Social Work Spotlight

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 with each client to create a safe and positive therapeutic experience. Ashton is also a clinical supervisor and leadership coach who uses a trauma-informed approach to support supervisees and leaders in their roles as well as helping them to achieve their career goals.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Becoming an AMHSW Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/582802892350542/
  
• Willowtree Wellbeing - https://willowtreewellbeing.com/
  
• Ashton Hayes Consulting - https://ashtonhayesconsulting.com.au/
  
• An introduction to trauma-informed care (NSW Health) - https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/psychosocial/principles/Pages/trauma-informed.aspx
  
• Dr Brené Brown - https://brenebrown.com/
  
• Dr Bruce Perry - https://www.bdperry.com/
  
• Dr Janina Fisher - https://janinafisher.com/
  
• Dr Dan Hughes - http://www.danielhughes.org/
  
• Dr Dan Siegel - https://www.m.drdansiegel.com/home/
  

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10e8ctHGgYelxspjxXQPSUyVaYHj0VIUhjxtshQhyr4w/edit?usp=sharing

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

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 for the past 9 years, Alexis provides telephone-based counselling, case work and referral to significantly injured and ill clients, as well as coordinating Slater and Gordon’s AASW endorsed Legal Education Program for Social Workers in NSW and the ACT, and is co-editor of the ‘Social Work and the Law’ e-newsletter.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Slater and Gordon Social Work Services Team (for general inquiries or to join the mailing list - [email protected]
  
• End of life law - https://end-of-life.qut.edu.au/ & https://planningaheadtools.com.au/
  
• Guardianship/NCAT resources - https://www.ncat.nsw.gov.au/ncat/publications-and-resources/fact-sheets/guardianship-division-fact-sheets.html
  
• Slater & Gordon web page - https://www.slatergordon.com.au/the-firm/our-commitment-to-you/social-work-services
  

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1epIEpJ-lx3NKh845Ir7oDCwXO8SOq5Ez/view?usp=sharing

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

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 Sexual Health and Reproduction, specifically psychosexual therapy.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

· Shane Clifton’s memoir ‘Husbands Should Not Break’ - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/26763199-husbands-should-not-break

· Leigh Sales’ ‘Any Ordinary Day’ - https://www.penguin.com.au/books/any-ordinary-day-9781760893637

· Sam Bloom’s ‘Heartache & Birdsong’ - http://www.penguinbloom.com

· Alex McKinnon’s ‘Unbroken’ - https://www.betterreading.com.au/book/unbroken/

· Mount Sinai Enhancement of Social Work Leadership Program - https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/11806

· Royal Rehab, Sydney - https://royalrehab.com.au

· Strength2Strength program, Royal Rehab - https://royalrehab.com.au/event/strength2strength-program-for-brain-injury-2

· Candice’s ResearchGate page - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Candice_Care-Unger

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MsomIrPvI5G0O66HS7h-REkv0AOnKA3M/view?usp=sharing

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

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 empowering others, James constantly strives to facilitate opportunities for capacity building and professional development in supporting vulnerable communities.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

· James’ LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bajjada-32a315189/

· What's On (City of Sydney Events Board) - https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hzqxS5VB8ORs1SgrqtJ5LTZjiHkR4LFH/view?usp=sharing

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

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 approach and anti-oppressive practice principles when working with clients.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

· Blue Knot - an organisation that provides supports individuals, provides training and guidelines for professionals working with people with complex trauma - https://www.blueknot.org.au/

· Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) was developed by Marsha Linehan for people with emotional dysregulation - https://behavioraltech.org/

· Motivational Interviewing as developed by clinical psychologists Miller and Rollnick to elicit change with clients in counselling - https://motivationalinterviewing.org/understanding-motivational-interviewing

· Strengths-Based Practice  - https://www.iriss.org.uk/resources/insights/strengths-based-approaches-working-individuals

· Yfoundations, NSW Peak Body representing young people at risk and experiencing homelessness - http://yfoundations.org.au/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HrpfeQW9xhff1ValbDVj9JpbopY-0Nwe/view?usp=sharing

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

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 the perspectives of the practitioners involved. She has a strong interest in research which focuses on interdisciplinary knowing and practice that can be applied to improving outcomes for vulnerable and marginalised consumers of maternity health services.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

* The Patient Assisted Travel Scheme – http://www.wacountry.health.wa.gov.au/index.php?id=pats

* Ronald McDonald House Charities - https://www.rmhc.org.au/

* Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees - https://www.carad.org.au/

* Cancer Council WA palliative care information - https://www.cancerwa.asn.au/patients/coping-with-cancer/advanced-cancer/palliative-care/

* The Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne - https://www.thewomens.org.au/patients-visitors/covid-19-advice-and-updates/covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-women

* AASW Health-Based Social Work - https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/8306

