Can you be a social worker in any job?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.