Disclaimer: This episode contains mentions of substances, sexual assault and sexual violence, and the mention of death of a young person. Please listen at your own discretion.
In this, our final episode of the series, crew members Sia and Jean unpack the previous episode with Brooke and Chen Li about creative practice in the AOD space. Sia shares valuable insights into social policy directions in AOD, with a particular focus on harm reduction and drug diversion. The conversation touches on theories, a range of approaches and the importance of cultural safety and abolitionist practices to support a shift in perception of AOD practice and the criminalisation of people who use substances. In addition, the role of peer workers highlighting the importance of lived and living experience practitioners and the decriminalisation of the AOD practice space. Sia and Jean discuss the value of transparent and informative conversations with young people about drug and alcohol use. The pair share reflexively some intimate and colourful stories that have shaped their relationship with drug and alcohol use and their practice.
Transcript:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n-VCyV7F5_teof_F59WiNEWQB14tl-nT/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103726718570283534995&rtpof=true&sd=true
References/Resources:
Queensland drug reform initiatives
Two major drug reform initiatives announced (shorthandstories.com)
Abolitionist social work
Abolitionist Social Work | Encyclopedia of Social Work (oxfordre.com)
“Achieving Balance” – Queensland Health Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2022 – 2027
Harm Reduction Strategies
https://adf.org.au/reducing-risk/staying-safe-events/harm-reduction-strategies/
The National Drug Strategy 2017 – 2026
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-drug-strategy-2017-2026
Definition of Therapeutic Jurisprudence:
Keywords: #alcoholandotherdrugs #socialpolicy #drugdiversion #culturalsafety #abolitionistpractices #reflexivity #criticalreflection #peerworkers #livedandliving experience #colourfulstories
Music by Boe Toweh
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Disclaimer: This episode contains mentions of drugs and other substances, and the mention of death of a young person. Please listen at your own discretion. Your mental health matters.
Note: The drug diversion program starts in 2024 when Brooke mentioned "next year" as we recorded this episode at the end of 2023
In this episode, Chen Li sits down and chats with Brooke about creative practice within the Alcohol and other Drugs space. The pair discuss the differences between harm reduction and harm minimisation within policy, referencing the National Drug Strategy and Queensland’s pill testing. Also discussed was the importance of a harm reduction approach to foster self-determination, education and choice. Brooke shares her story and anecdotes about her own experiences and how they have shaped her practice. Brooke also shares passionately two initiatives she has developed, Conscious Nest and Hi-Ground, which are programs she and her team have delivered at music festivals through creative practices, providing a safe and comfortable environment for festival-goers and young people who need some chill out time. Brooke and Chen Li discuss the value of peer to peer support, and unpack the stigma around drug and alcohol use and how it is often criminalised. Later in the episode, Brooke shares with listeners the importance of self-care, the risks of burn out, and how critical reflection opens a pathway for safe, creative, and fun praxis within the AOD space. Brooke generously shares her experiences from Canada and Australia, the ways in which harm reduction is approached differently, and the ways in which her programs provide support to the festival community and beyond. At its core, this episode challenges the biases of society, with Brooke discussing the way society frames drug and alcohol use, and the people who use them.
Transcript:
References/Resources:
“Achieving Balance” – Queensland Health Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2022 – 2027
https://6232990.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6232990/Achieving%20balance%20The%20Queensland%20Drug%20and%20Alcohol%20Plan%202022-2027.pdf
The National Drug Strategy 2017 – 2026 https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-drug-strategy-2017-2026
Harm Reduction Strategies https://adf.org.au/reducing-risk/staying-safe-events/harm-reduction-strategies/
Glossary of terms -
https://adf.org.au/resources/did-glossary/
Keywords: drug and alcohol use, creative practice, peer to peer support, harm reduction, harm minimisation, Conscious Nest, Hi-Ground, criminialisation, social justice, anti-oppressive, anti-establishment, trauma informed, self-care, critical reflection
Music by Boe Toweh
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Disclaimer: This episode discusses people’s perspectives of their lived experiences with cancer. This is a sensitive topic, please listen at your discretion.
