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UWA Social Worker The Number 9 September 2009 ISSN: 1449-3977 Reflections from the Discipline Chair DISCIPLINE CHAIR Professor Mike Clare COORDINATOR OF POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH Dr Susan Young LECTURERS Asst/Prof Violet Bacon Asst/Prof Brenda Clare Asst/Prof Nada Eltaiba Asst/Prof Mark Sachmann Dr Susan Young HONORARY SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW Emeritus Professor Laksiri Jayasuriya AM HONORARY RESEARCH FELLOWS Dr Christine Choo Ms Heather Deighan Dr Stephen Edwards Adjunct Associate Professor Maria Harries AM Dr Katrina Stratton VISITING PROFESSOR Professor David Thorpe ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Ms Rosa Catalano PUBLICATION EDITOR Dr Philippa White by Professor Mike Clare Inaugural Social Worker of the Year Awards Continued on page 2 I have decided to begin by reflecting on the power of nature – whether fire or flood and the messages about community, civil society and the role and responsibilities of the ‘State’. Having been involved in recent workshops about Workforce Planning in the Human Services and in reflecting on the growing numbers of children needing foster care, it is clear that the ‘baby-boomer’ generation is making a disproportionate contribution to human services and civil society. The class of 2009 will have many opportunities and the occasional challenge! I wish them well in their professional careers. Enrolments 2009 – Latest Information This is the inaugural year of the qualifying MSW programme – and we had limited opportunities to market locally, nationally and internationally. The initial numbers are pleasing and the latest information about enrolments is: BSW Year Two 5 BSW Year Three 13 BSW Year Four 5 MSW Year One 27 (21F /6P) MSW Year Two 5 Finalists and winners of the inaugural WA Social Worker of the Year awards were honoured at a ceremony held at The University of Western Australia on June 23, 2009. The awards, the first in Australia to recognise the work of social workers, were attended by social workers, colleagues, friends and consumers. The concept of an awards program celebrating the achievements and contributions of West Australian Social Workers was first discussed by the UWA Social Work Alumni Committee in late 2007. The awards were developed in partnership Rosalie Dwyer, WA Social Worker of the Year 2009 Continued on page 3

Transcript of TheUWA Social Worker - University of Western Australia · 2011. 3. 10. · TheUWA Social Worker...

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UWA Social WorkerThe

Number 9 September 2009 ISSN: 1449-3977

Reflections from the Discipline ChairDISCIPLINE CHAIRProfessor Mike Clare

COORDINATOR OFPOSTGRADUATE

RESEARCHDr Susan Young

LECTURERSAsst/Prof Violet BaconAsst/Prof Brenda ClareAsst/Prof Nada Eltaiba

Asst/Prof Mark Sachmann

Dr Susan Young

HONORARY SENIORRESEARCH FELLOWEmeritus Professor

Laksiri Jayasuriya AM

HONORARY RESEARCHFELLOWS

Dr Christine ChooMs Heather DeighanDr Stephen EdwardsAdjunct Associate

ProfessorMaria Harries AMDr Katrina Stratton

VISITING PROFESSORProfessor David Thorpe

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Ms Rosa Catalano

PUBLICATION EDITORDr Philippa White

by Professor Mike Clare

Inaugural Social Worker of the Year Awards

Continued on page 2

I have decided tobegin by reflecting on the power of nature– whether fire or flood – and the messages

about community, civil society and theroleandresponsibilitiesofthe‘State’. Having been involved in recentworkshops about Workforce Planningin the Human Services and in reflecting on the growing numbers of childrenneeding foster care, it is clear that the‘baby-boomer’ generation is making adisproportionate contribution to humanservicesandcivilsociety. The class of 2009 will havemany opportunities and the occasional

challenge! I wish them well in theirprofessionalcareers.

