Social Work Spotlight

In this episode I speak with Rachel, the Principal Accredited Social Worker and Founder of Lighting Your Way Social Wellbeing, a practice she built to be a safe, inclusive, and neuroaffirming service for people who often fall through the gaps. Alongside working directly with clients, she actively advocates for systemic reform by feeding back injustices and gaps in services to policymakers, as a person with lived experience of disability. 

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In this episode I speak with Aishwarya, a passionate social work graduate from India, currently pursuing her Master’s of Social Work at RMIT University in Melbourne. With hands-on experience across diverse sectors including community development, youth education, aged care, and mental health services, Aishwarya brings both compassion and insight to her work. Deeply committed to advancing mental health and hospital social work, she’s driven by a desire to make meaningful, systemic change. 

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In this episode I speak with Braden, a social work leader and supervisor from New Zealand. He has worked most of his career in the field of child protection and has recently completed his doctorate which explored how child protection social workers can support children to thrive after they have experienced adversity.

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In this episode I speak with Heath, a recently graduated social worker who has been studying the last six years and is currently working in the child protection space in the NGO sector. He has also completed a five-year internship in counselling whilst studying and now also works in private practice as a social worker. Heath has a strong passion for critical social work practice and strives for innovative change within the human services sector.

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In this episode I speak with Eileen, who has over 30 years of experience in child abuse, family violence, mental health and trauma and is passionate about the safety of children and ensuring the voices of children are heard. In 2022 Eileen launched her own company as a way of promoting primary prevention in the areas of child abuse and family violence.

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In this episode I speak with Kristen, a passionate early career practitioner in the children, young persons and families space who in her spare time is also continuing her professional development by completing a Master’s of Social Work. Kristen uses relationship-based practice to work alongside young parents in supporting them to improve child developmental outcomes, breaking the cycle of generational disadvantage, and to empower them to realise their parental strengths. 

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In this episode I speak with Calum, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Psychotherapist, with 10 years of experience across specialist mental health services both in Australia and the UK. Calum also runs a small private practice, Stoa Therapy, and is undertaking further education in Family Therapy.

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In this episode I speak with Stacey, a social worker and program manager with extensive experience in youth homelessness, leading crisis refuges and transitional accommodation services. Passionate about trauma-informed care, she also leads initiatives supporting male survivors of domestic violence and is pursuing a PhD focused on suicide bereavement in Australian adult males.

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In this episode I speak with Mel, the founder and CEO of Social Care Solutions, a leading child safeguarding organisation in child protection assessment, training, support and consultancy across Australia and Aotearoa. With over 20 years of experience, multiple industry awards, and a passion for improving outcomes for children and young people, Mel is a recognised thought leader and advocate in the sector.

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In this episode I speak with Korin, who has been working in the disability space for the last 4 years, currently working in behaviour support and supporting a team of practitioners under NDIS. In this role Korin supports people from various trauma backgrounds and helps to improve their lives and educate support workers, families and other providers to enable them to live out their full potential. Korin has a passion in advocating for human rights and accessibility for all and is about to expand into providing supervision to social work students undergoing their placements.

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In this episode I speak with Yulia, a social worker and psychosexual therapist specialising in youth mental health and sexual health. She has worked in digital mental health spaces, clinical education, and peer support, bringing a diverse and holistic approach to her practice. Yulia completed her Master of Science in Medicine (Sexual and Reproductive Health), specialising in psychosexual therapy, and also holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice. 

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In this episode I speak with Evanthea, a Social Worker and Counsellor with experience in child protection, out of home care, disability, and therapeutic roles. She currently works as the Director of her business, Budding Resilience Therapies, specialising in supporting individuals with complex psychosocial needs and offering experienced practitioners who have a multifaceted approach to supporting their clients as they navigate multiple systems. 

