I am a full-time Bachelor of Social work student, studying online and in my third year of my degree. I am a dedicated student and highly committed to my studies. I am a proud Wiradyuri Wambuul Yinaa (Macquarie River Woman) and a strong advocate for culturally compatible and decolonised practice when working with First Nations Peoples. For the past three years, I have been residing and working in remote/rural First Nations communities within Central Queensland.

I have been far from my gunhi-ngurambang (mother-home) for some time now, which is, Wiradyuri Ngurambang (Wiradyuri Country) and my ancestors have been singing me home. With guidance from Wakka Wakka and Gubbi Gubbi elders, following my most recent placement in the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg. I made an important decision to pack up my life and move back to Country. My plan is to complete my degree in the Central Coast region whilst staying with family to assist with the financial hardship that comes with full time studies. Once graduated, I will move West to place my roots down on my gunhi-ngurambang to live and work indefinitely alongside my Wiradyuri mayiny (people).

For the last four years, I have been working remotely for a private psychiatry clinic as a medical administration officer. I have initiated plans with the psychiatry directors of the company to expand their clinic to support remote First Nations communities. I have advocated to them just how sparse supports are for these communities, and they have expressed their interest to help develop pathways to reach the community members in these locations. Once I have completed my degree, I can use my professional networks to transform this plan into reality. In developing this pathway, my goal for treatment would not be Westernised, it would be developed as more of a transdisciplinary approach where community, practitioner and patient knowledge are equally valued and implemented into their healing and recovery.

My passion and drive to study social work are embedded in my identity and rural/remote First Nations communities are where I see myself long term. My career goal is to continue decolonising Australia’s mainstream systems and institutions, to revitalise the culture and language of my old people. I want my future generations to never question their identity, or their place and to have access to culturally compatible heath care.

• Counselling families and individuals:
  • During this course I was required to attend a 5-day intensive on the university campus where I could practice, and role play the skills we had learnt over the trimester. I found this incredibly useful as a full-time online student and very important in gaining confidence in my counselling skills for my future practice. My motivation to study social work is fuelled by my passion to work within rural and remote First Nations communities, and this is where I see myself long term. In consideration of my future career goals, I would have liked to have seen more content or learnings within this course that focused on working alongside First Nations communities and the different approaches that our First Nations practitioners may be using in their practice already.

• Influencing policy and legislation
  • During this course I was set with the task to develop an advocacy strategy for a policy area that I am passionate about. The cause I identified was a deeply personal one, and was greatly influenced by my beliefs, identity, experience, and values as an Aboriginal woman living in contemporary Australia.  I have attached my advocacy workbook for you to review.
• Developing practice and leadership
  • During this subject I identified several leadership aspects that I wanted to develop over the next 12 months. These aspects included emotional intelligence, active listening, clear communication, Indigenous innovation and relationality. All were identified as critically relevant features for the social work context. I utilised a reflective tool specifically designed for Aboriginal social work practitioners and detailed their significance for my development as an emerging Wiradyuri practitioner. A 12-month leadership development plan was established in line with the SMART framework, and each aspect was allocated a specific objective to support their advancement.  I have also attached this for your review.

• Evaluation, effectiveness, outcomes
  • This course was important for understanding the significance of evaluation in social work practice. We focused particularly on the refugee and asylum seeker community in Australia and evaluating the support programs in place.

Overall, trimester 1 of study was engaging and very busy! But I am certainly looking forward to beginning my 4th and final year of study, which kicks off on the 14^th of this month.