Enrolments 2009 – Latest Information This is the inaugural year ofthe qualifying MSW programme – andwe had limited opportunities to marketlocally, nationally and internationally.Theinitialnumbersarepleasingandthelatestinformationaboutenrolmentsis:

BSWYearTwo 5BSWYearThree 13BSWYearFour 5MSWYearOne 27(21F/6P)MSWYearTwo 5

FinalistsandwinnersoftheinauguralWA Social Worker of the Year awardswere honoured at a ceremony held at TheUniversityofWesternAustraliaonJune23,2009. The awards, the first in Australia to recognise theworkof socialworkers,wereattended by social workers, colleagues,friendsandconsumers. The concept of an awards programcelebrating the achievements andcontributions of West Australian SocialWorkers was first discussed by the UWA SocialWorkAlumniCommitteeinlate2007.The awards were developed in partnership

Rosalie Dwyer, WA Social Worker of the Year 2009

Continued on page 3

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Confidence in the accuracy of our enrolment numbersisstillprogressing;thisisabestguesstimatebecauseofpart-timestudents,returningstudentsandstudents with credit for core units. There were 11students on final placements and there are 10 in the final year of the two programme. There are 32 students completing their first placements. Added to these numbers are the combinednumbersofgraduatesenrolled in theTaughtCoursePathway: Graduate Certificate in Child Protection Practice31Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice 18Graduate Diploma in Advanced Social Work 4 andrising

Congratulations to Brenda Clare and MarkSachmann for their successful achievements inbuildingtheseprogrammes.Thisispleasingbecausewe are growing the postgraduate taught coursenumberinlinewiththeDiscipline’sStrategicPlan.The majority of the Graduate Certificate students havebeensponsoredby theStategovernment. TheGraduateDiplomaprogramme will be an importantfeeder programme for the professional doctorate(DSW).

Thenumberofpostgraduateresearchstudents(MA / PhD) is 30 and rising. Congratulationsto Sue Young for her hard-work in the processesof coordinating the induction, supervision andexaminationofresearchstudents.

Staffing and Location TheDisciplinehasmaintaineditscommitmentto qualifying and post-qualifying Social Workeducationwith5.4academicstaffin2009–withDrBrendaClareandDrSueYoungonhalf-timeStudyLeaveduringtheyear.Iwasoffereda0.4contractfor2009–withresponsibilitiesasDisciplineChair.Therearealso1.4Administrativepositions(RosaandEva).Wehavebeenwaitingforadecisionaboutadvertisingnewpositionsfor2010. We have also experienced uncertainty aboutthelocationof theDisciplinewithanindicationthatthere may be a move to the School of PopulationHealthintheFacultyofMedicine.

Accreditation of the MSW Programme TheMSWprogrammehasbeenrecommendedto be given Provisional Accreditation for two years

–thebestavailableoutcomeoftheAASWReviewinNovember, 2008; this means that the MSW programme willbeformallyreviewedinlate2010.

BSW Prize-Winners 2008 Iwouldliketooffermycongratulationstothestudentsnamedbelowwhowerenominatedforprizesawardedduring theFacultyPrize-GivingCeremonyonMonday,11May,2009:

Margaret Stockbridge Memorial Prize in Social Work:

DeborahDenton

Laksiri Jayasuriya Prize in Social Work Research: EvelynCunningham

Walter Tauss Memorial Prize in Indigenous Issues: KarenWickham

Walter Tauss Memorial Prize in Social Work Practice:

KerryBradly

Convocation, the UWA Graduates Association Prize: EvelynCunningham

Jean Teasdale Prize in Social Work: BrentonWebb

Anne Thomsett Memorial Prize in Social Work: DanielleMurfett

Marketing of the Qualifying and Post-Qualifying Programmes Effective marketing is essential if we are togrowstudentnumbers.There are anumberofweb-based strategies – both inside UWA and throughaccessing government and non-government web-networks - which will, hopefully, be the basis ofactivitiesdesignedtoincreaseenrolmentsfor2010. IhopethatthiseditionoftheUWANewsletterwillassistinmarketingthequalifyingMSWandthepost-qualifyingandpostgraduateprogrammesofferedbytheDiscipline.Pleaseforwardittocolleagues.

