Social Work Spotlight

In this episode I speak with Patty who began her social work career as a domestic violence counsellor before moving into child protection for children in foster care and out of home care. Patty is an external supervisor for social work students at the Australian Catholic University and has had her private counselling practice for 15 years. Patty is also a wedding celebrant, retreat host, workshop facilitator, coach, counsellor, reiki master, energy healer and senior yoga teacher. More recently she began hosting a podcast called Carer Conversations to help provide support and inspiration for carers who care for their loved ones in the ageing, mental health, addiction and disability sector.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Learning for Life program - https://www.learningforlife.org/
• NEIS: New Enterprise Incentive Scheme - https://www.dewr.gov.au/new-business-assistance-neis
• Patty’s website - https://pattykikos.com/
• Carer Conversations podcast - https://www.benevolent.org.au/blog/the-benevolent-society-launches-new-podcast-to-support-the-2-7-million-carers-in-australia

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uBk4PPjlcIZYmTx7WsBDAiyj3xGk5_31KahCoexSmqM/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Alex, the owner of Mindful Recovery Services, a private practice providing psychological treatment and support for adolescents and adults. Alex is passionate about dispelling myths about mental illness and is highly skilled in dialectical behavioural therapy. She is an experienced public speaker and provides consultation to other professionals on managing difficult behaviours in teens.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Alex’s business (Mindful Recovery Services) - https://www.mindfulrecovery.com.au/
• Mindful Recovery Services on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mindfulrecoveryservices/
• Gerda Muller, clinical psychologist and business coach - https://gerdamuller.com.au/
• Gerda Muller’s Facebook group (Private Practice Success) - https://www.facebook.com/PrivatePracticeSuccess/
• The Business of Social Work Australia Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1919283988289631/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iQpjJWrfckSIqb4P2H97YQykQirSXOaCbRSI5vTxAbQ/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Erin, a senior social worker with over 20 years of experience working in mental health and rehabilitation services in Sydney, Brisbane and London. After spending the first 15 years of her career working in the field of child and adolescent mental health and paediatric rehab, Erin began working in adult neurological rehabilitation. She has recently commenced an exciting new role at Care Rehab, a service which provides specialist social work and psychosexual therapy services.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• LifeWorks at Royal Rehab - https://royalrehablifeworks.com.au/
• Strength2Strength program at Royal Rehab - https://royalrehab.com.au/event/strength2strength-program-for-brain-injury-3/
• Mental Health Academy’s Disaster Mental Health Counselling course - https://www.mentalhealthacademy.com.au/credential/dmhc/enrol
• The Gottman Institute’s The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work - https://www.gottman.com/product/the-seven-principles-for-making-marriage-work/
• ACI Spinal Cord Injury Emotional Wellbeing Toolkit elearning Course - https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/resources/spinal-cord-injury/learning-resources/emotional-wellbeing-elearning
• Synapse, Australia’s Brain Injury Organisation - https://synapse.org.au/
• HEEADSSS psychosocial interview format - https://www.medicalhomeportal.org/link/6632#:~:text=HEADSSS%20is%20a%20screening%20tool,most%20personal%20and%20sensitive%20subjects
• Care Rehab - https://carerehab.com.au/
• Erin’s journal article, published in partnership with colleagues at Royal Rehab (Uncovering the nature of cross-disciplinary inpatient rehabilitation care co-ordination) - https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/informit.509587463376829

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wAi90lI5D0YZ8_ppIcVHL3tJshg4_kn9MaDYIgLZsdQ/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Michelle, whose interest and practice focus on attachment, groupwork, narrative therapy, Response Based Practice, systems, and intergenerational trauma. Her areas of specialty include LGBTQIA+, CALD, trauma and relationship counselling. She currently works in both private practice and in NGOs to provide therapy, consultations and training, and clinical supervision for social work/counselling students.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Sydney Inclusive Counselling (Michelle’s practice) - https://sydneyinclusivecounselling.com.au/
• Centre for Response-Based Practice - https://www.responsebasedpractice.com/
• Dulwich Centre - https://dulwichcentre.com.au/
• Esther Perel’s podcast Where Should We Begin? - https://www.estherperel.com/podcast
• Dear Therapists by Lori Gottlieb’s and Guy Winch’s podcast Dear Therapists - https://lorigottlieb.com/podcast/#:~:text=Welcome%20to%20the%20Dear%20Therapists,and%20extraordinary%20challenges%20of%20life.
• Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Nonmonogamy by Jessica Fern - https://www.jessicafern.com/books
• Maps of Narrative Practice by Michael White - https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393705164
• Retelling the Stories of Our Lives by David Denborough - https://wwnorton.com/books/Retelling-the-Stories-of-Our-Lives/
• The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Bruce Perry and Maia Szalavitz - https://www.bdperry.com/books
• Karpman’s Drama Triangle - https://karpmandramatriangle.com/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S7joGp_pVhKx4iAEM_vTNCPfRfqNzyQMYqp03mVrgzs/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Jacob and Aaron. Aaron is a social worker and therapist currently working with children in Out of Home Care across NSW to build the relational networks around children and facilitate their healing from developmental trauma through somatic and play-based therapies. Jacob is a child and adolescent social worker with experience providing trauma-informed therapeutic support to children and young people across the out of home care, refugee resettlement and residential rehabilitation spaces. Both are passionate about building trauma-informed and empathic communities.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• John Moriarty Football - https://moriartyfoundation.org.au/programs/john-moriarty-football/
• Bruce Perry’s books (including The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog) - https://www.bdperry.com/books
• Daniel Hughes’ P.A.C.E. approach - http://www.danielhughes.org/p.a.c.e..html

