Social Work with passion Archives - ...metaphorically speaking

A Changing Story

November 21, 2022

by metaphor with No Comment Eco-social work Ecotherapy Healing the planet Healing with nature My personal journey Nature and Forest Therapy Social Work with passion

Five years ago, I moved to the Nambucca Valla with a dream.

My vision was to establish a healing place in the bush, guided by the ethics of permaculture – People Care, Fair Share and Earth Care. I envisioned this as a temporary place for women to stay who were in life transitions, with a history of domestic violence or homelessness, offering an opportunity to get back on their feet and heal from their trauma experience. A place to access on-site counselling and eco-therapies to nurture mind and spirit, and access organic food to nourish the body.

**Me with Tiwi Elders, Alberta Puruntatameri and Elaine Tiparui**

My vision was informed by over a decade working in remote Aboriginal communities of the Northern Territory. I was inspired by the spiritual knowledge of Tiwi Elders who showed me that ‘going bush is the best medicine’ for healing. I had worked alongside Elders, in addressing the effects of intergenerational trauma including family violence, child abuse and neglect. I came to appreciate the power of narrative therapy using metaphors to help people tell their stories in ways that made them stronger and connecting with the land as a form of ‘eco-therapy’.

I was drawn to finding a property from which to offer my therapeutic services in the valley around Bowraville. However, the right place never came along in those first few years and then shortly after that, we were priced out of the market.

It became obvious that my vision wouldn’t come to fruition in the Valley. This came with much disappointment and sadness.

After losing both my parents in the last three years and some other challenging issues in my extended family, I started to feel the pull back to my ‘homelands’ where I grew up on Gunaikurnai country.

In mid-2022, my husband and I laid eyes on a 50 acre farm close to Seaspray, a beach that has always held a special place in my heart for fond childhood holiday memories and where I later met my husband. When we stepped foot on that country, it felt ‘right’, like coming home. I realised I was coming full circle.

I could see my vision unfolding here, with opportunities for my clients to engage in nature-based counselling, and other initiatives. I am also keen to use my passion and skills for permaculture and regenerative agriculture, in a way that cares for the planet as well as people. Being a climate-conscious practitioner has become an integral part of my practice.

So we bought the property. Yintarini Farm will be so-named in honour of my Tiwi mentor, Elaine Tiparui who was instrumental in the development of my eco-social work therapeutic practice.

It’s mid-November. And we have now moved to Yintarini Farm, Seaspray. It’s here I will continue to operate my mental health private practice, offering counselling and eco-therapy on-country and as well as our outreach service which has been so-deeply valued.

You can continue to follow the journey of …metaphorically speaking on Facebook at Yintarini Farm.

7 Reasons for Choosing Me as Your Therapist

December 27, 2019

by metaphor with No Comment Bush therapy Counselling Culturally Fit Social Workers Eco-social work Ecotherapy Expressive therapies Group work Healing from Trauma Healing with nature Health and wellbeing Mental health Narrative therapy Social Work with passion

So it is just about to clock over into a new year and a new decade. Are you filled with excitement or dread?

Perhaps it’s time to finally do something about that Anxiety that has stopped you from getting a job or going outside. Or maybe you want to shine the spotlight on the plans Depression has had for your life, because it doesn’t fit for you anymore. Or perhaps your life experiences or the state of planet have you believing that life will never be safe again?

If the idea of therapy, freaks you out (yeah, Anxiety can stop you from getting help too!), then here are 7 reasons why you might like to consider reaching out to me. Unlike other counsellors, I do have a few unique features that you won’t find elsewhere, as an alternative from traditional talk therapies.