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z3UqU6KPU3rt5-u6kfpMeS7JtDSt05ap/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100719681595597138502&rtpof=true&sd=true
In this episode, Jean chats with Ari to further unpack creative practice in supporting people living with cancer. At its heart, this episode is a discussion grounded in empathy and understanding, focusing on key concepts such as identity, social discourse, connection, and courage. Ari and Jean explore and unpack the concept of resilience, outlining its value and limitations. Ari discusses the importance of identity and its relation to young people, touching on themes of social isolation and societal constructions. Jean and Ari both discuss body image and appearance, with an eye opening discussion that conceptualises the way society constructs people living with cancer, unpacking assumptions and presumptions, while linking this to societal discourses and the overarching concept of how society views young people. Further, Jean and Ari discuss the importance of advocacy in this space, not just for young people and their families, but for the program itself; recognising the importance of lived experience sharing to benefit this space and place a person-led lens on the advocacy itself, while also raising important awareness for creative practice.
References/Resources:
A critique of resilience - journal article or website
Chimera Legacy Foundation https://chimeralegacyfoundation.org.au/
The Queensland Youth Advisory Group (YAG) https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/chq/our-services/queensland-youth-cancer-service/the-queensland-youth-advisory-group-yag/
Sony Foundation Australia https://www.sonyfoundation.org/who-we-are -
Keywords: Creative practice, empathy, advocacy, living with cancer, lived experience, young people, person-led, social isolation, resilience, social discourse, identity
Music by Boe Toweh
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Disclaimer: This episode discusses people’s perspectives of their lived experiences with cancer. This is a sensitive topic, please listen at your discretion.
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p3PDg14mvtkZZ--YYP40lK9n2UpsXUmX/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100719681595597138502&rtpof=true&sd=true
In this episode, Aliona and Sally, two passionate social work students and cancer survivors, enlighten our listeners on how young people (18-25) living with cancer experience creative advocacy. Both Aliona and Sally speak from their lived experience, highlighting social workers' vital role for people living with cancer, through group advocacy and individual supports. They recognise social workers as an essential support system and a shoulder to cry on during the harsh and painful treatments. This came at a time when they were formulating their identities and discovering themselves. Sally gives an example of a Virtual Reality experience run by the Chimera Foundation, which allowed them to escape the hospital environment without breaking ‘hospital protocol’ and even allowed Aliona and her brother to 'return' to their home country during the Covid pandemic.
References/Resources
Chimera Legacy Foundation https://chimeralegacyfoundation.org.au/
The Queensland Youth Advisory Group (YAG) https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/chq/our-services/queensland-youth-cancer-service/the-queensland-youth-advisory-group-yag/
Sony Foundation Australia https://www.sonyfoundation.org/who-we-are - need more info
Perez, G. K., Salsman, J. M., Fladeboe, K., Kirchhoff, A. C., Park, E. R., & Rosenberg, A. R. (2020). Taboo Topics in Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology: Strategies for Managing Challenging but Important Conversations Central to Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivorship. American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book, (40), 1–e185. https://doi.org/10.1200/EDBK_279787
Keywords: Hospital social work, cancer, cancer survivor, Chimera Foundation, Virtual Reality, Youth Advisory Group (YAG), youth advocacy, support, connection, lived/living experience
Music by Boe Toweh
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Disclaimer: This episode will contain mentions of mental health and trauma, suicide and suicidal ideation, and institutional abuse. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode, Jean and Moira talk about men’s mental health, toxic masculinity, and the challenges within the NDIS scheme. Moira shares her perspectives on how societal expectations oppress men and how these contribute to issues like violence towards women, high rates of suicidal risk, systemic challenges for young people and people with disability. Jean and Moira also touch on the gaps in accessing the NDIS and the challenges faced by individuals navigating the system. They advocate for a more comprehensive, compassionate, and understanding approach to mental health practice on an individual and systemic level.
