episodes/Episode-98-Kristin-e2c3iug This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cz0SlUcw01BGPKVqciaHdMR0NCudIvYjCMUb97iX4O8/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Cass, a respectful child protection social worker and supervisor with a therapeutic mindset, committed to addressing social issues through innovative approaches and challenging injustices with kindness and empathy. Cass is dedicated to promoting inclusivity and advocacy for marginalised communities through systemic change. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Winangay resources for Aboriginal kids and families - https://www.winangay.com/resources Kevin Campbell’s Family Finding and Family Seeing - https://www.familyfinding.org/our-team & https://www.familyseeing.org/about The Last Daughter film - https://www.thelastdaughter.com.au/ After the Apology film - https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/after-the-apology/1333274179947 This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yenw8UAoUc_iGd7KbqyMXOO9mAYgPCoSK02sakvUxlg/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Dean, a dedicated and compassionate counsellor who specialises in client-centred therapies for both individuals and couples. Dean is a social worker with additional training in nursing, mental health and addiction, as well as being an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. Dean specialises in anxiety, depression and addiction, with a talent for helping clients quit smoking, drinking and other substances. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Open Arms veterans and families counselling service - https://www.openarms.gov.au/ Lives Lived Well - https://www.liveslivedwell.org.au/ Dean’s website - https://www.apollocounsellingservices.com.au/about Dean’s LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-bell-443531191 This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QzarWfFdhWZCk3wagV_5r7dfCO1E2vKfXWjWOoQL-Gs/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Monique, a dynamic and innovative Social Worker specialising in disability social work under the NDIS funding system. Monique provides therapeutic and capacity building services to the neurodivergent community and professional supervision and training through her private practice "Our Future Focus" in Brisbane. Monique is a passionate clinical supervisor, trainer and avid encourager of social workers who want to learn more about effective and evidence based disability social work. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Monique’s business ‘Our Future Focus’ - https://ourfuturefocus.com.au/ NDIS Social Workers Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1570529893102681 Reframing Autism - https://reframingautism.org.au/ Training with Monique Mitchelson - https://moniquemitchelson.com.au/373-2/ Divergent Futures - https://www.divergentfutures.com/ The Neurodivergent Woman podcast - https://moniquemitchelson.com.au/podcast/ This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kCgVaRE_D7PUOp97VcNjfI_dSimtXIDtbHNsG7SIZT0/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I speak with Victoria, a Social Worker and Peer Worker living and working on Stolen Kaurna Land in Adelaide, South Australia). As a recent Master’s of Social Work graduate she has been active in the Youth Mental Health sector, with a passion for working collaboratively with Multicultural, LGBTQIA+ people, and those with intersectional identities. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode: Youth Peer Work training - https://www.orygen.org.au/Training/Resources/General-resources/Toolkits/Youth-peer-work LELAN (SA Lived Experience Leadership & Advocacy Network) - https://www.lelan.org.au/ledge-intro-leadership-modules-home/ So you want to talk about race? (book by Ijeoma Oluo) Pease, B. (2010). Undoing Privilege: Unearned Advantage in a Divided World. Zed Books. Bennett, B., & Green, S. (2019). Our voices: Aboriginal social work (Second edition) Building service capacity to work with LGBTIQ+ forcibly displaced people - https://fdpn.org.au/lgbtiq-settlement-training/ LGBTIQA+ Multilingual Terminology, co-designed by multilingual LGBTQ+ people and linguists and translators - https://www.rainbowterminology.org/ Stories untold podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/790pdThflCpxh2aF9TQl9O?si=FPGhmyttQtuRaHMklTHMeQ You Can’t Ask That (ABC TV documentary) - https://iview.abc.net.au/collection/979 Race Matters - values and complexities of race, culture and identity - https://fbiradio.com/podcast/racematters/ Elliot Page’s Gaycation TV documentary series - https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/gaycation/season-1 This episode's transcript can be viewed here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1suElT4_FFinSGkGCflyoRSVxuF2indQ_2kaKCtLlN24/edit?usp=sharing