Lucy Hamilton

As a Clinical Support Administrator in the Emergency Department of Westmead Children's Hospital, I have had the opportunity to interact and engage with diverse groups, families and individuals. It has afforded me the opportunity to further develop my communication and relationship-building skills, as well as to observe and monitor individuals while providing compassionate care of the highest quality. Within the workplace I am able to promote my efficient communication to make decisions effectively in a timely manner. Through my social work degree, I have completed one thousand hours of workplace experience with two organisations: The Harman Foundation and Wesley Dalmar Out-of-Home Care. Both organisations have enabled me to further develop the use of social work principles and practices.

The Harman Foundation - 400 Hours 

My first field education placement occurred with the Harman Foundation, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to provide assistance to members of the community who have experienced emotional trauma and suffering as a result of domestic violence. 

Responsibilities and Preformed Tasks:

• Individual sessions with clients to develop relationships, comprehend their trauma and its impact, establish personal and professional objectives, and conduct well-being progress evaluations.
• Assist clients to develop self-confidence and self-advocating skills. Such as:

- Legal education

- Financial education

- Employment education

- Human rights education

- Housing education

• Applying social work theories and practice when engaging with clients to ensure that appropriate support is administered including:

- Trauma-informed care

- Task-centred approach and strengths based approach 

- Person-centred approach to care 

Wesley Dalmar Out-Of-Home Care  - 600 Hours 

The decision for a child to enter an out-of-home care arrangement is made by the Department of Family and Community Services in New South Wales. When practicable, children are supported to remain with their families, and interventions are a last resort. Wesley Dalmar is an organisation that provides out-of-home care for children and young people ages 0-18, when they are unable to stay with their birth families. 

Wesley Dalmar is a permanency support program provider which means they hold primary case responsibility of a child or young person. During my 600-hour field placement in social work, I was able to observe and participate in providing individualised casework support, planning, and reviewing with the child, their carers, parents, siblings, and family. 

Following this, the placement sought to recognise, engage and develop the unique strengths and capabilities of a child or young person and their parents. This was accomplished by utilising evidence-based models of practise to provide practical assistance and flexible wrap around services that accommodated the specified needs of the child and to support the family. In addition, it was used to attain the case plan goal for a child or young person as quickly as feasible. 

Responsibilities and Preformed Tasks:

• Conducting home visits
• Family contact visits
• Transporting children
• Case reviews and writing case reviews
• Taking notes and Case noting
• Attending IEP meetings
• Assist in family finding
• Life Story Work
• Home risk assessments
• With assistance, filed a MRG and child protection report
• Put theory to practice with detail to a child and person-centred approach
• Work with diverse cultures and people
• Completed Wesley on-line and in-person training: Orientation, OOHC fundamentals, Safe driver and living our values
• Attend staff meetings and work collaboratively as a team.

Dominic Sertori

• Job title: Clinical Co-ordanitor / Nursing Unit Manager at the Westmead Children's Hospital Emergency Department
• Contact: 0428112164 / (02) 98452437
• Email: dominic.sertori@health.nsw.gov.au

Simone Clarke 

• Job title: Registered nurse in the Perioperative Services at the John Hunter Hospital
• Contact: 0425328381
• Email: simone.clarke@health.nsw.gov.au