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In this episode I speak with Mish, a plural system that is non-binary, queer, disabled, and neurodivergent, as well as beng awarded the 2024 Australian Social Worker of the Year. As a social worker of colour, their practice is grounded in identity affirming anti-colonial and anti-oppressive practices from which they have built their skillset of supporting people through a range of therapeutic modalities. Mish is the chair of The Iceberg Foundation, a mental health charity for BIPOC, queer and neurodivergent humans and is the principal practitioner at Niram, a BIPOC focussed EMDR practice.

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In this episode I speak with Kimberly, who has 25 years of practice experience working alongside individuals, families and communities, responding to interpersonal, institutional, and colonial violence. She teaches in various universities nationally and internationally and provides supervision to social workers and therapists. Kimberly lives and works on Yuin country and identifies as a non-Aboriginal settler migrant with white privileges and indigenous ancestry from Mexico.

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In this episode I speak with Loren, who has predominantly worked within the domestic, family and sexual violence sector. Loren discusses how her career has intersected with other disciplines along the way and how these experiences have shaped how she practices as a social worker. Loren currently works as Senior Practitioner supervising an interstate team supporting victim-survivors of financial abuse with coaching.

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In this episode I speak with Dr Josie McSkimming, who has practised in a wide range of settings for over 40 years, including hospital social work, inter-country adoption, post-adoption services, drug and alcohol treatment, individual and couples therapy and adult mental health. In addition to her private practice providing therapy and clinical supervision, Josie is an adjunct lecturer at the University of NSW and the author of two books, ‘Leaving Christian Fundamentalism and the Reconstruction of Identity’ and ‘Gutsy Girls’, a memoir to be released early 2025.

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In this episode I speak with Jordan, an accredited social worker and clinical supervisor. Jordan has worked in a variety of fields such as service coordination, aged care, mental health, drug and alcohol, and currently works within schools. Jordan is passionate about connecting with others and hearing their stories.

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In this episode I speak with Amanda, a Social Worker who has spent most of her career working with older people. Recently, her passion for research and search for clarity in her career lead her to enrol in her PhD, researching Access for People with Dementia to Voluntary Assisted Dying. She balances part time work, part time studying and full-time parenting to two young boys. Amanda gains value out of supporting people to maintain their empowerment and self-determination, against what society tells them should happen.

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In this episode I speak with Lisa, an accredited mental health social worker, psychotherapist, and author of Finding My Invisible Sun: Overcoming Trauma. Lisa has lived experience of trauma, mental illness and institutionalised discrimination and has practised therapy for a combined 15 years within a domestic and family violence prevention service and then as an accredited mental health social worker.

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In this episode I speak with Rey, an emerging social worker from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, dedicated to supporting families, children, and young people. She currently specialises in assisting families impacted by the criminal justice system and also serves as a casual university social work supervisor. 

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In this episode I speak with Dr Jean Carruthers, a lecturer at the University of Newcastle who received her PhD in 2020 for her work on performance as a critical social work pedagogy. She has built on this to explore a range of creative methods in social work education and practice, with her current work focused on mental health and whether transformative wellbeing practices can be used to address gaps in the sector. 

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In this episode I speak with Harveen, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who has worked as a mental health clinician in both public and private hospital settings with a passion for supporting individuals and groups across a range of mental health journeys and trajectories.

Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:

• NEAMI National - https://www.neaminational.org.au/

• St John of God Health Care - https://www.sjog.org.au/about-us

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

In this episode I speak with Yaleela, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist and private practice owner in Queensland. She is deeply passionate about Social Work practice because she understands the significant impact of social, economic, and political factors on the health and well-being of our children, families, and communities. Yaleela is dedicated to the profession and actively participates in the Australian Association of Social Workers and the Play Therapy Practitioners Association, as well as building capacity for other First Nations allied health practitioners.

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In this episode I speak with Kit, a descendent of the Wampanoag tribe in Canada and with German, Scottish and Irish ancestry. Kit has worked as a counsellor and trainer for over 20 years specialising in mental health and addictions and is currently a clinical supervisor and the founder and director of Nature Based Therapy in Victoria.