MikeClare27August,2009

Reflections from the Discipline Chair

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with the Australian Association ofSocialWorkers,theUWADisciplineofSocialWorkandSocialPolicy,andtheCurtinUniversityDepartmentofSocialWorkandSocialPolicy. The awards were presentedby the Hon Robyn McSweeney,Minister for Child Protection;Community Services; Seniors andVolunteering;andWomen’sInterests,andProfessorBobLonne,Presidentof the Australian Association ofSocialWorkers. Finalistsandwinnersinfourcategories were announced at theawards ceremony, hosted by VerityJames at the University Club. Theoverall winner of the inauguralSocial Worker of the Year Award,RosalieDwyer,waschosenfromthefourcategorywinners.

Social Worker of the Year Awards

Congratulations to Rosalie Dwyer, WA Social Worker of the Year 2009

Category winners and award presenters at the ceremony. Left to right: Mr Anthony Collier, Ms Rosalie Dwyer, Hon Robyn McSweeney, Prof Bob Lonne, Ms Margaret Stockton, Mr Ben Whitehouse

UWA graduate Rosalie Dwyer isa social worker in the remote indigenouscommunity of Warburton, located morethan 1,500 kilometres from Perth, wheresheisaseniorcommunityworkerwiththeDepartmentforChildProtection. The award of Social Worker of the Year recognises Rosalie’s outstandingdedication and commitment to the peopleof Warburton and the Ngaanyatjarracommunities. At the awards ceremony, Rosaliewas praised as a flexible, resourceful and adaptable practitioner who delivers qualitysupporttothelocalcommunity. Rosalie said that “working as asocial worker in Warburton and the otherNgaanyatjarracommunitiesisacontinuingprivilege.I’veenjoyedsocialworkinarangeof roles during my professional life andconsiderthisthebestjobI’veeverhad.” Such is the respect that Rosalie has gainedfrom the local community, she has been given her

ownAboriginalname. To hear more from Rosalie listen to herinterview on ABC radio at: http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2008/s2621210.htm

Continued from page 1

Rosalie Dwyer with Stephan Lund at the awards ceremony

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Social Worker of the Year Awards 2009

CYFAAandUWASocialWorkAlumniRuralandRemotePractitionerAwardFinalistsBronwynCutler,KiplingCutler&Associates(Albany)RosalieDwyer,DepartmentforChildProtection(Warburton)ElizabethTrotti,DepartmentofHealth(Geraldton)Winner:RosalieDwyer

L-R: BronwynCutler,RosalieDwyer,ElizabethTrotti

DepartmentforChildProtectionRisingStarAwardFinalistsJessicaPyburne,WansleaFamilyServicesBenWhitehouse,DepartmentforChildProtectionKirstySnelgrove,SirCharlesGairdnerHospitalWinner:BenWhitehouse

L-R: TerryMurphy(DirectorGeneral,DCP),JessicaPyburne,BenWhitehouse,KirstySnelgrove,BobLonne(President,AASW)

AnglicareWAHead,HeartandHandsAwardFinalistsAnthonyCollier,YouthReachSouthNatarliedeCinque,DepartmentofHealthBarbaraMeddin,HumanServiceConsultingWinner:AnthonyCollier

L-R: NatarliedeCinque,AnthonyCollier,BarbaraMeddin

TheSocialWorkAlumnicommitteewouldliketothankallthosewhohelpedmaketheinauguralSocial Worker of the Yearawardssuchasuccessfulevent.

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Social Worker of the Year Awards 2009

DepartmentforChildProtectionRisingStarAwardFinalistsJessicaPyburne,WansleaFamilyServicesBenWhitehouse,DepartmentforChildProtectionKirstySnelgrove,SirCharlesGairdnerHospitalWinner:BenWhitehouse

L-R: TerryMurphy(DirectorGeneral,DCP),JessicaPyburne,BenWhitehouse,KirstySnelgrove,BobLonne(President,AASW)

RichmondFellowshipWAAgentoftheChangeAwardFinalistsCelineHarrison,KingEdwardMemorialHospitalAnnMargaretO’Neill,DepartmentoftheAttorneyGeneralMargaretStockton,SouthMetroAreaHealthServiceWinner:MargaretStockton

L-R: AnnO’Neill,MargaretStockton,CelineHarrison

TheSocialWorkAlumnicommitteewouldliketothankallthosewhohelpedmaketheinauguralSocial Worker of the Yearawardssuchasuccessfulevent.