I come to you.
If transport is an issue or the idea of meeting a stranger in an office doesn’t float your boat, no problem. I can meet you at your home, your workplace (if there is a suitable private space), or school (so you don’t have to run around delivering kids to their appointment).
You are not the problem here. Your problem is the problem.
Your problem is not inside of you, but perhaps it has been coming and going for so long now, it has you convinced there must be something wrong with you. Maybe other people also think that you need fixing. Together we will expose the problem for what it really is – something external to you. Something you can have control over. Something you can change.
I will meet you outside (if you like).
From a Western viewpoint, it’s called eco-therapy. If you’re from First Nations mob, yarning on country is what you have always done. And it’s a much better option for people who don’t feel comfortable eyeballing their therapist between four enclosed walls. I meet people on beaches, riverbanks and in parks, while taking the utmost care to maintain your privacy as much as possible. Being in nature provides a whole host of health and well-being benefits. I learned all about the healing aspects of being connected to the land from my time working in remote communities of the Northern Territory.
You may not have to pay.
I am committed to offering therapeutic experiences to people who can least afford it. If you have a mild to moderate mental health issue and are experiencing financial hardship, you may be eligible for bulk billing through Medicare. You will need a Mental Health Care Plan and referral from your GP.
I am here to stay.
There is nothing worse than building a relationship with a therapist, then learning that they are leaving their job or moving away. Seaspray is my home and my work space. I am really passionate about my community and making it a great place for everyone to live, work and play. This is where I grew up and this is where I will die.
I will ‘Walk and Talk’.
Sitting still doesn’t suit everyone especially if you feel fidgety or restless. Sometimes moving your body is part of what’s needed to help you relax, express yourself or allow trauma stuck in the body to move through. Whether it is along the Ninety Mile beach or around Lake Gutheridge, in a private session or in a group with our Narrative Walks program!
I am the only Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide in the Wellingto region.
If the stress of daily life has taken its toll, let me guide you into the forest or along the beach to help you slow down and reconnect mindfully with yourself and nature. You can book a private walk with a group of friends, colleagues or just yourself.

So what are your plans for your life in the decade to come? Let’s work together to make it happen. Get in touch.

“Coming From a Place of Not Knowing” with Alanna Audus

November 21, 2018

by metaphor with No Comment Burnout Challenges and struggles Colonisation Culturally Fit Social Workers Culturally sensitive therapeutic tools Decolonising social work practice Ethics and values Healing from Trauma Metaphors Narrative therapy Narrative work with Aboriginal communities NT Emergency Intervention Podcast Remote social work Self Care Social Work with Indigenous communities Social Work with passion Starting out in Indigenous social work Working with Metaphors

There is something to be said about social workers who are graciously willing to tell their story, just 12 months after diving into their remote social work experience. Still in the midst of a giant learning curve, Alanna Audus joins me on Talk the Walk to share the ups, downs and delicious highlights of her beginnings in Alice Springs. Alanna is a newcomer to narrative therapy and is delighted with the way her somewhat ‘kooky’ conversations with people are beginning to shape their lives for the better. She works as a generalist and victims of crime counsellor for CatholicCare NT with some of the most marginalised Aboriginal people in Australia.

This conversation is as delightful as it is authentic. So be warned, Alanna’s heartfelt generosity may inspire you to pack up your city life and go bush.

On episode 27, we explore:

What led Alanna to pack up all her belongings and head to Alice Springs
What it’s really like starting out in social work with no prior experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Alanna’s unique story which has influenced her passion and drive for social justice
A ‘fly on the wall’ account of Alanna’s approach to counselling, starting out in narrative therapy
Why relationships are at the heart of Alanna’s practice and feeling okay about not knowing
The rich conversations that transpire working with metaphors
Methods of narrative documentation such as letter writing which record people’s processes of acknowledgement and achievement, and what difference this makes to clients
Struggles and challenges Alanna has faced in her first year in a remote community and the notion of ‘doing therapy on yourself everyday’
The influence of nature and the raw environment on Alanna’s self care, allowing her to do high intensity social work
Reflections on resilience in ourselves and our clients
The people, institutions and the influence of radical politics that have shaped Alanna’s social work practice framework and life
Reflections on the NT Emergency Intervention more than a decade on, a continuation of ongoing oppression and disempowerment which began with colonisation
Words of wisdom for other social workers considering the move from big city to remote outback and avoiding burnout
A sparkling moment from Alanna’s last week

To listen, simply click on the Play button below or listen via the Stitcher App for iOS, Android, Nook and iPad.

You can also subscribe to podcast and blog updates via email from the Menu on the Home Page.

Don’t forget, if you or someone you know would make a great interview on ‘Talk the Walk’, send us an email from the Contact Page.

Things to follow up after the episode

Contact Alanna on alanna.audus(at)gmail(dot)com

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‘The Magic of Metaphors: Engaging women at risk to prevent trauma in young children’

August 1, 2018

by metaphor with One Comment Community Development Community Work Cross Cultural practice Domestic and family violence Healing from Trauma Healing Our Children Metaphors Narrative work with Aboriginal communities Preventing the cycle of trauma Prevention of Trauma Project Implementation Reflective social work practice Remote social work SNAICC Conference Social work blog Social Work Practice Framework Social Work with Indigenous communities Social Work with passion Trauma-informed practice Two way learning Violence and Abuse Working with Metaphors Working with Women

This was the topic of a presentation I gave at the SNAICC Conference in Canberra in September, 2017. Thanks to some spontaneous video recording and retrieval work from another social worker sitting in the audience that day, I’ve finally been able to edit this together.