* Australian Department of Health, Family and Domestic Violence in Pregnancy - https://www.health.gov.au/resources/pregnancy-care-guidelines/part-e-social-and-emotional-screening/family-violence

* Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety - https://www.anrows.org.au/

* USA National Association of Perinatal Social Workers - https://www.napsw.org/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xMpM1j0pgm7Eg-3EsXn02U-UqFaA-qxX/view?usp=sharing

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

In this episode, Adele and I discuss her passion for supporting people affected by domestic and family violence, and her mentoring and leadership roles in health and community settings. Of particular interest to Adele is the intersection of mental health with violence and trauma, and holding a safe therapeutic space for women. Adele is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Manager of a Domestic & Family Violence Service, having also worked in the NGO sector as a specialist domestic violence counsellor, educator and trainer and service coordinator.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

· Michael White (Psychotherapist) -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_White_(psychotherapist)

· Judith Herman Trauma and Recovery - https://www.booktopia.com.au/trauma-and-recovery-judith-herman/book/9780465061716.html

· Jan Fook - https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/author/jan-fook

· They Never Asked Me Anything About That”: The Stories of Women who Experience Domestic Violence and Mental Health Concerns/Illness - https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/handle/2123/6535

· Cathy Humphreys - https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/153245-cathy-humphreys

· Cathy Humphreys (Mental Health and Domestic Violence: 'I Call it Symptoms of Abuse') - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249285138_Mental_Health_and_Domestic_Violence_'I_Call_it_Symptoms_of_Abuse'

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19dtem7x_HJYdoITJxMUswBl8Y10jsHiU/view?usp=sharing

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

In this episode, Kate and I talk about the appeal of social work to her for its social justice and advocacy principles, and her broad interests ranging from gender studies and feminism, the intersection of culture and mental health, narrative therapy, and suicide prevention. Kate plans on becoming an accredited mental health social worker in the future as well as dipping her toe into social policy and research.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

· Mental Health Tribunal for Community Treatment orders (CTO) - https://mhrt.nsw.gov.au/the-tribunal/

· NSW 2007 Mental Health Act - https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2007-008

· AASW information regarding Accredited Mental Health social work - https://www.aasw.asn.au/information-for-the-community/mental-health-social-workers

· Reading about challenging the medical model/DSM - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qmK0rza1RQlvuhZXSyiqiGgZloqmHBbp/view?usp=sharing

· Article about the importance of Aboriginal worldviews in mental health practice, consideration of cultural connection and connection to land for Aboriginal people's mental health and wellbeing - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i26uvlkSHSMKKCG9xlw90N8eK2Gf4Fcp/view?usp=sharing

· Sydney Social Work Community - https://www.sydneyswc.com/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F0nYuY8PuPCZfjW8k2Xsj0hIfM2_nTK0/view?usp=sharing

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

In this episode, Renee and I discuss her role as a consultant and Therapeutic Life Story Work Practitioner. She has extensive casework specialist experience including with child protection and out of home care, and in executive roles for the Department of Family and Community Services. Renee is particularly passionate about working collaboratively and developing positive relationships with agencies and families to complete assessments of children in out of home care, and ways to support them in unpacking and responding to trauma.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

· Richard Rose: Child Trauma Intervention Services - https://www.childtraumaintervention.com/about-ctis/richard-rose/

· Kevin Campbell: family finding - http://www.familyfinding.org/

· NSW Department of Communities & Justice: out of home care - https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/families/out-of-home-care/about-out-of-home-care/care-types

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12nAItCtkj7bhY1z3552k-9XghR2URGfL/view?usp=sharing

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

In this episode, Sarah and I discuss her interest in grief and emotional health, helping people to feel safe and supported when faced with life’s challenges. She has published widely on the topic of hope and ambiguous loss for families of missing people and has taught in the disability space, with a research interest in missing persons, mental health and disability. In addition to her research and academic roles, Sarah offers professional supervision, training and coaching. Sarah has worked as a trauma counsellor and manager of state-wide counselling services, and received her PhD, along with the Chancellors Medal, in 2015 from the University of New England.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

· Sarah’s survey looking at the experiences of missing people who have returned - https://sydneyhealthsciences.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0Cdb1IASn1NWPGd

· Didi Hirsch mental health services - https://didihirsch.org/

· ECLIPSE support group for suicide attempt survivors - https://www.lifelinemacarthur.org.au/suicide-prevention

· Sarah’s speaker’s reel (links to videos) - http://sarahwayland.com.au/speakers-reel-sarah-wayland/

· Winston Churchill Trust - https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/

· Sarah’s ResearchGate page with links to research and resources - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah_Wayland2

This episode's transcript can be viewed here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R5ceAPfFIBiSBXZF5yWYVDxFRy9Kixyo/view?usp=sharing

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