Welcome back to the Social Work Café! You are in for another treat this episode, as I chat with Ali Trewhella about her wonderful career as a social worker, and her recent completion of a Churchill Fellowship which focused on recruitment strategies, workforce stability and attraction to the profession. Her passion for psychosocial safety, reflectivesupervision, and leadership really shines through in our chat, and you will enjoy hearing about her pride in social work.
Connect with Ali
You can get in touch with Ali Trewhella via Linkedin
Click here to download Ali’ Churchill Fellowship report
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Welcome back to the Social Work Café! In this episode, Ichat with the dynamic and passionate Jody Bell. We explore how emerging leaders in social work can thrive when they are well supported in the workplace. We also discuss her burnout resource and her hopes for progressing professionalregistration in Australia. It’s an energising and inspiring conversation that highlights the importance of sustaining social work careers through collective action and meaningful cultural change.
Connect with Jody Bell
Click here to connect with Jody via Linkedin
Click here to access her burnout resource
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Welcome back to the Social Work Café! I haven't disappeared. I just took a little unscheduled hiatus. I’m thrilled to return with a brand new episode featuring the fabulous Nicole Okimura! In this celebratory chat, Nicole and I talk about a recent co-publication (open access) we created together, which is based on her Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) research. While grief and loss can be a weightytopic, Nicole brings thoughtful insight and heart to our conversation, highlighting what social workers can do to better support an often overlooked group, young widows. Tune in to get some beautiful insights for social workpractice.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
In this episode, I sit down with Jasmin Lagaali, a specialistsocial worker in NSW Health. Jasmin shares insights into her work in a unique consultation service for individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health distress. We discuss the challenges of working within a system thatoften prioritises speed over quality, the importance of holistic and multidimensional assessments, and the need for manageable workloads in social work. Jasmin’s passion for her work shines through as she highlights the critical role of social workers in this highly specialised field.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
In the first episode of Social Work Café Season 3, Kasey Henshaw returns to share her experiences from her first year as a qualified social worker. We discuss the transition from student to practitioner, the challenges of professional identity, and the importance of reflective practice. Kasey highlights key lessons, including setting boundaries to prevent burnout and finding joy in small moments. We also explore the need for systemic self-care within organisations. This insightful conversation offers valuable reflections for both new and experienced social workers. Tune in to hear Kasey’s journey and lessons from her first year in practice.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Welcome to Season 3 of the Social Work Café podcast! I'm Dr. Bernadette Moorhead, your host, and I'm thrilled to have you join us for another season of insightful conversations over coffee. This season, we're introducing a new theme: "What is one thing about social work that you would change to make it better?" Each of our ten guests will delve into this question, offering their unique perspectives and ideas for positive change within our profession. So, grab your favorite cup of coffee, settle in, and let's embark on this journey together.
Stay tuned for episode 1, out next week.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
In this bonus episode I am joined by a very special guest, Denis Ginnivan, a social worker who has lots of experience working at the grassroots level to facilitate political engagement of citizens. Denis talks with me about his fascinating social work career and how he became involved with local politics as a founding member of Voices for Indi, which has led him to share his experiences and expertise with other communities and social workers through Voices for Australia.
Learn More
Learn more about Denis here.
Visit the Voices for Indi website to learn more and find their social media handles.
Check out their book Voices for Indi: The Indi Way (Denis co-wrote the book).
You can connect with Denis on Linkedin.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Welcome back to the Social Work Café. This week I am joined by another former study buddy, the fabulous Sim Rajkumar, who is an experienced social worker, especially in the area of Defence. This is a field of practice that employs a number of social workers and yet does not get much focus or coverage in our social work programs. It’s time to pull back the curtain and learn more about social work practice in the context of the Defence Forces.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, nd sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Welcome to the latest episode of the Social Work Café. Supervision is a highly regarded professional development activity in social work. Yet, it is often reduced to an administrative or managerial task. I talk with an experienced social work supervisor, Jazmin Pursell, about how the supervision relationship can be set up so that critical reflection is central to the process and can be mutually beneficial for those involved.
Learn More
Click here to learn more about an article on quality supervision.
Click here to learn about an article on how supervision can involve dual learning.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Welcome back to the Social Work Café, where this week we return to my favourite topic – professional identity in social work. In this episode, one of my dear colleagues, Garth Norris is joining me in the café for some reflection on his career and ever-changing social work identity. Garth has enjoyed a whole range of jobs, and is now straddling his academic hat with his leadership hat as CEO of Endeavour Mental Health Recovery Clubhouse in Port Macquarie. Garth is keen to share his journey and the ways in which his social work identity continues to evolve.
Learn More
Click here to learn more about Garth.
Check out this interesting article on the role of dress in professional identity.
Check out this article on early career social work and professional identity.
Check out this article about political identity in social work.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Welcome back to The Social Work Café, where this week we go digital. When it comes to using digital technologies, the global pandemic has shifted a lot of perceptions and sped up the transition to online practice. While going online comes with a lot of benefits, there are also a range of ethical and practical challenges that social workers need to carefully navigate. To explore this exciting space, I am joined in the café by an amazing social worker, Melinda Green, who leads the student counselling and wellbeing service at Charles Sturt University.
Learn More
Click here for information about an article on human rights and digital technologies.
