This podcast features interviews with social workers in Sydney, Australia, showcasing diverse areas of practice, social work stories, successes, and challenges,...
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 the sector.Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:Child-centred Social Work: Theory and Practice by Barnes, V. (2017). UK: Macmillan EducationEcological Systems Theory - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRdlWPB8xS4With Our Two Hands Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation - https://wothatsic.org/Queensland Foster and Kinship Care - https://www.qfkc.com.au/After the Apology documentary - https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/after-the-apology/1333274179947Hear Us Roar: Lioness edition - https://www.kmdbooks.com/product-page/hearus-roar-lioness-editionInternational Childhood Trauma Conference 2025 - https://childtraumaconference.org/Queensland Family and Child Commission - https://www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/Peak Care - https://peakcare.org.au/This episode's transcript can be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/188bF1sxIpSWX0rvyXnZ7wd5HuyWqYb3iSAw92CGCUIY/edit?usp=sharing
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48:35
Episode 131: Korin
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. Korin has a passion in advocating for human rights and accessibility for all and is about to expand into providing supervision to social work students undergoing their placements.Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia - https://bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au/Mindful Recovery DBT Centre - https://www.mindfulrecovery.com.au/Alex Wilson (of Mindful Recovery) featured on Social Work Spotlight - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/fx8u6TaZvRbThe Assertive Social Worker - https://www.instagram.com/theassertivesocialworker/Chantelle Towers (The Assertive Social Worker) featured on Social Work Spotlight - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/NSSLoyaZvRbThe Playful Psychologist - https://www.theplayfulpsychologist.com/This episode's transcript can be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/180e0-3pyDKo_0Pv98td4MVkC3wCwG9VFHpMpSOZJsJI/edit?usp=sharing
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52:53
Episode 130: Yulia
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, and also holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:Digital mental health services -https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/digital-mental-health-servicesThis Way Up -https://thiswayup.org.au/Mood Gym -https://www.moodgym.com.au/ABC of Sexual Health by Kevan R Wylie -https://www.wiley.com/en-au/ABC+of+Sexual+Health%2C+3rd+Edition-p-9781118665619Sex-Positive Social Work by SJ Dodd -https://cup.columbia.edu/book/sex-positive-social-work/9780231188111This episode's transcript can be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15CyVrrZpgbSaWPh5qmUCfiidcQz9UQjMUUVj0k4q-cg/edit?usp=sharing
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1:08:31
Episode 129: Evanthea
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 their clients as they navigate multiple systems. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:Kids Helpline -https://kidshelpline.com.au/Budding Resilience Therapies -https://www.buddingresilience.com/The Yoga Impact Charity -https://www.yogaimpactcharity.com/Evanthea’s research assessment; How job stress impacts child protection -https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/research-assessment-how-job-stress-impacts-child-magnisallis-jp/Eddie’s practice -https://www.leadwithlove.com.au/Evanthea’s podcast System Error -https://open.spotify.com/show/7e88NbL8jEODaUntOx9i58Evanthea on Ashton’s podcast Becoming an AMHSW -https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/episode-18-evanthea/id1642275191?i=1000651753280Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics -https://www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org/neurosequential-model-of-therapeutics-nmt/Bessel van der Kolk, how yoga helps heal trauma -https://kripalu.org/resources/how-yoga-helps-heal-trauma-qa-bessel-van-der-kolkThis episode's transcript can be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CUzcOvkRi0V72VZvb49dtDY4thycBl6783r_2NmRsog/edit?usp=sharing
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51:13
Episode 128: Mish
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 modalities. Mish is the chair of The Iceberg Foundation, a mental health charity for BIPOC, queer and neurodivergent humans and is the principal practitioner at Niram, a BIPOC focussed EMDR practice.
Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:
The Iceberg FOundation - https://www.theicebergfoundation.org/
GenWest - https://www.genwest.org.au/
Rainbow Giving Australia - https://rainbowgiving.org.au/news/the-aurora-group-and-giveout-announce-merger-as-one-million-dollars-distributed-for-lgbtqia-communities
Linda Thai - https://www.linda-thai.com/
Queering EMDR Therapy - https://www.instituteforcreativemindfulness.com/publishing/queering-emdr-therapy/
Zoe Bell Gender Collective - https://zbgc.org.au/
In Our Blood TV series - https://iview.abc.net.au/show/in-our-blood
The Oasis Movie and Life After the Oasis - https://theoasismovie.com.au/
Decolonizing Therapy podcast episode - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/decolonizing-therapy-a-movement-an-interview/id1310770477?i=1000633816868
My Grandmother’s Hands podcast episode - https://soundcloud.com/librofm/my-grandmothers-handsracialized-trauma-the-pathway-to-mending-by-resmaa-menakem
Jamie Marich’s Dissociation Made Simple - https://www.penguin.com.au/books/dissociation-made-simple-9781623177218
This episode's transcript can be viewed here:Â
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VGdbAxpZsnywlOsK3L9Xf19QabZB82SW0UcaA_5TcQU/edit?usp=sharing
This podcast features interviews with social workers in Sydney, Australia, showcasing diverse areas of practice, social work stories, successes, and challenges, and providing information on media and other resources that can be accessed to help inform and educate people who are curious about the profession or wanting a career change.
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