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For the first time we have five PhDs and Masters graduatingintheoneceremony.CongratulationstoPhDcandidates:TrevorJewellforhisworkonMartu Child Rearing, Carolyn Johnson for her work on Intimate Partner Homicide, Karen Upton-DaviswhowroteanAutoethnographyonThe Loss of Intimacy, Abdul Razak AbdNanafwhowrotehisPhDonMarriage in Malaysia,andtoChrisHarknesswhoseMasters project explored Partnerships in the social services. Thereareanumberofcandidatesfollowing up closely behind and weexpectthatthe2010Autumngraduationceremonywillwelcomeafewmoreintothe‘successfullycompleted’group. We also have some PhD candidates whohave commenced this year and areworkingon theirproposals:DeborahDentonwhoisexploringThe lived experience of practitioners working in a therapeutic role in the prison system, and Evelyn CunninghamwhoislookingatMotor Neurone Disease and quality of life. And finally we have a number of enquiries which we hope will soon translate into candidacies.Interestinglymostof theseare International studentsfrom a variety of countries, including Sri Lanka,Uganda,TheYemen,BruneiandEngland.Shouldallthesecandidatesarriveinthenextfewmonths,Iwouldexpecttobeabletoreportsomefascinatingdiscussionsfromourpostgraduateseminars. Thepostgraduateseminarscontinuetoprovideaforumforpresentinganddiscussingon-goingwork,

hearing from completed candidates and assistingthe beginning candidates to come to grips with thevarious and sometimes challenging ‘ologies’ as wellas planning their designs. Best of all, we enjoy the

discussions, learning together, theupdates and the good company. In thenext half of the year, we expect to hearupdates on the topics of Collaboration across policy domains, Foster carers,Anti-smoking strategies impacts, Carers in mental health, Student poverty, Sex OffendersandChild Welfare in Bali.Wealsoaregoingtohearfromsomevisitorspresentingtalkstitled:Women’s struggle and trouble with violence, fear and drugs,andRisk, protective and resilience factors

that contribute to juvenile delinquency. We currently have two PhD candidates on field work,CarolKaplanianisinJordanlookingathonourkillings, and Kanau Sion is in Papua New Guineaexploringchildlabour.Ontheirreturnweexpecttheywillhavemuchtotellusabouttheirstudiesandtheirtravels. The Graduate Certificates continue to generate interestinfurtherstudy,aswellasbeingverysuccessfulintheirownright.SeveralenquiriesfromgraduatingCertificate students are translating into Graduate Diploma and Master of Advanced Social Workenrolments. We anticipate that four of five Certificate graduates are well on their way to considering theDoctorofSocialWork(DSW)in2010.

Postgraduate News with Graduate Research Coordinator, Dr Susan Young

My research dissertation was about howpartnershipsworkinhumanservicesusingacommunitymental health project as a context. Semi-structuredin-depthinterviewswereconductedwithparticipantsin the partnership project to better understand theirexperiences of partnership. Case examples in theliteraturewereusedtocontextualisekeyprinciplesofpartnership.Keyelementsof theoreticalperspectiveswere applied as a way to better understand howpartnershipsmightwork. The experiences ofpeopleandnarrativesfromtheliteraturewereexaminedtoarriveatsomekeyelementsofpartnership. Asecondresearchquestioninvolvedadiscussionofthesociologicalfunctionoftheinterpersonalelementsof partnerships in the provision of social services. Ifoundthattheinterpersonalelementsbringapotential

to reinvigorate the ‘social’ inservices at a time when otherparadigms, such as those ofefficiency and effectiveness, might reduce the significance of relationships. Interpersonalelements also enabled peopletobecomemoreawareoftheirinterdependencies,andmake possible holistic responses to complex socialproblems.Aplacingoftheinterpersonalinpartnershipworkwithinasociologicalcontextalsoprovidesausefulframeworkforpeopletobetterdealwiththepervasivebarriersthatsurroundinter-disciplinarypartnerships. I found that despite their difficulties, partnershipsprovideanopportunitytorestoremeaningtothe‘Human’inHumanServices.

