Social Work Spotlight

In this episode I speak with Dylan, who currently supervises a team of Support Coordinators spanning across South East Queensland. With experience in Child Safety, NDIS Social Work and Pastoral Ministry, Dylan takes a holistic approach to working with people, incorporating feminist theory and humanistic theory in his work.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Choosing Change - https://www.choosingchange.com.au/

• Circle of Security parenting program - http://www.circleofsecurityparentingprogram.com.au/

• Summary of Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed - https://bookbrief.io/books/pedagogy-of-the-oppressed-paulo-freire/summary

• Jan Fook’s ‘Social Work: A Critical Approach to Practice’ - https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/social-work/book260992

• Janet Hagberg and ‘The Critical Journey’ - http://www.janethagberg.com/critical-journey-book.html

• Moral Injury and the Humanities: Interdisciplinary Perspectives - https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781003281122/moral-injury-humanities-andrew-cohen-kathryn-mcclymond

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qFcXba9ZZJPYcdCI0CFEAWQxkGx8m8vBW9ws4ADl3fE/edit?usp=sharing

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

In this episode I speak with Carol, a dedicated and trauma-informed therapeutic social worker with a degree also in Criminal & Community Justice. As the child of immigrant parents, Carol's upbringing instilled a deep understanding of the systemic barriers many individuals face, as well as the importance of empathy, empowerment, community care and social justice. Carol is highly experienced in Domestic and Family Violence, Out of Home Care, Child and Adolescent Mental Health and in upskilling and empowering social workers and other helping professionals through clinical supervision and training, and is also a trained facilitator in Circle of Security, Tuning into Kids, Westmead Feelings Program and Black Box parenting program. 

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Got It program- https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/resources/Pages/got-it-guidelines.aspx

• Australian Parenting website - https://raisingchildren.net.au/

• Emerging Minds resource for social workers - https://emergingminds.com.au/

• Gabor Maté; Hungarian-Canadian physician - books, podcast, interviews - https://drgabormate.com/

• WDVCAS-  https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/about-us/our-partners/womens-domestic-violence-court-advocacy-program

• Tuning in to Kids program - https://tuningintokids.org.au/

• Parenting Stress Index - https://www.parinc.com/products/PSI-4

• Circle of Security parenting program - http://www.circleofsecurityparentingprogram.com.au/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g_hpCeXKkOCq0chzlT9NXiHkGRJuFVOtHjWxxyJiTdM/edit?usp=sharing

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

In this episode I speak with Celesty, a registered social worker and music educator committed to intersectional practice. With experience across domestic violence, refugee support, and community development, she centres healing, autonomy, and relational care. As a queer, neurodivergent professional with South Indian heritage, Celesty draws from ancestral resilience, person-centred frameworks, and creative pedagogy to walk alongside those impacted by systemic violence. Her work is grounded in cultural humility, lived accountability, and the belief that everyone deserves dignity and not discipline.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• It’s Going to be OK podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/0pqULMk8JpPYwgNvRdQuQn?si=d17dc110a58845be&nd=1&dlsi=48bda940e1f046f6

• The Great Indian Kitchen film - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-55919305

• Gaycation TV series - https://www.vicetv.com/en_us/show/gaycation

• Bangalore’s Human Library article - https://lbb.in/bangalore/human-library-bangalore/

• A Migrant’s Story at Randwick Council - https://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/library/creative-hub/library-exhibitions/migrant-story-2014

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oifPuHrd1QANUFS-phmfp88xy5XUgOdmbSUIUxi4S40/edit?usp=sharing

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

In this episode I speak with Charlotte, the Program Manager of a youth crisis refuge and outreach program in Sydney. She has been in the housing and homelessness sector for the past five years and has also worked in men’s domestic and family violence and community outreach roles. 