Click here for information on an article about ethical standards for digital practice.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Welcome to the latest episode of the Social Work Café. In season 1, we covered social work in the health sector. This week we return to that topic by looking at social work practice in rural health settings. I speak with an incredibly experienced social worker, Liz McRae, who has done just about any health role. Liz shares her wisdom about health social work and how she achieves our professional objectives in rural settings.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Welcome back to the latest episode of the Social Work Café. One of the most popular episodes of season 1 was about trauma-informed social work. So, let’s dive deeper into this topic by taking a closer look at a new trauma-informed hub that was launched in early 2024 in Albury-Wodonga, Australia. The hub is directed by two experienced social workers, Emilia Barrow and Cassandra Cuttler. They both join me in the café to talk about how they have setup their hub to be trauma-informed and their plans for sharing their expertise with other individuals and organisations.
Learn more
Click here for information on an article about trauma-informed social work.
Click here for details about another interesting article on trauma-informed approaches.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Welcome back to the Social Work Café. Field placement is essential for students to develop their professional identities and social work practice framework. It is also an ideal setting to learn how to become a disruptive social worker! To explore this tantalising topic, I am joined by the fabulous Dr Shirley Ledger who did her PhD in this area. We explore disruptive social work practice and the ways in which social work students and qualified practitioners can acquire the skills needed to achieve our professional objectives despite challenging practice contexts.
Learn more
Click here to connect with Shirley.
Click here for information on an interesting article co-written by Shirley.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
It is not uncommon for some people to be deemed too “complex” or “difficult” to treat in the mental health system. In this episode of the Social Work Cafe, we meet a passionate social work therapist and advocate who is determined to address those outdated ideas. Alex Wilson is an experienced practitioner with her own private practice, Mindful Recovery. Alex shares her social work perspective on working in the mental health space, especially with young people who get thrown onto the merry-go-round of mental health services.
Learn more
Click here to learn more about Alex and her private practice.
Click here to learn more about dialectical behavioural therapy.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Episode summary
Dr Will Dobud is back in the café to explore the wild side of social work! He survived chatting with me about feedback-informed treatment in season 1. This time he is going to speak with us his number one passion of wilderness therapy. Will is going to clarify some terminology in this field, as well as explain the theory and practice methods that are common to this field. Be sure to stick around for this advice on how to work in this exciting field.
Learn More
Click here to find out more about Will’s research.
Click here to find out more about Will’s podcast – Adventure Therapy Collective Podcast.
Click here to learn more about the Hell camp documentary Netflix.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Welcome to the launch of season 2 of the Social Work Café podcast. I’m your host, Bernadette Moorhead, aka Dr B. In this brief trailer, I reveal what’s in store for season 2, including the question that each guest will answer. Whether you are a social work student or practitioner in any part of the world, this podcast is for you. So go brew your favourite drink and join me in the Social Work Café.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Acknowledgement of Country
The Social Work Café Podcast is produced on Wiradjuri Country. I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and would also like to pay my respects to Wiradjuri Elders past and present, as well as any First Nations listeners.
Disclaimer
The views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of their employers or any other institution.
For our last episode for 2023, I’m joined in the Social Work Café by Kasey Henshaw, a dedicated listener who is about to graduate! We’re going to talk about what she has gained from listening to season 1 of the podcast and how she would answer that all-important question: What is social work? Dr. B will chime in with her very own answer as well.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Welcome back to the Social Work Café. As a profession largely consisting of women, it is no surprise that many social workers embrace a feminist worldview. We are passionate about liberation, class struggle, and addressing gendered injustices, which are exemplified in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. With this in mind, does contemporary social work adequately centre feminist theory and practice? To examine this question, Jac McNamara, from our recent bonus episode, is back in the café to talk about feminism in social work. We cannot promise that bras won’t be burned during this episode.
Learn more
You can contact Jac via her email: jmcnamara@csu.edu.au
Click here to read more about Jac.
Click here to read a recent blog post written by Jac on this topic.
Click here to learn about the Helem Yumba Healing Place.
Click here to learn about the Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Conference.
Click here to download the complete works of Andrea Dworkin for free (Right-wing Women and Woman Hating are highly recommended by Jac).
Click here to learn more about Gail Dines.
Click here to access Feminism is for everybody: Passion politics, by bell hooks.
Click here for details about Patriarchy, by Pavla Miller.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Episode summary
The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) plays a key role in promoting our profession at a global level, especially through the international definition of social work. But what is it that makes social work a global profession? In this episode, I speak with Dr. Sebastian Cordoba, an Australian social work educator at RMIT and member of the IFSW Asia-Pacific Regional Representatives of the United Nations Commission. He tells us about his fascinating macro work and what makes social work a global profession, particularly considering our diverse contexts.
Learn more
Click here to learn more about Dr. Cordoba.
Click here to learn more about The International Federation of Social Workers.
Click here to sign up for the free IFSW e-newsletter.
Click here for details on an interesting article about globalising social work.
Click here for another interesting article about the global definition.
How you can get involved
Become a friend of the podcast by tapping the subscribe button on your podcast app, leaving a positive review, and sharing the podcast with other social workers.
You can connect with me via the details below.
Click here to connect with me on Instagram.
Click here to read the blog post for this episode.
Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.