Masters for Chris Harkness

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My thesis examined intimate partnerhomicideandfamilicideinWesternAustraliaoveraten-yearperiod.Datafrompolicerecords,coroner’srecords and Family Court records were accessed,as were newspapers and electronic newspaperarchives. Twelve perpetrators and eight survivorsoftheoffenceswereinterviewed.PerpetratorswereaskedtocompletetheChildTraumaQuestionnaire,aretrospectiveself-reportingmeasureofchildhoodtrauma. It was found that childhood trauma in theform of cumulative and pervasive child abusecharacterisedtheearlylifeofperpetrators.Survivorsreported that they and their extended familieshad suffered enduring trauma as a result of thehomicide(s).Insomecasessurvivorshadfoundthebody of their loved one or been present when thehomicideoccurred. Iwasabletoidentifycommonfactorsinthe

antecedents to the offences.Suggestions were madefor addressing the inter-generational and extrememanifestation of intra-familial violence, whichthe research suggests, islinked to spousal homicideand familicide. Feedbackfrom perpetrators and survivors was included, toassist understanding of the trauma experienced bysurvivors,andthewaysinwhichservicesmightbeimprovedtoassisttheminthefuture.Anewmodelfor understanding intimate partner homicide isproposedwherethehomicideand/orsuicideisseenasastrategyforsurvivalofthepsychologicalself. CarolynisnowworkingfulltimeasalectureratCurtinUniversityandcontinuingherresearchintofamilyanddomesticviolence.

Existingliteratureandmuchoftheresearchonmarriageandfamilyexperienceshavebeenlargelyand commonly problem-based anddeficit-oriented. Even though some strength-focused approaches to thestudyofmarriagesandfamilieshavebeen undertaken and have gainedmomentum there is still muchempirical work needed in order forus to understand the complexityandintricaciesofwhatconstitutesaqualitymaritalrelationship.

In the qualitative researchstudy, Quality of Marriage among Malays, I analysed how qualityof marriage is conceptualised andunderstoodbyMalayswithinaMalaysiancontext.I undertook the research in order to capture andunderstandhowacohortofMalaypeopleunderstandand give meaning to the concept of ‘good qualitymarital relationship’. Research studies on maritalquality in Malay culture are very limited andnumericallyatleast,theycomparepoorlytowesternscholarlyoutputonthissubject.Eventhoughmuchcontemporary marriage literature refers to theimportance of gaining an appreciation of culturalissuesrelatedtomarriageandfamily,thereisareal

needformorecross-culturalresearch.InexaminingMalayconceptsofqualitymarriageInotonlyaddress

a culturally-specific research need but attempttousethistoadvanceculturalsensitivity among relevant policymakers,practitioners,researchersandmembersofthepublic. In this research, in-depthsemi-structured interviews wereconductedintheKubangPasudistrict,inKedah,oneofthenorthernstatesofMalaysia with forty-five participants across different socioeconomic anddemographic backgrounds. In whatis an exploratory study I adopted acombination of maximum variationandpurposivesamplingandutiliseda

groundedtheoryframeworktounderpintheanalysis.ThedatawereanalysedusingbothrigorousmanualcodingandNVivoqualitativesoftware. The findings of the study are organised around four salient themes that emerged: religiosity andspiritual belief system; communication and conflict management;socialnetworkandsupportresources;and finally, personal characteristics and relational virtues.Threeother superordinateconstructswereidentified and these are used to link the findings into abroaderbodyofsociologicalinquiry.

PhD for Abdul Razak Abd Manaf

PhD for Carolyn Johnson

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Postgraduate News continued...