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Y Foundations - https://www.yfoundations.org.au/

• Inner Sydney Voice training - https://innersydneyvoice.org.au/news-events/training/

• See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill - https://www.jesshill.net/home/see-what-you-made-me-do/

• The Oasis and Life After the Oasis documentary films - https://www.jesshill.net/home/see-what-you-made-me-do/

• Safe Home TV series - https://www.sbs.com.au/whats-on/article/sbs-thriller-safe-home-coming-may-11/kajyykajz

• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training - https://asisttraining.com.au/

• Brené Brown - https://brenebrown.com/about/

• Vikki Reynolds - https://vikkireynolds.ca/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15AteoPDMJGW6IrwXT15GCJ2hS5zkSy54-156bexnrlY/edit?usp=sharing

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

In this episode I speak with Nicky, who has worked throughout the UK, Cape & Torres, and Cairns, with over 20 years’ experience in Queensland Health and the mental health system. Nicky makes use of a variety of psychotherapies in her practice including EMDR, having recently finished a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy and strategic psychotherapy.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Nicky’s practice Bluewater Therapy FNQ - https://www.bluewatertherapyfnq.com/about

• Gordon Young - https://gordonyoung.com.au/

• Michael Yapko - https://yapko.com/

• Ericksonian hypnosis - https://ericksonianhypnosis.com/

• A Guide to the Standard EMDR Therapy Protocols for Clinicians, Supervisors, and Consultants - https://www.springerpub.com/a-guide-to-the-standard-emdr-therapy-protocols-for-clinicians-supervisors-and-consultants-9780826131164.html

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tajWVYP75mNiGsCE5Nw0njeoE-8pbDdW17T8njkIEMA/edit?usp=sharing

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

In this episode I speak with Rachel, the Principal Accredited Social Worker and Founder of Lighting Your Way Social Wellbeing, a practice she built to be a safe, inclusive, and neuroaffirming service for people who often fall through the gaps. Alongside working directly with clients, she actively advocates for systemic reform by feeding back injustices and gaps in services to policymakers, as a person with lived experience of disability. 

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Rachel’s business Lighting Your Way Social Wellbeing - https://www.lywsocialwellbeing.com.au/

• DivergAntz Collective education - https://divergantz.com.au/education

• Emily Hammond’s NeuroWild - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/emily-hammond-neurowild

• Onwards and Upwards Psychology - https://www.onwardsandupwardspsychology.com.au/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B-pVqgwmufLs5BMfHDT83gMkvMIW4yuyCkAIijryw-s/edit?usp=sharing

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

In this episode I speak with Aishwarya, a passionate social work graduate from India, currently pursuing her Master’s of Social Work at RMIT University in Melbourne. With hands-on experience across diverse sectors including community development, youth education, aged care, and mental health services, Aishwarya brings both compassion and insight to her work. Deeply committed to advancing mental health and hospital social work, she’s driven by a desire to make meaningful, systemic change. 

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly - https://brenebrown.com/book/daring-greatly/

• Lillian Watson’s Light from Many Lamps - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1270698.Light_From_Many_Lamps

• Dr Carol Dweck - https://psychology.stanford.edu/people/carol-dweck

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H6Fh6hilNny8EHz96IMHVPaDJv0IyK2gfFdFS4KiWLU/edit?usp=sharing

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

In this episode I speak with Braden, a social work leader and supervisor from New Zealand. He has worked most of his career in the field of child protection and has recently completed his doctorate which explored how child protection social workers can support children to thrive after they have experienced adversity.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Training through Social Care Solutions with Auntie Tammy Solomon of Mullah Mara - https://www.socialcaresolutions.com.au/our-training

• Braden’s business Relate Services - https://www.relateservices.co.nz/our-story

• Dr Bruce Perry - https://www.bdperry.com/

• Signs of Safety approach - https://www.signsofsafety.net/what-is-sofs/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BOthZ_k1N9cI5Ak_CffARgxDBGwZs1Q0jNaYIk8VhT8/edit?usp=sharing