Transcript:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jVKp2QPMn_dPPXhJMrQDK5gwUF3IsbcEYFf1aGcXpj8/edit?usp=sharing
References/Resources:
Toxic masculinity definition and impact: https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/what-toxic-masculinity-and-how-it-impacts-mental
Cause of death Australia 2022: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/latest-release#intentional-self-harm-deaths-suicide-in-australia
NDIS: https://www.ndis.gov.au/
Non-deliberative practices:
https://fass.nus.edu.sg/nai/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/06/Day-3.pdf
Keywords: men’s mental health, NDIS, toxic masculinity, hegemonic masculinity, systemic oppression, lived experience, non-deliberative interventions, creative and critical practice, feminism, self-care
Music by Boe Toweh
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In this episode, our crew member Tilly engages in an insightful conversation with Simon, a private practitioner in the NDIS and mental health space and the founder of Mindfulness Men. Simon calls himself a lived experience therapist and generously shares his journey of navigating mental health challenges. Tilly and Simon talk about how society constructions of masculinity impact men’s mental health. Simon and Tilly have a robust conversation about the struggles of working with the NDIS and work cover systems for funding support. They also discuss approaches to self-care, supervision, and the importance of critical reflection when working in private practice. Simon shares insights into his creative approach to work with men which involves “mindfulness on the move” among other activities, aiming to destigmatize the therapy process and create a comfortable space for men to talk about their mental health issues.
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JKCimh0HLCEszuf7hmd2SRMFGBPXUHuQ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100719681595597138502&rtpof=true&sd=true
References/Resources:
Mindful Men: Mindful Men - Mindful Men AUS (mindful-men.com.au)
NDIS: https://www.ndis.gov.au/
Work cover Queensland: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/about/who-we-are/workcover-queensland
Mindfulness definition: https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/mindfulness
Hegemonic masculinity definition: https://helpfulprofessor.com/hegemonic-masculinity-examples/
Keywords:
#socialwork #Men'sMentalHealth #MentalHealth #NDIS #LivedExperiencepractitioner #PrivatePractice #creativeapproaches #SelfCare #ProfessionalDevelopment #SupportWorker #DisabilitySupport #CommunityEngagement #hegemonicmasculinity #burnout #MentalHealthAdvocacy
Music by Boe Toweh
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In this special feature follow-up episode, our crew member Nate speaks with Tamara and Mai from Students Against Placement Poverty (SAPP) Queensland branch. They discuss the growing concern and movement forward in the efforts to secure paid placement for students in social work and human service degrees and other helping professions. The activist group members speak about the vision and goals of SAPP to support placement students who are struggling. Mai and Tamara outline the key challenges of completing the unpaid placement, disrupting the notion of 1000 hours of placement as the gold standard and the personal, social, and political implications of current placement directives. Both share their own placement experience and encourage Nate to share his experience as an international student. They acknowledge their lived and living experience as similar to students’ stories in the research conducted by Christine Morley and associates. The SAPP members provide insights about the work being done to address the concerns including the role played by the University Accord and the role that might be played by the AASW to enact change.
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E7gauJG1mMRFOaiHtoX1SL8P0599KkB3/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103726718570283534995&rtpof=true&sd=true
Resources:
SAPP Instagram: https://instagram.com/SAPPQLD
Facebook: https://facebook.com/SAPPQLD
Why students need to be paid for work placements:
Three ways to fix student work placements:
Universities Accord interim report: https://www.education.gov.au/australian-universities-accord
Interview with QLD Students Against Placement Poverty: https://www.qutglass.com/increase-the-volume-an-interview-with-qld-students-against-placement-poverty/
An open letter from SAPP:
https://www.qutglass.com/open-letter-from-sapp/
Change harmful placement models:
https://www.tinyurl.com/SAPPQLD
Keywords: SAPP, students against placement poverty, unpaid placement, 1000 hours, neoliberalism, AASW, University Accord, students stories, international student placements, social justice, inequality, system theory, poststructuralism, feminist theory, call to action
Music By Boe Towah
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Disclaimer: This episode discusses difficult topics related to mental health and trauma, suicidal ideation, and institutional abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Jean and special guest Abby explore a portion of the conversation with Jules that had been excluded from the main episode in order to allow for a broader and more direct response. Jean touches on the ways in which women are tasked with upholding the emotional load for their own children as well within situations of domestic and family violence. She discusses the gendered aspects of the expectations placed on women to maintain a sense of mental stability even in overwhelming circumstances. Jean also shares her own personal experience of experiencing exhaustion as a single mother and witnessing it in the mothers she worked with while working in women’s shelters. Abby speaks to Jules’ experience with the police officer, relating it to her own personal experience with police in the context of her own lived experience of domestic and family violence.