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In this episode I speak with Sid, who in her early years of social work has discovered a deep passion for engaging with and supporting individuals navigating PTSD and mental health challenges. Her journey into social work was driven by a profound love for aiding others and a genuine interest in listening to their stories, empowering them to feel like the protagonist in their own lives.

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In this episode I speak with Brooke, a senior psychotherapist and Mental Health Social Worker specialising in trauma and attachment, child and youth mental health, perinatal mental health and family therapy. Brooke believes strongly in the healing power of nature and animals, and uses these principles as Director of a clinic near Brisbane offering Equine Facilitated Therapy, working from a body based trauma informed perspective.

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In this episode I speak with Veronya, an English and Arabic speaking accredited mental health social worker supporting young people in an early psychosis program. Verona has worked as a senior clinician and team leader with Headspace doing single sessions, supporting an outreach clinic and participating in the flood hub in Londonderry.

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In this episode I speak with Sinnead who works with individuals in a Student Wellbeing team in a University setting, supporting students who are impacted by challenges that affect their studies. Sinnead also has experience working with children, adolescents and adults in both disability and mental health, family intervention and domestic violence. 

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In this episode I speak with Gaul, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who has worked in tertiary level mental health services for 15 years. Gaul currently works in private practice at Psychology Training and Supervision where he specialises in couples and family therapy as well as providing clinical supervision to mental health clinicians. 

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In this episode I speak with Thanh, an accredited mental health social worker with intensive experience working with people who have a history of complex trauma and addiction. She has recently developed her own private practice and is passionate about addressing stigma and improving access and engagement in mental health services for Vietnamese and Asian populations more generally.

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In this episode I speak with Su, a care manager at The CareSide, assisting and manage clients in accessing support through their home care packages. Originally from Shanghai, Su spent three years as a corporate banker before moving to Adelaide to complete her Master's degree at Flinders University in 2019, chasing her desire to make a meaningful difference in people's lives through social work.

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In this episode I speak with Stef, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who works in private practice at Clarity Therapy in Gymea, Sydney. He has a background in child protection and Out of Home Care, and utilises an integrated therapeutic approach, drawing on evidence based modalities as well as social work theory, aiming for a holistic approach to improving mental health.

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In this episode I speak with Jamie, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and a Senior Social Worker who works both in private practice and within a community mental health service. Jamie has experience working in the UK and Australia and has a special interest in providing psychological therapy to older adults.

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In this episode I speak with Cass, a respectful child protection social worker and supervisor with a therapeutic mindset, committed to addressing social issues through innovative approaches and challenging injustices with kindness and empathy. Cass is dedicated to promoting inclusivity and advocacy for marginalised communities through systemic change.

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In this episode I speak with Dean, a dedicated and compassionate counsellor who specialises in client-centred therapies for both individuals and couples. Dean is a social worker with additional training in nursing, mental health and addiction, as well as being an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. Dean specialises in anxiety, depression and addiction, with a talent for helping clients quit smoking, drinking and other substances.

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In this episode I speak with Monique, a dynamic and innovative Social Worker specialising in disability social work under the NDIS funding system. Monique provides therapeutic and capacity building services to the neurodivergent community and professional supervision and training through her private practice "Our Future Focus" in Brisbane. Monique is a passionate clinical supervisor, trainer and avid encourager of social workers who want to learn more about effective and evidence based disability social work.

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In this episode I speak with Victoria, a Social Worker and Peer Worker living and working on Stolen Kaurna Land in Adelaide, South Australia). As a recent Master’s of Social Work graduate she has been active in the Youth Mental Health sector, with a passion for working collaboratively with Multicultural, LGBTQIA+ people, and those with intersectional identities.

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In this episode I speak with Sharon, who has worked as a caseworker, groupwork coordinator, child and family counsellor and primary school counsellor and is now an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker in private practice. She provides supervision to other social workers and students, is trained as a Systemic Couple and Family Therapist and facilitates both standard and youth Mental Health First Aid training.