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This research on the Aboriginal EvangelicalFellowshipofAustraliawasconductedbyalongstandingChristian missionary who is an Aboriginal elder ofthe Noongar people of Western Australia. It exploresthe history of the Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowshipand in so doing highlights an important chapter inthe Christianizing of Aboriginal people of Australia.The thesis uncovers and explores the ambivalence,complexity and conflicts that Aboriginal leaders had with non-Aboriginal missionaries and sections of thechurch who questioned their motives and abilities intheirroleofevangelisation. The methodological approach employed wasa descriptive, qualitative and exploratory one. Oralinterviewsanddocumentaryanalyseswereutilised.Theresearchispositionedwithinamissiologicaltheoreticalframeworkinwhichtheresearcherwasabletoexplorespecific missiology theories of indigenous church plantingprinciplesandpractices. The thesis acknowledges that non-Aboriginalmissionaries made a positive contribution toevangelisationbutarguesthattheirlackofknowledgeofindigenouschurchplantingprinciplesandpracticeshamperedtheemergenceofindigenouschurchleaders.This thesis demonstrates that it was through theirfaith,commitmentandtenacitythatAboriginalleaders

overcame many conflicts and the Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship was finally established and the abilities of leadersacknowledged. At the core of the thesis is the finding that it wasthisawakeningwithin theAboriginalevangelicalleaders that encouraged other indigenous people torealise their leadershipskillandpotentialandmakeapositivecontributiontothedevelopmentofindigenouschurches. The study gives new insight to the changingrolesofMissions,andcontributesnewknowledgeabouttheindigenousChurchinAustraliawhichdemonstratesits significance as an indigenous Church movement.

PhD for Maxine Knapp

PhD for Philippa White

My PhD thesis, Representations of Children in a Monopoly Print Medium, explores visual anddiscursive images of children and young people in amonopoly daily newspaper. All news content with aprimary focus on people aged zero to eighteen yearswascollectedfora12-monthperiod,andanalysedfroma constructionist perspective, using agenda-setting,news source, media framing and critical linguisticsmediaanalysistechniques. Alargebodyofresearchliteraturewasusedto‘benchmark’theprimaryanalysisofdata.Findingsarepresentedinthreethematicframes—thePromotional Child, Victim Child and Deviant Child — and areconsolidated in the Five Stories of Childhood, anaggregated profile of representations found in the newspaper. The concluding chapter of the thesisforegrounds a perception of children as voiceless,vulnerableandviolentcharacters,featuredinadiscourseonsocialcontrol. Key observations highlighted in my researchinclude the over-representation of disadvantaged

children in compromisingnewspaper images, and themuch greater degree of overt,vernacular criticism used forchildrenthanisappliedtootherminority population groups.The extensive use of childreninpromotionalcontextsappearsto be partially obscured bythe altruistic function ofnon-commercial promotionsand advocacy campaigns.‘Collisions’ between altruisticvalues and news values werefoundtobepredictiveofoutcomescoincidingwiththeinterests of a target audience; negative outcomes forsociallydisadvantagedchildren;andconsistent‘collateralbenefits’ for the news medium — seemingly regardless ofoutcomesexperiencedbyotherstakeholders. I would like to thank my supervisor MariaHarriesandallthosewhohelpedwithmyresearch.

L-R: Albert Knapp, Christine Choo, Maxine Knapp, Maria Harries

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I understand a little more about love andintimacy now than I did before I spent a decadeof my life examining these topics, and much moreaboutmyself–asyoudowhenyoulayyourselfbare,deconstruct yourself and pick over the pieces – attimes an excruciating process but for me it had itsrewards.Iusedautoethnographytotellmyownstory,in10,000words,oftheriseandfallofintimacyinmynowdefunctmarriage;whatsomeviewasacreativewritingcomponent.Fortheremaining75,000words,autoethnography guided the process of analyzingmy thoughts, feelings, actions and responses to theloss of love and intimacy, an analysis that was bothmyown,and thatofagroupofothers (towhom thedescriptor‘participants’doesn’tdojustice)-agroupofpeople who began as strangers and finished as friends. Autoethnographyallowedthescopetosituatemystudywithin the world of embedded, embodied, engagedbeings in relation tooneanother, andof consideringtheethicsofwhatIwasdoingandhowIwasdoingit,inthiscontext. It was a feminist, empancipatory project. Ilookedforactsofagency,seedsofmightinessandsitesof resistance. Iexaminedwhat itwas that Ibroughtwith me to the relationship, my intrapersonal self,thatcontributedtothedemiseoftherelationship;thecontribution of the interpersonal behaviours of myhusbandandmyself;and,mostimportantly,thewaysinwhichourexpectationsofourselves,eachother,andof the relationship, were influenced by the wider world around us – socially, culturally and politically (theethnographiccomponentofautoethnography).Inthemoodofpostmodernism Ikeptmeaningpossibilitiesopen, entertained multiple truths, while challenging

