Master of Social Work

At the time I enrolled in the Master of Social Work Course, I was working in a job where almost daily I was encountering individuals affected by homelessness, mental health issues, family violence or some form of substance use. I was tired of sitting back and watching what was happening around me, without knowing how to help. I wanted the opportunity to better understand these people and what might be going on for them at a deeper level, and find ways to help them.

Having only been in Perth for a short time before enrolling at UWA, I had to do a bit of online research into what University was going to suit my needs. I found the UWA site easy to navigate and as their Master of Social Work course is accredited by AASW, I knew would open a lot of doors for me going forward.

I was fortunate to secure two fantastic, but vastly different field placements during my studies. In my first year on a geriatric ward of a public hospital and in my second, working with perpetrators of family and domestic violence at a men’s behavioural change program. Given the placements were so different, one of the greatest surprises to me was how seamlessly I was able to adapt my coursework learnings into each role and establish myself as not just a student, but a contributing member of the teams I was welcomed into. 

After my second placement I was privileged to gain employment with them. I am humbled to be a part of this work and I am thankful to the UWA field placement team for introducing me to something I knew so little about – I feel like I was perfectly matched to this placement!

Why did you decide to study social work?

At the end of my Bachelor’s degree I was still feeling lost about what I wanted to do, and the job market was tough. I wanted to expand my experience portfolio and skillset and so decided to pursue further study. I wanted to undertake a course that would ensure I was working with people, and helping people every day. The social work values were aligned with my personal values and I saw an opportunity in social work to work across diverse issues related to social justice and equality. When I chose and enrolled in the course, I was still unsure about if it was exactly the right fit for me, and honestly a little unsure what ‘social work’ even meant. However, as soon as I started the course I realised I had made a great choice and that the empathetic and context-driven model of work in social work would give me a great platform from which to drive social impact.  

Why did you choose to study Social Work at UWA?

UWA had been my home for my Bachelors degree and had given me a great experience, particularly in regards to my involvement in Uni based volunteering. I was ready to undertake more committed study through my masters, and the UWA course offered me the opportunity to undertake social work at the masters level and be completed in 2 years (though it ended up taking me 3!). 

What did you most enjoying when studying your course at UWA? 

My most enjoyable experience during the MSW was my final year practical placement. I undertook a 16-week placement working with young people engaged in the criminal justice system through the Aboriginal Legal Service. This was a very formative experience for me, and led to myself founding a local not-for-profit after the placement to address some of the systemic challenges I had witnessed while working in the system, namely addressing the digital divide in vulnerable young people. This experience was very challenging but also rewarding, and has come to define the way I approach challenges and work with diverse communities in my post-uni life.

I was also lucky to have fantastic lecturers and in my final year, Mark Sachmann as the course coordinator. All the MSW staff were very approachable and made a real effort to know their students and I felt very grateful for this. 

How long after you graduated UWA did you find a job?

I finished my final exam on a Friday in early November, and on Monday I got a call with an offer for a place on my graduate program. I felt very lucky to get a job offer right away. 

What part of the MSW course do you think prepared you the most for your current role? 

Currently I work at the Innovation Hub at Royal Perth Hospital. I work with clinical and non-clinical health staff to identify and unpack diverse challenges, many of them a classical ‘wicked problem’. We work with the clinical technical expertise and apply international best practice innovation techniques to develop solution ideas which we can trial across the hospital as small-scale ’protype projects’. Human Centred Design Thinking, which is one of the most dominant innovation frameworks, is concerned with reverse engineering solutions to wicked problems through empathizing with the end users. Social work provided the perfect springboard for me to embrace this model of problem solving, having comprehensively trained me in person-centred practice. I also hold the volunteer role as CEO at my not-for-profit, Hello Initiative. This role requires me to liaise with hugely diverse groups and communicate at both a high level with senior executives and government officials, but also clients and young people. Social work taught me how to communicate with empathy, as well as the enormous value of co-design in social impact innovation. 

What tips can you share about finding a job after university?

• Broaden your vision of where your degree can take you

Don’t just look for jobs with your specific job title – many skills are transferrable across industries and a diverse background might make you a stronger candidate for roles you never would have considered. Look for jobs that excite you, not just ones that match your degree.

• Use your time at Uni to collect as many skills and experiences as you can

Your coursework will give you a baseline skillset but to be competitive in the job market and a standout employee, you will need more than that. I highly recommend getting involved in volunteering and/or a start-up organisation, but any university clubs will be great.

• Be organised and don’t miss any opportunities

I started looking for jobs in about March of the year that I graduated. Many graduate programs begin their recruitment processes really early and you need to be on the lookout. Make sure your resume is up to date, get some help writing a great cover letter, and mark closing dates and deadlines in a calendar, so you don’t accidentally miss out. 

On reflection, is there anything that you would have done differently during your social work degree or field placements?

I had a great time in my degree and am pleased with the employment it secured me after I finished. I wish I had taken ‘self-care’ more seriously and prioritised my own wellbeing throughout the course. 

What information would you share with someone who is considering studying social work but still isn’t sure?

Give it a go! Social work holds such broad opportunities for your future career, and equips you with the ‘soft skills’ that are becoming increasingly critical in modern workplaces, like person-centred practice and professional empathy. If you care about your community and want to solve wicked problems in the real world, social work can take you there. 

What is your career ambition - where would you like to be in 5 or 10 years time?

I would like to run my own innovation consulting firm, specialising in social impact innovation. I want to help big organisations and governments solve their toughest wicked problems through new approaches and community co-design. There are so many problems out there just waiting to be solved!