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In this episode I speak with Michele, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Accredited EMDR Consultant, Clinical Resource Therapy Trainer as well as partner in private practice and Director of EMDR Relational and Training at Seva House in the Hunter region. Michele has worked extensively with children, young people and adults who have experienced complex trauma as well as supporting young people who have caused harm to others. Michele provides EMDR Consultation and Clinical Supervision to professionals and develops and facilitates training in EMDR and Resource Therapy. 

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In this episode I speak with Jana, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with over a decade of experience working as a practitioner and clinician within community-based and multidisciplinary services, working with individuals and families, providing 1:1 counselling and case management support, as well as offering mentoring and supervision to emerging and graduate social workers.

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Hi and welcome to Social Work Spotlight, where I showcase different areas of the profession each episode. I’m your host, Yasmine McKee-Wright, and for the 100th episode of Social Work Spotlight I’ve invited five previous guests to return to the podcast who were all very early on in their careers when we previously met, to let us know what they’ve been up to, where they are working now, and how they have developed personally and professionally. Join me for this very special milestone celebration as I speak again with Anna, Emily, Haylee, Kate and Maddy.

This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 

In this episode I speak with Shahil, who has worked across the areas of youth homelessness, disability and suicide prevention and aftercare and now works in policy, advocacy and social campaigning. Shahil believes in social justice and advocating for the rights of people experiencing challenges in life, finding that focusing on intervention at a micro-level is just as critical as issues on a macro-level. 

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In this episode I speak with Kristin, a qualified social worker with 17 years of social work experience in youth justice, child protection and the family court.  Kristin qualified in Australia but has lived and worked in the UK since 2012.  Now alongside her social work role, Kristin supports other overseas social workers making the move to the UK.

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In this episode I speak with Patricia. Born in Zambia, Patricia has qualifications in Social Work and Social Policy and her experience spans working in government and non-government organisations and co-authoring a chapter of a clinical handbook in adolescent medicine. Her experience as a mother of a child with a terminal illness inspired her to write a book, and she’s now working on a follow up novel.

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In this episode I speak with Marie, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Couples and Family Therapist, presenter, podcaster, and trainer, renowned for her expertise in the field of mental health and wellbeing. With a focus on normalising discussions around mental health, Marie equips audiences with the knowledge and tools to nurture their own mental wellbeing, helping to break down stigma and empower individuals to speak openly and confidently about mental health.

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In this episode I speak with Rhianna, a Certified Humanistic Play Therapist and Interplay practitioner with Play Therapy Australia. Rhianna currently works as the Women and Childrens Crisis Counsellor with Coast Shelter. She values walking alongside her clients in their journey and supporting them to achieve better mental health and life outcomes after experiencing trauma. Rhianna has a passion for outdoor based therapies and using creativity in her approaches to working with clients.

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In this episode I speak with Dave, a senior social work clinician and supervisor in private practice. Dave works from a combined Schema Therapy and EMDR framework in order to meet the needs of his clients.

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In this episode I speak with Kellie, a social worker with comprehensive working experience with Centrelink and Services Australia who has recently entered private practice to assist clients with their healing and recovery journey from trauma.

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In this episode I speak with Amy, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, EMDR accredited Consultant and Parts Work Practitioner who is an enthusiast in all things somatic and creative. Amy started her journey in child and family work but was able to experience a range of work within the education, homelessness, community health and tertiary education sector. Amy co-owns a private practice in the Hunter Valley with other like-minded professionals and hopes others have the support and courage to work towards their dream roles.

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In this episode I speak with Kathryn, who has extensive experience in psychosocial disability and mental health through NDIS. She also has a degree in Film Studies and incorporates this in her private practice where she provides a niche therapy modality called Cinematherapy. Kathryn provides counselling through NDIS, mentoring, and mental health support for adult clients, their carers and families.

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