thedominantdiscourses. Through thewriting process I learntthings about myself thatI didn’t already know. Ienjoyed the therapeuticnature of the writing; ofwriting(anddreaming)myway to clearer perceptionandawhisperofwisdom. Likesomanyotheroflife’smilestones,theendofthePhDprocesscomesasalossaswellasagain,mademorepoignantIsuspectbythescarymonthsandyearslostinthetrenches,thehardclamberupandoutof them, and that frantic dash to the finish line amid the din of enemy fire! Now, even as the roar of the cheering crowd continues and the band beats out atriumphant tune,myeuphoria is tingedwithsadnessattheproject’spassing.Whereismypurpose?Whatwill become of me now? Contrary to vague hopesthat employers would seek me out, offering greatfinancial rewards to do… I’m not sure what, this hasn’t happened.I’vereturnedtosessionalacademicwork.Iharbourambitionsofspendingsixmonthsinacottageonthebeachofatropicalisland,turningmythesisintoabook,encouragedbyeachofmyexaminersurgetopublish. Any offers of accommodation? …Or to do more research on a topic close to my heart. …Or to doabsolutelynothingforadayortwoorthree. But,comethe14thSeptember09,resplendentlydressedinblackgownwithredsilksashes,velvetandtassled mortar board, and wearing a big, self-satisfied smile,IwillshaketheChancellor’shandknowingthatachievingmydoctoratewasoneofthemostpersonallyworthwhileexperiencesofmylife.Thankstoallthosewhohelpedmeachieveit.

PhD for Karen Upton-Davis

I pay tribute to my supervisors, Dr ChristineChoowhosupervisedmefor themajorperiodofmythesis,andDrMariaHarries.Iwasanoviceresearchstudentwithmanygreatideas(formythesis),somanythat one research student during one of our researchforumssuggestedIhadenoughideasfor10 theses. Iconqueredone. IthankDrChooforthemanyhoursshegaveofhertime,andforlisteningeversopatientlytomeasIstruggledtoputmyresearchintoperspective.DrChoohelpedmetostayfocused.IstillhearDrChoo’swordsofwisdomgoingthroughmymind:“Gettheideasoutofyourheadandwritethemdown”.OccasionallyDrChoowouldadd“oryouwon’thaveathesis”. Toward the final stage of my research Dr Maria

Harries took on the role of principal supervisor. Bythis timeIwasgettingdiscouraged, tiredandweary,so close to finishing yet the thesis appeared almost out ofmyreach.OnedayDrHarriesaskedmepointblank“Maxine do you want to finish this thesis?” I said “yes”. DrHarriessaid“let’sgettoworkthen”.Itdidn’ttakeaway all the problems or struggles but that pep talkliftedmyspiritandgavemethemotivationIneededtofinish my task. FinallyIamindebtedtobothDrChooandDrHarries forseeing thepotential IhadandsupportingmetoachieveaPhD. I also thank all my researchcolleagues andyour encouragement tome especiallyintheearlyyearsofmyresearchjourney.

A tribute to my supervisors and colleagues, by Dr Maxine Knapp

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Alumni News

The vision of the UWA Social Work Alumni is to generate well-educated social workers who are equipped to face the challenges of a changing world and to provide meaningful

contributions to the well-being of WA citizens, communities and institutions.

by Siobahn Altham, Alumni Chair

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Over 2008 and 2009, the committee has successfully furthered the vision for the Alumnithroughanumberofkeyachievementsincluding:• Co-hosting a welcome to new graduates of theundergraduateSocialWorkdegreeatUWA•Developingaproposalforamentoringprogram,tobetrialledthisyearwiththecurrentgraduatingclass• Annual General Meeting 2008. Minutes for this meeting canbe foundat http://www.socialwork.arts.uwa.edu.au/for/alumni/general_meetings• Strategic Planning for 2008 - 2013•AASWSocialWorkeroftheYearAwards2009

