Social Work Spotlight

In this episode I speak with Kristen, a passionate early career practitioner in the children, young persons and families space who in her spare time is also continuing her professional development by completing a Master’s of Social Work. Kristen uses relationship-based practice to work alongside young parents in supporting them to improve child developmental outcomes, breaking the cycle of generational disadvantage, and to empower them to realise their parental strengths. 

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Circle of Security International (Early Intervention Program for Parents and Children) - https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/

• Australian Childhood Foundation - https://www.childhood.org.au/

• Raising Children Network - https://raisingchildren.net.au/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/118sNDGkeExij9ilP_ewZEMwWop8v_a4X5gyFwoWa474/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Calum, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Psychotherapist, with 10 years of experience across specialist mental health services both in Australia and the UK. Calum also runs a small private practice, Stoa Therapy, and is undertaking further education in Family Therapy.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Calum’s private therapy practice, Stoa Therapy - https://www.linkedin.com/company/stoa-therapy

• Stoa Therapy on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearestoa/

• Headspace - https://headspace.org.au/

• NSW Health Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) - https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/Pages/services-camhs.aspx

• DBT Skills Manual for Adolescents (Rathus & Miller) - https://www.guilford.com/books/DBT-Skills-Manual-for-Adolescents/Rathus-Miller/9781462515356

• Growing Yourself Up (Jenny Brown) - https://exislepublishing.com/product/growing-2nd-edition/

• Family Evaluation (Kerr & Bowen) - https://murraybowenarchives.org/books/family-evaluation/

• The Bowen Center on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheBowenCenter

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yNDpZ0bOnHxfv-EeKgASKmJCBz8eB-0DQ-RXgU7m9J8/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Stacey, a social worker and program manager with extensive experience in youth homelessness, leading crisis refuges and transitional accommodation services. Passionate about trauma-informed care, she also leads initiatives supporting male survivors of domestic violence and is pursuing a PhD focused on suicide bereavement in Australian adult males.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Safe Pathway program (NSW Government) - https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/legal-and-justice/safer-pathway/information-for-victim-survivors/general-information-about-safer-pathway.html

• The Oasis and Life After the Oasis (documentaries - https://theoasismovie.com.au/

• Short Term 12 film - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Term_12

• Social Work Stories podcast - https://socialworkstories.com/

• Young & Homeless podcast (Y Foundations) - https://www.yfoundations.org.au/young-homeless-podcast

• Please Don’t Stab Me! How to Tuck a Gangster Into Bed - https://goodreads.com/book/show/21310569-please-don-t-stab-me-how-to-tuck-a-gangster-into-bed

• Knightlamp Institute training opportunities - https://knightlamp-institute.teachable.com/p/home

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tdp46POUmY7_fwZTHDw9xK6Fe8zUxK6l8wzvpJiWEuc/edit?usp=sharing

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

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 Education

• Ecological Systems Theory - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRdlWPB8xS4

• With 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/1333274179947

• Hear Us Roar: Lioness edition - https://www.kmdbooks.com/product-page/hearus-roar-lioness-edition

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

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/fx8u6TaZvRb

• The 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/NSSLoyaZvRb

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

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-services

• This 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-9781118665619

• Sex-Positive Social Work by SJ Dodd -https://cup.columbia.edu/book/sex-positive-social-work/9780231188111

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15CyVrrZpgbSaWPh5qmUCfiidcQz9UQjMUUVj0k4q-cg/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

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/7e88NbL8jEODaUntOx9i58

• Evanthea on Ashton’s podcast Becoming an AMHSW -https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/episode-18-evanthea/id1642275191?i=1000651753280

• Bruce 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-kolk

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CUzcOvkRi0V72VZvb49dtDY4thycBl6783r_2NmRsog/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

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: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VGdbAxpZsnywlOsK3L9Xf19QabZB82SW0UcaA_5TcQU/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Kimberly, who has 25 years of practice experience working alongside individuals, families and communities, responding to interpersonal, institutional, and colonial violence. She teaches in various universities nationally and internationally and provides supervision to social workers and therapists. Kimberly lives and works on Yuin country and identifies as a non-Aboriginal settler migrant with white privileges and indigenous ancestry from Mexico.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

AbSec - https://absec.org.au/

Kimberly’s article: Restoring children from out-of-home care: insights from an Aboriginal-led community forum - https://research.monash.edu/en/publications/restoring-children-from-out-of-home-care-insights-from-an-aborigi

UNSW’s Bring Them Home, Keep Them Home - https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2022/10/bring-them-home--keep-them-home--reunifying-aboriginal-families

The Moogai film - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-30/the-moogai-aboriginal-horror-movie-jon-bell-shari-sebbens/100178202

The Last Daughter film - https://thelastdaughter.com.au/

After the Apology film - https://aftertheapology.com/

Power series on Netflix - https://www.netflix.com/title/81416254

The upEND podcast - https://upendmovement.org/podcast/

Centre for Response-Based Practice - https://www.responsebasedpractice.com/

Cathy Richardson’s substack - https://catherinerichardson.substack.com/

Vikki Reynolds - https://vikkireynolds.ca/

Discourse Analysis and Psychotherapy article - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256437848_Discourse_analysis_and_psychotherapy_A_critical_review

Insight Exchange - https://www.insightexchange.net/

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LHVWdaPKN3I9K0uU25gTJRgW60rCAVUSRd9rUhR7whw/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

In this episode I speak with Loren, who has predominantly worked within the domestic, family and sexual violence sector. Loren discusses how her career has intersected with other disciplines along the way and how these experiences have shaped how she practices as a social worker. Loren currently works as Senior Practitioner supervising an interstate team supporting victim-survivors of financial abuse with coaching.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• UNSW’s Tackling economic and financial abuse linked to domestic and family violence - https://www.unsw.edu.au/news/2023/01/tackling-economic-and-financial-abuse-linked-to-domestic-and-fam

• Centre for Women’s Economic Security - https://cwes.org.au/ and https://www.financialsafety.org.au/

• Economic Abuse Reference Group - https://earg.org.au/

• MoneyMinded program - https://www.anz.com.au/about-us/esg/financial-wellbeing/moneyminded/

• NSW Health sexual assault services - https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/parvan/sexualassault/Pages/info-sexual-assault-victims.aspx

• Marrickville Legal Centre’s Savvy Finance program - https://www.mlc.org.au/savvy-finance/

• Commonwealth Banks’ financial abuse resource centre - https://www.commbank.com.au/support/financial-abuse.html?ei=resources

• Good Shepherd’s financial independence hub - https://goodshep.org.au/services/fih/

• Berry Street’s MoneyMinded program - https://www.berrystreet.org.au/learning-and-resources/our-training-and-consultancy-services/moneyminded

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13olBfUXrECy1kLoCGj5lhkC50Tp8gS8tKkF-8O6ck0w/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.