This presentation occurred as I came to the end of my contract with Relationships Australia NT, as Co-Ordinator of the Healing Our Children project. It was the culmination of about six years work; most of which was in the development phase working on an idea raised by concerned Elders on the Tiwi Islands, plus a further two and a half years to roll out a pilot program in remote communities on the Tiwi Islands, Katherine and Palmerston.

As a Co-founder of the project, I am proud of this work and what we have been able to create. I am incredibly grateful for the time I spent learning together with the women of the Tiwi Islands and NE Arnhemland about ways we can respond to domestic and family violence to protect children and prevent trauma.

This was a fantastic project because it was developed in community with community using the knowledge, wisdom and stories of Aboriginal people’s lived experience. It did not come from outside or abroad. Programs like this are not cheap to develop and involve a lot of sweat and tears, time and patience. We did it all on a shoestring!

I decided not to continue on in the role as Co-Ordinator because as much as I had invested in this project and believed wholeheartedly in what we set out to achieve, it was underfunded. I was employed for two days per week to support and mentor a team of local people in several communities. Unfortunately, the extension of funding beyond 2018 then reduced, rather than capitalised on the investment and success we had already made during this trial. This was disappointing, as the women and communities had invested so much of their energy and time voluntarily, on an issue they were passionate about addressing. It means that the local people employed in the project (which is one of the biggest aims of the funding) receive only casual wages and service delivery is sporadic at best.

We can do better than this.

My point is that I want to see projects like this properly funded, especially ones that are developed by communities for their own people. So they are sustainable and have every chance of enacting real change and closing the gap!

Everything that I brought to this project through my social work practice framework is represented in some form in this presentation. This includes strong values and a commitment to social justice, self determination and empowerment for Aboriginal people. This video may appeal to social workers interested in anti-oppressive practice, narrative community work or using metaphors in therapeutic work.

This presentation covers:

Background to the ‘Healing Our Children’ project
The culturally safe project model
Shared values that underpinned the project
Metaphors and how we came to use them in our training, therapeutic groupwork, resource development and evaluation
The healing potential and therapeutic benefit of using metaphors in trauma work
How the resource kit “It Takes a Forest to Raise a Tree” was developed
How metaphors assisted us in safe dialogue with women who had children living at home with violence

Please note: Due to our video camera running out of batteries half way through, we have edited together the two parts of this presentation.

My hope is that ‘Healing Our Children’ moves beyond surviving, to thriving!
Support, follow and learn more here.

‘Healing Our Children’ project at Relationships Australia NT

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‘Striving for Fairness and Equity in a Colonised World’ with Sammi Lillie

July 11, 2018

by metaphor with No Comment Advocacy Child Protection Child Removal Culturally Fit Social Workers Decolonising social work practice Ethics and values Inspiring Stories Justice issues Justice-doing Listening Podcast Policy Racism Reconciliation Reflective social work practice Self determination Social Justice Social Work Graduates Social Work Placement Social Work Practice Framework Social Work with Indigenous communities Social Work with passion Starting out in Indigenous social work Stolen Generation Talk the Walk podcast White privilege

It is a fitting tribute for NAIDOC week, that I should be interviewing Sammi Lillie on ‘Talk The Walk’ this week. In this conversation, Sammi honours the many Aboriginal women that have supported and vouched for her on her journey into social work with First Nations peoples. Having just graduated from her Masters of Social Work, Sammi reflects on her placement experience of co-ordinating the Child Removal campaign at ANTAR Qld (Australians for Native Title and Reconcilitation). Driven by personal family interests as well as deeply held values and a commitment to self determination, Sami shares the ingredients that have made practising Indigenous policy and advocacy work successful as a non-Indigenous woman. Social work students considering their future placements will find this episode invaluable and current non-indigenous practitioners will discover pearls of wisdom for standing alongside our Indigenous brothers and sisters for recognition and justice.