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ccDn1Wfc9x6bBDZj-Z3enc3GpbkbGXfH/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103726718570283534995&rtpof=true&sd=true
Keywords: Domestic and family violence, gendered violence, gender expectations, mum burnout, patriarchal oppression, policing, emotional labour.
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Disclaimer: This episode discusses difficult topics related to domestic and family violence, rape and sexual assault, mental health and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.
Jean and special guest, Abby unpack some of the concepts, practices and discourses explored in the episode with Jules and Ari. They explore the role of patriarchy in the perpetuation of policing and surveillance of victims/survivors of gendered violence. Abby generously shares her own lived and living experience of domestic and family violence, and similar experiences to Jules’ in the context of mental health interventions. They discuss the importance of feminist theory to combat the prevalence of patriarchy when responding to gendered violence in the mental health system. Abby brings insights to the conversation about the ways we can foster hope, empowerment, and build a social conscience with education and advocacy.
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rynzpPYJGzOiDlVs_pSn8nclkh8EdLFTJ55NiCQOh_I/edit?usp=sharing
References/Resources:
Foucault’s governmentality: https://www.criticallegalthinking.com/2014/12/02/governmentality-notes-thought-michel-foucault/
Feminism to end gendered violence: https://www.alignplatform.org/resource/report-feminist-activism-end-gbv-public-sphere
Definition of patriarchy: https://medicamondiale.org/en/service/glossary/patriarchy
Definition of Intersectionality: https://www.intersectionaljustice.org/what-is-intersectionality
Keywords: domestic and family violence, gendered violence, victims and survivors, feminist theory, Foucault, trauma informed care, gaslighting, coercive control, intersectionality, patriarchy, mental health, surveillance, angel shot, advocacy and activism
Music by Boe Towah
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Disclaimer: This episode discusses difficult topics related to domestic and family violence, mental health, rape and sexual assault, and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode, podcast crew member Aarrah speaks with Jules Thompson, founder of Broken Ballerina and lived experience worker and survivor of domestic violence. Jules speaks passionately, recognising the entrenched flaws of Australia’s mental health system in her own experience and her work supporting victim/survivors of domestic violence. Using her foundation ‘Broken Ballerina inc.’ Jules and her husband, Pete, fill in the gaps often overlooked in the domestic and family violence (DFV) sector, with a strong grassroots and advocacy approach. Jules recognises the injustices and provides for the unique individual needs of victim/survivors of DFV, rather than a box to be ‘ticked & flicked’. Jules highlights the importance of collaboration to build community support as part of her role as a social change agent.
Jules Thompson. (2022) Broken Ballerina. Savvy Scripts Publishing.
Broken Ballerina: https://brokenballerina-inc.com.au/
Coercive control definition: https://www.raq.org.au/blog/what-coercive-control
Gaslighting definition: https://www.raq.org.au/blog/what-gaslighting
Advocacy definition: https://www.rightsinaction.org/home/what-is-advocacy/
Community organising definiton: https://www.corganisers.org.uk/what-is-community-organising/intro-about-community-organising/
Angel shot definiton: https://parade.com/living/angel-shot
If you or someone you know needs support, you can contact:
DV Connect: https://www.dvconnect.org/
DV Connect Womensline Ph: 1800 811 811
DV Connect Mensline Ph: 1800 600 636
Sexual Assault Helpline Ph: 1800 010 120
National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service (1800RESPECT) Ph: 1800 737 732
Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Ph: 13 11 14
Kids Helpline: https://kidshelpline.com.au/ Ph: 1800 55 1800
Advocacy, domestic violence, domestic and family violence, Broken Ballerina, mental health, victim/survivor, community, collaboration, lived experience worker, grassroots practice
Music by Boe Toweh
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https://www.instagram.com/criticalconversations4sw/
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Social Work honours student Matt assists Jean in deconstructing the previous Part A episode with Jo, Chris, and Demi. Matt speaks about his honours research and lived experience of navigating the family court system and critically reflecting on ways to build parental agency in the legal system. Matt and Jean unpack the ways creative alternatives such as restorative practices can be utilised as a more emancipatory approach in justice, military, domestic and family violence, and mental health settings.