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

In this episode I speak with Heath, a recently graduated social worker who has been studying the last six years and is currently working in the child protection space in the NGO sector. He has also completed a five-year internship in counselling whilst studying and now also works in private practice as a social worker. Heath has a strong passion for critical social work practice and strives for innovative change within the human services sector.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Barnardo’s Family Connect and Support program - https://www.barnardos.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/FCS_21_89491_FCS-brochure.pdf

• Macquarie Cottage Counselling Services - https://www.macquariecottagecounsellingservicesinc.net/meet-our-clinical-team/

• Reimagining Narrative Therapy Through Practice Stories and Autoethnography - https://www.routledge.com/Reimagining-Narrative-Therapy-Through-Practice-Stories-and-Autoethnography/Heath-Carlson-Epston/p/book/9781032128658#:~:text=Reimagining%20Narrative%20Therapy%20Through%20Practice%20Stories%20and%20Autoethnography,contemporary%20narrative%20therapy%2C%20based%20in%20autoethnography%20and%20storytelling

• DCJ’s TEI program - https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/service-providers/deliver-services-to-children-and-families/targeted-earlier-intervention-program/tei-program.html

• PESI training - https://www.pesi.com.au/

• National Hearing Voices Network - https://www.hearing-voices.org/#content

• Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/726292.Narrative_Means_to_Therapeutic_Ends

• Dr Mark Cross - https://www.drmarkx.com/

• Changing Minds: The Inside Story - https://iview.abc.net.au/show/changing-minds-the-inside-story

• Power Threat Meaning Framework - https://www.bps.org.uk/member-networks/division-clinical-psychology/power-threat-meaning-framework

• Open Dialogue Centre - https://opendialoguecentre.org.au/

• Gabor Maté - https://drgabormate.com/

• A Therapeutic Treasure Box for Working with Children and Adolescents with Developmental Trauma - https://www.booktopia.com.au/a-therapeutic-treasure-box-for-working-with-children-and-adolescents-with-developmental-trauma-dr-karen-treisman/book/9781785922633.html

• Aping Mankind - https://www.routledge.com/Aping-Mankind/Tallis/p/book/9781138640320

• Invitations to responsibility: the therapeutic engagement of men who are violent and abusive - https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/1797499

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1snKAEum6R64hrjc4ffU0wZKi8trGjq6K2e7HyXbEhis/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Eileen, who has over 30 years of experience in child abuse, family violence, mental health and trauma and is passionate about the safety of children and ensuring the voices of children are heard. In 2022 Eileen launched her own company as a way of promoting primary prevention in the areas of child abuse and family violence.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Eileen’s business ‘Earlvention’ - https://www.earlvention.com.au/

• Safe and Equal, Melbourne - https://safeandequal.org.au/

• The National Association for Prevention of Child abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) - https://napcan.org.au/

• ANROWS research - https://www.anrows.org.au/

• Love Bites program - https://www.napcan.org.au/Programs/love-bites/

• It’s the Little Things Community - https://www.itsthelittlethingscommunity.org/

• Dr Fiona Buchanan - https://people.unisa.edu.au/fiona.buchanan

• Another Day in the Colony (Chelsea Watego) - https://www.uqp.com.au/books/another-day-in-the-colony

• How Many More Women? A discussion at UNSW’s Centre for Ideas with Jennifer Robinson and Keina Yoshida - https://www.centreforideas.com/article/how-many-more-women

• The Whole Story (Patrick Todmarsh) - https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-whole-story-9781787334625

• In Control (Jane Monckton Smith) - https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/in-control-9781526613226/

• Safe Home (SBS short series) - https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/safe-home

• Victim/Suspect review in The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/20/netflix-documentary-victim-suspect-women-rape

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S2hKT-uJtuMjzgXZ2UrLU_ui57ruY_OEGhpmph_YEGk/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.