Alors que nous continuons à célébrer le Mois national du travail social et le centenaire de l’ACTS, le balado Le Travailleur social a l’honneur d’accueillir Marie-Michèle Doiron et Gaëlle Troude, de l’AQTS.  

Marie-Michèle est travailleuse sociale depuis 2009 et exerce à Québec, où elle travaille au sein du réseau de la santé et s’implique actuellement dans le milieu syndical et les négociations. Gaëlle, travailleuse sociale depuis l’obtention de sa maîtrise, a bâti sa carrière dans des milieux communautaires et institutionnels à Montréal, avec un engagement profond envers la collaboration et la pratique systémique. 

Dans cet épisode spécial, Marie-Michèle et Gaëlle racontent comment leur parcours personnel dans le travail social a commencé, ainsi que le cheminement qui a mené à la création de l’Association québécoise des travailleuses sociales et travailleurs sociaux (AQTS) — une association professionnelle dédiée à la représentation et à la défense des travailleurs sociaux à travers le Québec.   

Dans cet épisode, elles reviennent sur :  

• Leurs parcours uniques vers le travail social et ce qui continue d’inspirer leur pratique   
• La création d’une association provinciale et l’importance d’une voix collective  
• La distinction entre les ordres professionnels, les associations et les syndicats  
• La nécessité d’une plus grande reconnaissance et visibilité de la profession  
• Leurs espoirs pour l’avenir du travail social au cours des 100 prochaines années  

The Social Worker Podcast is honoured to feature Karen Lok Yi Wong — a registered social worker whose work has shaped dementia care, aging policy, and equity in elder support systems across Canada. 

Karen brings years of practice experience across community senior services, long-term care, and geriatric acute care, alongside a deep commitment to research and advocacy for older adults and their families. Her contributions have been recognized with the Inspiring Social Worker of the Year Award and the Distinguished Service Award. 

In this episode, Karen reflects on: 

• Supporting older adults and people living with dementia 

• The realities of transnational family caregiving 

• How structural forces — including racism — shape access to dementia supports 

• Addressing stigma and barriers within Chinese communities 

• The role of research in advancing anti-oppressive gerontological social work 

Through both practice and research, Karen’s work highlights how social workers can challenge inequities and improve systems of care for aging communities. 

As we continue celebrating National Social Work Month and 100 years of social work in Canada, we’re honoured to feature Julia Falzarano on The Social Worker Podcast. 

Julia shares how her journey began in pediatric health and nutrition before she realized social work aligned more deeply with her holistic values. After completing her BSW, Julia found her calling in grief and loss. 

In this powerful conversation, Julia reflects on: 

• Anticipatory grief and how loss reshaped her practice 

• Building her own practice with a bereavement leave fund  

• The barriers people face when seeking grief support 

• Her vision for a clearer “map” to help individuals and families navigate grief resources 

Through free monthly workshops for young people navigating loss, Julia is expanding access to grief-informed care and raising awareness about the fragility and sensitivity of grief. 

This episode reminds us that social work is everywhere - in policy spaces, in private practice, in community workshops, and in the quiet moments of holding space for loss.  

The Social Worker Podcast is here!

As we celebrate National Social Work Month and 100 years of CASW, CASW is proud to launch it's special 100-year podcast series with its very first episode featuring Erin Beckwell.

In this inaugural conversation, Erin reflects on:

• Why she chose social work
• The defining moments that shaped her practice
• The power of mentorship and lived experience
• Her hopes for the next 100 years of the profession
  

This episode sets the tone for the series with a thoughtful, honest, and grounded conversation, in values that continue to shape social work across generations.

National Social Work Month is about recognizing the impact of social workers in communities across the country and this conversation is a powerful reminder of why this profession matters.

For more information on National Social Worker Month 2026 and The Social Worker Podcast, visit https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/national-social-work-month-2026