In episode 24 of Talk the Walk we explore:

Why social work students should consider a placement experience in policy and advocacy work
The current state of affairs in relation to the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families
The state of child protection legislation in Queensland after adopting the principle of self determination in 2017
The need for a national inquiry into the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out of home care
How you can support the Family Matters initiative to make a difference
Sammi’s greatest learnings working on Indigenous advocacy campaigns and policy development
The social work theories that influenced Sammi’s developing practice framework
Sammi’s concept of a ‘pro-Indigenous theory’ arising out of her interest in the work of Bob Pease on pro-feminism
Sammi’s personal connection to the Stolen Generations and the other motivating factors that make her so passionate about addressing discrimination
How Sammi has avoided major struggles in the work by acting with integrity, honesty and ‘cultural courage’
Knowledge that social workers should have but are just not getting
Unpacking the values underpinning Sammi’s work and life
The mentors and rolemodels that continue to inspire Sammi in her work
Reflections on proud moments, avoiding mistakes easily made, and Sammi’s plans for the future
Final advice for other social work students considering their placements

To listen to this episode simply click on the Play button below or listen via the Stitcher App for iOS, Android, Nook and iPad.

You can also subscribe to podcast and blog updates via email from the Menu on the Home Page.

Don’t forget, if you or someone you know would make a great interview on ‘Talk the Walk’, send us an email from the Contact Page.

Things to follow up after the episode

ANTaR Queensland website

ANTaR National website and Sign Up here for their Newsletter

Like Sammi’s Facebook Page ‘Ally Through Advocacy’

Sammi’s Reading List
Clare Tilbery, ‘The over-representation of indigenous children in the Australian child welfare system’, International Journal of Social Welfare.
Bob Pease, ‘Men as Allies in Preventing Violence against Women: Principles and Practices for Promoting Accountability’.
Bindi Bennett, Sue Green, Stephanie Gilbert, Dawn Bessarab (eds), Our voices : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social work.
Bindi Bennett, Joanna Zubrzycki, J & Violent Bacon, ‘What Do We Know? The Experiences of Social Workers Working Alongside Aboriginal People’.
Christine Fejo-King & Linda Briskman,‘Reversing colonial practices with Indigenous peoples’
Christine Fejo-King, Let’s Talk Kinship.
English, Peter. ‘Land rights and birthrights, (the great Australian hoax) : an examination of the rights of ownership of former Aboriginal land in Australia’.
Aileen Moreton- Robinson, Whitening Race, Aboriginal Studies Press, Australia.
Robyn Lynn, Rosamund Thorpe, Debra Miles, Christine Cutts, Anne Butcher, Linda Ford Murri Way! Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders reconstruct social welfare practice.
Tom Calma & Emily Priday, ‘Putting Indigenous Human Rights into Social Work Practice’, Australian Social Work.
Elizabeth Fernandez, ‘Child Protection and Vulnerable Families: Trends and Issues in the Australian Context’, Social Sciences.

Contact Sammi at sammililli(at)gmail(dot)com

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Just some of the beautiful trees that spoke to Anne around the community and on homelands.

‘Opening Doors and Letting Stories Unfold’ with Anne Carrick

February 7, 2018

by metaphor with No Comment Challenges and struggles Community Work Cross Cultural practice Culturally Fit Social Workers Domestic and family violence Ethics and values Health and wellbeing Inspiring Stories Podcast Reflective social work practice Remote social work Self determination Social and emotional wellbeing Social Work Placement Social Work with Indigenous communities Social Work with passion Starting out in Indigenous social work Talk the Walk podcast Two way learning

Anne Carrick working on Kunibidji country

In episode 20 of ‘Talk the Walk’, my guest today captures the essence of what it takes to move from a big city to a remote community in the heart of Arnhemland. Social Worker, Anne Carrick spent three years immersed in community life and working in a social and emotional well-being program alongside 13 language groups and clans, each with their similar but different traditions living on Kunibidji land. Anne says “This is one of the most multi-lingual communities in the world.”

If you’ve ever considered working remote or wondered what it is like, Anne’s stories, memories and lessons learned are pure gold.

