"Don't just believe what you read on my file": Re-authoring patient stories - Ep. 86

Once called 'pauper's funerals' or 'desititue funerals', the practice of supporting someone who has died to access after-death care and funeral support is still very much in the remit of social workers in Australia. So, what happens when you have no means to pay for a funeral? Listen along with Mim and Lis as they hear from a social worker with lots of experience in this space. It's not one to miss!

An experienced ICU social worker takes us inside the quiet, unseen work of organ donation—where observation, stillness, and gentle advocacy help families find dignity, choice, and meaning at the end of life.

For all the social workers who work on-call, this episode it for you! This is a very special episode with a very special "anonymous guest"... We think you might guess the voice, but you will have to listen along to fully work it out.

In this powerful episode, a pediatric social worker shares her profound insights into hope as an active social work intervention. Working with children facing complex health challenges, she explores how hope isn't just a concept, but a practice of connection, advocacy, and presence. Through intimate stories of resilience, she reveals how social workers can cultivate hope even in the most difficult circumstances. Mim and Lis dive deep into the social worker's reflections, unpacking the nuanced ways hope can be understood as both a personal experience and a professional strategy. Their discussion explore the critical role of hope in transforming healthcare experiences and supporting families navigating uncertainty. Mim and Lis also discuss research by Carmel Flaskas, "Holding Hope and Hopelessness: Therapeutic Engagements with the Balance of Hope."

Mim and Lis hear from a new graduate social worker who landed a position in a rural Allied Health Graduate Program. The social worker shares her journey, from initial hesitation to embracing the unique opportunities and challenges of rural practice. The social worker describes her experience rotating through diverse clinical settings over two years, highlighting the strong support and flexibility of the graduate program. She recounts a case study demonstrating the creativity required in rural social work - when discharging an isolated older adult, the social worker leveraged local resources and relationships to help the patient maintain independence at home. Mim and Lis unpack the social worker's story, discussing the sense of community and resourcefulness in rural areas. They provide advice for new graduates, emphasising the importance of open-mindedness, asking questions about support, and researching the local context. Throughout, Mim and Lis draw parallels to their own experiences, offering an inspiring look at the realities of rural social work practice. Mim and Lis end with a note about an exciting new book being released soon, Podcasting for Social Work Education.