Transcript:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JAAv6Pi3mA93ngJIq0tcxMEvq6z-vHSTQE8NSQpqmAE/edit?usp=sharing
Resources/References:
Critical Reflection, Social Work Practice with Children and Families: https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article/53/6/3181/7072776
Homo Economicus Definiton: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/economics/homo-economicus/
Total Permanent Incapacity (TPI)
Defence Abuse Reparation Scheme
Strengthening community safety bill of 2023 (Queensland government)
https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/bill.third/bill-2023-004
Sisters Inside
Caxton Legal Service
Keywords:
restorative practices, critical reflection, parental agency, court systems, legal system, patriarchy, conflict, relationships, emancipatory practice
Music by Boe Towah
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Crew member Demi, and special guests Jo and Chris engaged in an insightful discussion about the concepts of mediation, restorative justice, restorative engagement and how they tie into restorative practices within a social work and human services context. Jo and Chris touch on how they bring creative ideas and concepts to restorative engagement as an alternative to more dominant approaches within mental health and justice context. They spoke about some of the social work theories that inform restorative practices, and how these approaches can provide survivors some relief from feeling socially isolated in their experiences of suffering. Discussions highlight the limitations of formal justice processes and the use of restorative practices as an alternative. Be sure to listen for the interesting conversation about forgiveness. Transcript:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13txvptgKDsA9jf273NchppcaPvd4Ij8Q/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104391506849562986537&rtpof=true&sd=true
References/Resources:
Restorative practices in Metro North mental health:
https://metronorth.health.qld.gov.au/tpch/healthcare-services/rp
Restorative Practice and NED Foundation: https://restorative.org.au/about-restorative-practice-and-ned-foundations-support
“DART”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Abuse_Response_Taskforce
Collective Injury Definition: https://meridianuniversity.edu/content/collective-trauma-meaning-and-implications
Trauma Informed Practice: https://mhaustralia.org/general/trauma-informed-practice
Keywords: Restorative practices, restorative justice, mediation, trauma informed, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), moral injury, trauma, post-traumatic growth, narrative storytelling, critical social work and human services
Music by Boe Towah
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Today, Jean and her good friend/colleague Charleen unpack the part A episode that features Natalie, an incredible social worker working with people over the age of 65 in the mental health sector, and our podcast crew member Juliette. Charleen is a Cook Islander and Maori woman working for a non-profit community health organisation. She brings many aspects of creativity to her work through story-telling, performing arts and critical practice. Charleen explains how she uses her social work knowledge, skills, and interests to navigate the ‘stickiness’ of neoliberalism and social conditioning to work in the best interests of the people she works with. Charleen helps Jean to understand a really engaging perspective of deep listening using the concept of putting on your taringas, and they discuss discourses of resistance and deservingness in the community mental health space. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WUmBCbBv38A5-pnW8jUhwEXUe6Dtn5cS/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104391506849562986537&rtpof=true&sd=true
References:
Taringas definition: (verb) to be deaf, unhearing, indifferent, unresponsive - often in the phrase taringa turi. Nondeliberative practices:
https://fass.nus.edu.sg/nai/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/06/Day-3.pdf
Keywords: Taringas-deep listening; cultural understanding; community mental health; shared understanding; empathy; resistance; creative practice; performing arts; neoliberalism; capitalism; social conditioning; critical practice; conversations; lived experience; critical thinking and reflection; reflexivity; discretionary space
Music by Boe Towah
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Disclaimer: This episode contains mentions of suicide and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode, our podcast crew member Juliette and Natalie, a mental health social worker, discuss the various obstacles that social workers face working within a hospital mental health setting. Natalie speaks about her critical and creative practices in a range of settings and most recently working with elderly people living with mental health vulnerabilities. She also outlines some of the ways in which neoliberal social structures inform many aspects of the current approach to working within the intersection of mental health and aged care. She highlights the limiting aspects of such an approach and sheds light on the ways in which she individually infuses a critical approach into her practice as a way to manoeuvre through some of the barriers in the system. Natalie shares her experiences and critically reflects on some of the mistakes she’s made along the way in her journey.