In this episode we explore:

Anne’s early learnings working with Aboriginal people as a young social worker in Adelaide and Ceduna
The thinking and motivation behind Anne’s move to the Northern Territory
One article every Balanda (whitefella) needs to read before working in Aboriginal communities
A typical day working in the social and emotional wellbeing program in a remote Aboriginal community
The effects of daily life being exposed to frequent domestic violence and suicide attempts
The role Elders and leaders took in responding to domestic and family violence
The outcomes Anne was able to achieve assisting women, children and families
How a social work assessment process differs in a remote community compared to a more urban settling, and the role of Aboriginal workers
How the community shaped new understandings of mental health using the positive concept of living a life ‘worried well’
Anne’s experience of supervising social work students; what students can do to prepare themselves for a remote placement; and good advice for anyone thinking of working remote
Anne’s challenges and struggles; and what sustained her
The vision, principles and values inherent in Anne’s social work practice framework and how she advocated for this in a system which had different ideas about tackling social issues
Tracing Anne’s ethics and values back to early childhood
The wake up call that may help you prevent burnout
Accessing good supervision and support

Just some of the beautiful trees that spoke to Anne around the community and on homelands.

Don’t forget, if you or someone you know would make a great interview on ‘Talk the Walk’, send us an email from the Contact Page.

Things to follow up after the episode

‘Kartiya are like Toyotas’ by Kim Mahood

“National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well-Being 2017-2023“, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (October 2017)

Social and Emotional Wellbeing Portal, Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Contact Anne Carrick on anne475esp(at)hotmail(dot)com

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“Every Child is Worth It” with Doug Dunlop

December 6, 2017

by metaphor with No Comment Challenges and struggles Counselling Cross Cultural practice Culturally Fit Social Workers Ethics and values Evaluation Healing from Trauma Podcast Remote social work Social Justice Social Work with Indigenous communities Social Work with passion Talk the Walk podcast Trauma-informed practice White privilege Working with Children

Today’s conversation on ‘Talk The Walk’ has many gems, but particularly for counsellors and social workers interested in developing an evidence based program that is also culturally safe. Doug Dunlop is a senior counsellor with the ‘Holding Children Together’ program based in Alice Springs and working with surrounding town camps. Doug is part of the team leading a rigorous evaluation process, developed and mentored by the Australian Childhood Foundation and a Cultural Advisory Group. In episode 17 of Talk the Walk, we also get a glimpse into the man behind the work; his historical roots, his life experience, the values and principles he brings to his trauma-informed, culturally-safe practice framework.
There is nothing quite like ‘Holding Children Together’ elsewhere in Australia and other organisations are starting to take notice of the Care Team model adopted by this child and family counselling service. The road to evidence-based practice is long, requires collective good-will and a large investment, but like Doug says “every child is worth it”.

In this episode, we explore:

Considerations for Doug arriving from New Zealand to work in Australia’s Central Desert communities
the stark differences working with Maori and Aboriginal children beginning with engagement in therapy
understanding trauma informed practice with Aboriginal children and their families
the Care Team model integral to ‘Holding Children Together’ (HCT)
a typical day in the life of a counsellor
how HCT is upholding cultural safety and working towards evidence based status
a sparking story that makes the work all the more worthwhile and why great outcomes cannot be tied down to one intervention
the challenges of working within a Care Team model
insights into the complexities of reunification with family when a lot of intervention has focused on establishing relationships with carers
what makes Doug so passionate about his work and the values he holds most precious
important considerations of cultural world views in cases of Aboriginal children in foster care which has implications for reunification
awareness of white privilege and seeing the world through the eyes of others
Moments from Doug’s early life that have influenced the values underpinning his practice
How Holding Children Together manage the exposure to trauma in counsellors
Hopes for the future of evidence-based counselling services and why it’s a good process to undertake

Don’t forget, if you or someone you know would make a great interview on ‘Talk the Walk’, send us an email from the Contact Page.

Things to follow up after this episode

Contact Doug Dunlop at doug(at)ra-nt.org.au

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Burnout and Vicarous Trauma: An employee defect or a yearning for collective action for social justice?

November 29, 2017

by metaphor with No Comment Burnout Challenges and struggles Commentary Ethics and values Justice issues My personal journey Self Care Social Justice Social work blog Social Work with passion Strengths and Resilience Strengths-based practice Vicarious Trauma

If you work in the area of trauma counselling, chances are you have an organisation or colleagues keeping a watchful eye out for the first signs and symptoms of burnout or vicarious trauma.

In my workplace we have to complete two tests every year – the Compassion Fatigue Self Test for Practioners and the Trauma and Attachment Beliefs Scale. We also have regular training so that employees can identify the symptoms in each other.

While it might be considered admirable for our organisations to have a Vicarious Trauma Policy and working proactively to promote the health and wellbeing of its employees, what is it that is really happening here? And what effect is this having?