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O-TcghzwRqoh03nkEZpVFp4lZFUzfkeDPd8wOfuR1oE/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Claire, a community based social worker with experience initially in mental health before moving into the field of criminal justice. She has predominantly provided long term case management and support for women as they transition from prison back into the community. Claire is a strong advocate for assisting people to develop pathways and identities outside of the criminal justice system to reduce the numbers of people, particularly First Nations peoples cycling in and out of our prisons.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Incarceration Nation - https://incarcerationnation.com.au/
• Community Restorative Centre - https://www.crcnsw.org.au/
• CRC’s ‘Jailbreak’ radio program - https://www.crcnsw.org.au/services/jailbreak-radio/
• Paper Chained: a journal of expression from behind the bars - https://www.paperchained.com/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wyYbF7lQtl8bZANVHBsRvBatDqO7V-mHnCbfqXpix1o/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Cherie, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who has over 15 years’ experience working with children, adolescents and adults primarily working in the field of trauma, focusing on sexual assault and domestic violence. In addition to her counselling role Cherie provides clinical supervision as well as mentoring, training and resources for social workers wanting to develop their own private practice.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Cherie’s website - https://www.cheriegillett.com/
• Janina Fisher - https://janinafisher.com/
• Judith Herman’s ‘Trauma and Recovery’ - https://www.booktopia.com.au/trauma-and-recovery-judith-herman/book/9780465061716.html
• Peter Levine - https://www.somaticexperiencing.com/about-peter
• Port Integrative Therapy (Krystal Hawkins) - https://portintegrativetherapy.com.au/
• ECAV (Education Centre Against Violence) - https://www.ecav.health.nsw.gov.au/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gfrQ5kCz4Y7FY50-gj71UsHWjyyaXqIrcUqLZhzr3Vk/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Peggy, who completed her social work degree at the University of South Australia in 1994.  She worked in NSW Health for over 27 years in a variety of social work and health manager roles.  She is currently working for Queensland Health as a social worker in the Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service.  She is passionate about supporting and developing social workers and encouraging them to look outside traditional social work roles for job opportunities.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Kouzes and Posner’s The Leadership Challenge - https://www.leadershipchallenge.com/research/five-practices.aspx
• Senate enquiry into Pelvic Mesh - https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/MeshImplants/Report

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LU23OwGC2KhnUh1HP_M5DjuhxmD-4_8z1Z0JbRwneOI/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Cathy who in over 25yrs as a social worker has worked in the community sector and multicultural aged care, in an acute teaching hospital in rehab and aged care, and has developed training tools and social work group supervision. Cathy has now returned to community social work in Northern Sydney for the Community Nursing program, visiting patients with chronic and complex issues.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Severe Domestic Squalor by John Snowdon, Graeme Halliday, and Sube Banerjee - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13218719.2013.761743
• How to Use Social Work Theory in Practice, An Essential Guide by Malcolm Payne - https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/how-to-use-social-work-theory-in-practice
• Buried in Treasures - free 15-week online group program, providing in-depth training and support for people with hoarding tendencies - https://www.catholichealthcare.com.au/events/buried-in-treasures-support-groups/#:~:text=Buried%20in%20Treasures%20is%20a,12%20who%20share%20similar%20experiences

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wMzkGX8GTQkKYxdXx6I_dt2WJUAu9TLIkKCGEXaL-tU/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Rebecca, who has 25 years of social work experience in child protection, legal aid and more recently in private practice. Rebecca has extensive skills in risk assessments and complex case management for young people, and has worked also for the physical abuse and neglect of children counselling service. The majority of her career has been as a criminal consultant for legal aid, and supporting high risk young offenders. More recently Rebecca has moved into part-time private practice, where she continues to specialise in family group conferencing.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Legal Aid NSW (podcasts, annual reports, mental health, Work Development Orders, Closing the Gap Project, Health Justice Partnership Outreach Services and more) - https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/
• Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare - https://www.cfecfw.asn.au/
• Australian Institute of Criminology - https://www.aic.gov.au/
• Safe and Sound Protocol (Unyte Integrated Listening) - https://integratedlistening.com/ssp-safe-sound-protocol/
• Trauma Resource Foundation - https://traumaresearchfoundation.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw-SEz-eh-gIVRQ4rCh0EkQJHEAAYASAAEgL3ivD_BwE
• PESI mental health continuing education seminars - https://www.pesi.com/
• Psychotherapy Networker magazine - https://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/
• Internal Family Systems Institute - https://ifs-institute.com/
• Tania Singer - https://taniasinger.de/
• Janina Fisher - https://janinafisher.com/
• Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory: The Emergence of Polyvagal Informed Therapies by Stephen Porges and Deb Dana - https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324000501
• The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe by Stephen Porges - https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393707878
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk - https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score
• The Wisdom of Trauma by Gabor Mate - https://thewisdomoftrauma.com/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Gmut4QtNyyiA0D4go9VjHPYXr6RI23yBsuU3SQF1oxc/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.