Transcript
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WUmBCbBv38A5-pnW8jUhwEXUe6Dtn5cS/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104391506849562986537&rtpof=true&sd=true
Sources:
Neolibral Defintion: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/neoliberalism/
Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Long stay Patients Definition (QLD government): https://www.darlingdowns.health.qld.gov.au/patients-and-visitors/health-costs-insurance-and-financial-support/long-stay-patients
NDIS: https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/supports-funded-ndis
Home Care Packages: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/help-at-home/home-care-packages
WHO: Ageism: https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/ageing-ageism
Keywords: community mental health, social justice agency, hospital social work, healthcare system, mental health sector, oppressive systems, ageism, critical lens, social justice, privilege, elderly, agency, challenging, egalitarian, mental health act, creative resistence, critical reflection, neoliberalism, capitalism.
Music by Boe Towah
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Disclaimer: This episode discusses difficult topics related to racism, suicide, themes of displacement, and domestic and family violence. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode, podcast crew member Laila interviews Deepa, a social worker at the Romero Center. They dive ‘Deepa’ into working alongside people seeking asylum, and the complexities that come with this work. Deepa shares her personal experience as a migrant, and how she uses her lived experience to relate and work passionately with people who have experienced the trauma of war and/or have become displaced in their country of origin. In addition, recognising those who have fled because of gendered violence. They explore discourses and structures that perpetuate these difficulties. Deepa speaks of the supports provided for those who are facing everyday life struggles and barriers to employment and education, helping to empower people seeking asylum in Australia. Deepa expresses the importance of reflective practice, compassion and self-care so that she can continue doing the work she loves.
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LWOnlTJkhF6hFthuq7uSpeQflCeEd-8R/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104391506849562986537&rtpof=true&sd=true
Keywords:
reflective practice, people seeking asylum, systemic barriers, displacement, domestic and family violence, empowerment, support, trauma, cultural practice, self-care, lived experience
Music by Boe Toweh
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In this episode, podcast crew member Jean Carruthers interviews social work Professors Christine Morley and Linda Briskman and student advocate and co-founder of Students Against Placement Poverty Isaac Wattenberg. They unpack the prolific issue of student poverty instigated by mandatory placements as part of completing a social work and human services university degree. Isaac adds weight to the discussion by providing his personal experience as well as giving voice to his student peers on the devastating personal, social and financial impact placement has caused. Linda and Christine discuss their work in this space, including a National Field Education Summit and a nationwide survey, showcasing the experiences of students, field educators, placement agencies and academics, ultimately highlighting this dire situation. Christine provides some solutions to mitigate this problem, including having greater flexibility around work placements, reducing placement hours and implementing an apprenticeship-type approach to paying students on placement, among other possibilities.
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ejb69jHYwj4jQrL8tJGk93MoLyn7ULEt/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104391506849562986537&rtpof=true&sd=true Key references:
Morley, C., Hodge, L., Clarke, J., McIntyre, H., Mays, J., Briese, J., & Kostecki, T. (2023). ‘This unpaid placement makes you poor': Australian social work students’ experiences of the financial burden of field education. Social Work Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2022.2161507
Morley, C. (2023). ‘We can no longer justify unpaid labour’: Why uni students need to be paid for work placements. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/we-can-no-longer-justify-unpaid-labour-why-uni-students-need-to-be-paid-for-work-placements-203421
Contact Jason Clare, Minister for Education, demanding reform: jason.clare.mp@aph.gov.au
Students Against Placement Poverty (SAPP) Facebook and Instagram.
SAPP’s open letter: ‘Fair payment for student placements’.
Marchese, D. (2023, May 31). The problem with student placements [Radio broadcast]. ABC. https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/hack/102395184
Keywords:
Student poverty, critical social work, Students Against Placement Poverty (SAPP), field education summit, national field education survey, unpaid labour, collective activism, university accord, social work and human services placement,
Music by Boe Toweh
Jean and QUT student Jane discuss the previous conversation between Peter Westoby and Teddy around critical pedagogy in Community Development. Jane and Jean unpack some of the concepts from Friere’s pedagogy and how these have been linked to community development practices. The role of critical and creative pedagogy and how to practise critical reflection, reflexivity and questioning our assumptions when working with community are explored. They speak to the importance for practitioners to find ways to work with community members to equalise the relationship of power yet to also raise community consciousness about the social, political, economic, historical and spiritual influences that shape communities. Noteworthy is the discussion about the term conscientization and how this term is useful for critical pedagogy, however can be a bit of a mouthful. Critical Conversations for Social Work will return with season 2 soon! Thank you for joining us on this journey.