If someone returns high results to vicarious trauma testing, the onus is on the individual to address it. They are encouraged to revisit their self care plan or self refer to the Employee Assistance Program. This kind of response pathologises the problem and locates it within the individual, that the counsellor is somehow defective or not strong enough. It follows then that the client is to blame for somehow causing an injury by sharing their story with us. Vikki Reynolds says using self care as an antidote for burnout “does nothing about the social determinants of health for people…. The problem is not in our heads or our hearts, but in the social world where clients and workers struggle with structures of injustice.” Vikki argues that assuming a position where clients are seen to be hurting us is not an act of accountability at all.

In Darwin where I practice, we are surrounded by some of the worst cases of injustice in Australia such as the mistreatment of youth in detention, the highest rates of removal of Aboriginal children from their families and concerning numbers of child abuse within the foster care system. Not far from us, refugees on Manus Island continue to suffer.

Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to hear the sad and heartbreaking stories of abuse and violence and the impact this has had on our clients. And yes, I see and hear the impacts of intergenerational trauma outside my house; it’s difficult to escape it sometimes. However, I return a normal vicarious trauma result. I also hear inspiring stories of skills, knowledge and strengths of survival; stories of people speaking out to the Royal Commission so that the same thing doesn’t happen to other people; stories of people taking action to reduce the isolation caused by their poverty and homelessness. I admire the steps of resistance my clients make against systems of injustice. Indeed, clients do not hurt us, but instead inspire us, teach us and critique us says Reynolds.

The biggest critique our clients could legitimately make is why we, as workers, are not ‘fostering collective sustainability’*, coming together in solidarity to challenge the institutions and systems which marginalise and victimise our clients.

Indeed the collective silence of social workers in Australia is more likely to lead to my potential burnout, due to my frustration with the profession. Why are social workers not out on the streets marching together to get Manus Island refugees to Australia? Why are we silent in our support of our Indigenous comrades in the fight for Recognition? Why are we standing back and allowing removal of Aboriginal children from families to go up and up? Isn’t that why we entered this profession in the first place, to make a real difference to the social structures of injustice? I was once accused of getting too close to a community because I cared too much, and was threatened to be removed by my employer. However I was proud of my role as an advocate for social justice for the community and its people.

Social justice activism is a protective factor against vicarious trauma. It’s not our clients that are hurting us. It is our silence and inaction.

Perhaps the care we can show our colleagues is not to watch out for signs or symptoms of vicarious trauma in the workplace, but to gather in solidarity around shared ethics of social justice and collective accountability. Let’s get out on the streets and do what we signed up for.

*‘Fostering collective sustainability’ is one of the guiding intentions advocated by Vikki Reynold in Justice Doing in Community Work and Therapy.

“Privileging the Voices of Aboriginal People” with Tileah Drahm-Butler

November 15, 2017

by metaphor with No Comment Aboriginal world views Challenges and struggles Cross Cultural practice Culturally Fit Social Workers Decolonising social work practice Hope-Focused Social Work Hospital social work Indigenous Voices Speaking Up Justice issues Narrative therapy Narrative work with Aboriginal communities Podcast Racism Reconciliation Remote social work Social Justice Social Work with Indigenous communities Social Work with passion Storytelling Talk the Walk podcast

What a delight it was to be speaking with Tileah Drahm-Butler this week on ‘Talk the Walk’, about her journey into narrative therapy and her approach to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Tileah’s passion for social work and giving Aboriginal people a voice shines through in this conversation. We also gain insight into the woman behind the work and the long list of inspiring women in her family that stand behind her.

Tileah is a Durrumbal woman currently living in Kuranda and working as a Senior Social Worker at Cairns Hospital. She has worked in a range of programs in Cairns and Cape York, including developing and delivering the Drop the Rock program, building the capacity of Aboriginal communities in mental health service delivery. In 2014, she completed the Masters in Narrative Therapy and Community Work.

Tileah is a co-author of ‘Aboriginal Narrative Practice: Honouring storylines of pride, strength and creativity’ where she writes about the many ways she is developing and using narrative practices that resonate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She is a member of the International Teaching Faculty of the Dulwich Centre for Narrative Therapy.

In Episode 16 of Talk the Walk, we explore:

The notion of narrative therapy as a decolonising practice that gives the client agency over their problem
What works in narrative practice for Aboriginal and TSI people in the context of an emergency and intensive care unit of the hospital
Re-membering conversations
The strong story of Aboriginal people’s lives incorporating their family, community and ancestors stories
The influence of Tileah’s cultural background on her practice
Social work as a political practice
Attracting Aboriginal and TSI people’s to the profession of social work and other allied health professions
The AASW mental health accreditation process and how that fits for practitioners working with Aborginal and Torres Strait Islander clients
The ethics and values underpinning Tileah ‘s commitment to social work
The influence of Tileah’s family and ancestors that holds her to the principles of justice-doing
The struggles of dealing with systems built on racism and the effect this has on Tileah as a practioner and a human being
The narrative therapy community that strengthens Tileah’s resolve and the stories that keep her going
Sparkling stories of hope and resistance
Tileah’s interest in beekeeping and what the bees have taught her about social work
Tileah’s dreams of raising the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to Close The Gap
Reconciliation in action

Don’t forget, if you or someone you know would make a great interview on ‘Talk the Walk’, send us an email from the Contact Page.

Things to follow up after the episode

Indigenous Allied Health Australia

The Dulwich Centre (home of Narrative Therapy in Australia)

Subscribe to the Narrative Therapy journal

Wingard, B., Johnson, C. & Drahm-Butler, T. (2015) Aboriginal Narrative Pratice: Honouring storylines of pride, strength and creativity, Dulwich Centre Publications, Adelaide.

Drahm- Butler, T. (2015). Video: Decolonising Identity Stories: A Friday Afternoon production from Dulwich Centre Foundation.

Contact Tileah via The Dulwich Centre

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‘Allowing Voices to be Heard’ with Toni Woods

September 6, 2017

by metaphor with No Comment Challenges and struggles Community Development Community Work Cross Cultural practice Culturally Fit Social Workers Ethics and values Narrative work with Aboriginal communities NT Emergency Intervention Parenting Podcast Practice tools Project Implementation Remote social work Social Work with Indigenous communities Social Work with passion Talk the Walk podcast Two way learning

An advocate for ‘two way’ relationships and “not being a seagull” – Toni Woods

Do you know what it’s like to meet up with an old friend you haven’t seen for years and feel like you picked up exactly where you left off? That’s what my conversation felt like this week on Episode 9 of ‘Talk the Walk’. Nine years after crossing paths on our respective journeys, I reconnected with an old friend and colleague, Toni Woods.

Toni now lives in Canberra and works as an Implementation Specialist with the Intensive Family Support Service (IFSS) which sees her travelling back to the Northern Territory to provide practice coaching with her team. Prior to that Toni worked in remote Aboriginal communities supporting women and children living with domestic and family violence, project co-ordination of child-friendly safe houses and community development with urban Aboriginal school communities around Darwin. Toni has worked alongside Aboriginal people in supervision and management, developing creative-culturally safe educational resources, training and mentoring, project management, counselling and family support. She is gearing up to head off to the SNAICC Conference in Canberra next week, to support her colleague Faye Parriman in presenting her amazing resource and share their current work with the IFSS project. Be sure to say hello, if you happen to be there!

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Toni as we look back on almost a decade of her incredible development work.

In this episode, we explore:

Toni’s yearning to respond to social injustices and human rights violations she observed after arriving in Darwin and the NT Emergency Intervention was introduced
What Midnight oil, nursing strikes and Jon Lennon has to do with Toni’s commitment to these ethics and values
How challenging moments are actually opportunities for good work to happen (especially when you have the courage to talk to the Federal Opposition Leader!)
Hearing stories from people, ownership of story and the dilemmas around sharing story when there are issues of collective injustice
The joy of work that advocates for and engages local community members in making decisions about their own families and communities
The skills and knowledge needed to co-ordinate an urban Aboriginal community project to improve school attendance; and the learnings and outcomes achieved
Lessons learnt about the importance of the implementation phase in running a successful project
The role of the Parenting Research Centre and the development of culturally safe resources available through the Raising Children network
Toni’s long established collaborative relationship with Senior Aboriginal woman Faye Parriman and the cross-cultural work they have achieved together
How the Yarning Mat tool came about through Faye’s visionary dream, a tool to engage Aboriginal parents in the Intensive Family Support Service; an introduction to the elements and how it is used from engagement and assessment to review and closure.
Reflections on Toni’s ‘two-way working’ relationship with Faye and the elements that built respect and trust