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K7Li5cXdKZKkFbJ6kYNQgQSYOo0ftgW-60TgTD1CCGQ/edit?usp=sharing
Key References:
Westoby, P. (Producer). (2021-present). Pete's podcast on community development [Audio podcast]. Spotify. Pete's podcast on community development
Freire, P. (2000). Pedagogy of the oppressed (30th anniversary ed.). Continuum.https://envs.ucsc.edu/internships/internship-readings/freire-pedagogy-of-the-oppressed.pdf
False consciousness. Eyerman, R. (1981). False consciousness and ideology in Marxist theory. Acta Sociologica, 24(1-2), 43-56
Keywords: Paulo Freire, conscientization, Critical and creative pedagogy, working with community, relationships of power, reflexivity, collective themes, Social myths, dialogical processes, strengths and resources.
Music By Boe Toweh
In this episode, Peter Westoby, a passionate community development worker and former educator at QUT with a career spanning 22 years introduces crew member Teddy to the creative ways Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy has supported him in his community development and education practice. Among other insightful ideas, highlighted is his use of Freire’s concept of codification and the need for love and dialogue in community development. Peter gives examples from his own practice experiences with the intention to ‘start with the people, but not stay with the people’.
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EFaCseIxls_bARG8PtrhUskRdBYhqYYaZ0HDr6jw4Lw/edit?usp=sharing
Key References:
Kelly, A., & Westoby, P. (2018). Participatory development practice : using traditional and contemporary frameworks. Practical Action Publishing.
Hummingbird House. Home - Hummingbird House. Partime community development work (hospice)
Community Praxis Co-op https://www.communitypraxis.org/
Freire, P. (2000). Pedagogy of the oppressed (30th anniversary ed.). Continuum. https://envs.ucsc.edu/internships/internship-readings/freire-pedagogy-of-the-oppressed.pdf
Freire Institute. (2023). Concepts Used by Paulo Freire (praxis, generative themes, dialogue, conscientisation and codification). https://www.freire.org/concepts-used-by-paulo-freire
Keywords: critical pedagogy, Paulo Friere, pedagogy of the oppressed, community development, conscientisation, codification, collective dialogue, patriarchy, love, narrative practice, collection action, generative themes, Stimulus for dialogue, collective conversations Music by Boe Toweh
Former student Madison helps Jean to unpack the previous episode with Heather and Georgia. Equally as passionate, Maddy shares from her perspective the structural and systemic challenges for non-human species in our anthropocentric society. Recognition of the exploitation of non-human animals as a social injustice and ways we could do things differently without much effort are explored. Madison’s embodied account of her experience as a social worker and animal rights activist using critical animal studies to educate people in her everyday life is refreshing and provides a beginning point for practitioners to start educating themselves and others to think critically about this space.
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BeTJ1eqPlaVnjlxy3Ad_fEQ3ukJGpvs1z_LsXdyqWr4/edit?usp=sharing
Key references:
Climate Council. (2021, June 15). Agriculture’s contribution to Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/australia-agriculture-climate-change-emissions-methane/
Rothgerber, H. (2013). Real men don’t eat (vegetable) quiche: Masculinity and the justification of meat consumption. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 14(4), 363–375. https://doi.org/10.1037/a003037
Vegan Australia. (2023). What we do. https://www.veganaustralia.org.au/what_we_do
Yang, Y. (2020). What’s hegemonic about hegemonic masculinity? Legitimation and beyond. Sociological Theory, 38(4), 318-333. https://doi.org/10.1177/0735275120960792
Keywords: green social work, anthropocentrism, ecology, patriarchy, capitalism, socially conscious action, structural change, mass production, rural and remote social work, masculinity and meat, animal assisted therapies, hegemonic discourse.
Music by Boe Toweh