StrategicPlanning A strategic planning day was held in 2008, facilitated by Libby Lloyd. Key objectives for theAlumni Group were identified as:•HelptheUniversityofWesternAustraliaenhancetheeducationandresearchcapacitiesofprofessionalSocialWorkersby:• Increasing the number of high quality studentsenteringandcompletingSocialWorkdegrees.•Increasingtheongoingdevelopmentofhighqualitygraduatesandpostgraduates.• Strengthening research and post-graduateopportunities.•EstablishingcollaborationbetweentheDisciplineofSocialWorkandSocialPolicyandemployers. The full plan can be viewed at http://www.socialwork.arts.uwa.edu.au/for/alumni. It is excitingtoseesomeofthegoalsdiscussedthatday,includingtheawardsandthementoringproject,beingreachedand the committee looks forward to continuing toenhancing the experiences of Social Workers inWesternAustraliaforyearstocome.

TheAlumniCommittee The Social Work Alumni Committee is oneof themost activegroupsof itskindatUWA. ThecommitteemeetsonamonthlybasisattheUniversityClubofWesternAustralia. Thecommitteehasundergoneseveralchangesover the past year, with Louise Durack, founding

memberandChairfrom2005-2008, and Katrina Stratton,Secretaryfrom2006-2009, vacatingthese positions on thecommittee. LouiseandKatrina made significant contributionstotheaimsandvision for theAlumnigroup,andhaveplayedavitalroleinthecommittee’ssuccess. ThisyearwealsofarewelledChristineLindsay,ourrepresentativefrom the UWA Office of Development. Christine also played a significant role in the development and implementation of the Alumni’s vision, and was akeyresourceforthecommittee,assistingwithevents,membershipandfunding. The committee has benefited from the ongoing involvement of the following members throughout2008 and 2009: Joe Calleja (Patron), Siobahn Altham (Chair), MikeClare(ViceChairperson),BrentonWebb,(Secretary),Linda Biffen, Brenda Clare, Curtis Clarke, JennyKelly,JennyRobinson,andBrianWooller.A full list of current committee members and theircontactdetailscanbefoundat:http://www.socialwork.arts.uwa.edu.au/for/alumni/alumnicommitteeFutureDirections Activities for the rest of 2009 and for 2010include:•Newgraduatewelcome2009• Further development and implementation of thementoringprogramforrecentgraduates• Strengthening membership numbers and theChampionsinitiative• Increasing opportunities for communicating mosteffectivelywithmembersAnnualGeneralMeeting2009Willbeheldlaterthisyear;pleasekeepaneyeonthewebsite http://www.socialwork.arts.uwa.edu.au/for/alumni/general_meetings fordetails; theagendaand

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a committee nomination form will also be madeavailable.

GetInvolved All past enrolled students, staff donorsandfriendsareconsideredAlumnimembers. Thecommitteewelcomesnewmembersand iskeen tohear from anyone who feels they may be able tocontributetotheactivitiesandaimsoftheAlumnigroup. IfyouhaveideasaboutthewaysinwhichtheAlumniCommitteecanbestserveAlumnimembers,

wewouldbedelightedtohearfromyou.Wearealsoalwaysinterestedtohearnewsfrommembers,andwouldlovetofeatureachievementsaspartoffutureAlumniNews,sogetintouchifyouhaveastorytoshare.

Contact Forany further information,[email protected] at [email protected], or visitthe Alumni site http://www.socialwork.arts.uwa.edu.au/for/alumni

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As I prepare for the final unit of the Graduate Certificate in ChildProtectionPractice, it is verygood to look back on the first three years of this programme, duringwhich it has become established asa significant part of the work of the Discipline.Numbersofstudentshavegrown each year, from 25 in yearoneto32thisyear,withapplicationsexceedingavailableplaces.WehavealsobeguntoreceiveinquiriesfrompotentialstudentsinotherStates,whoareinterestedin the possibility of engaging in the face-to-facelearningmadepossiblebythethree-day-blocksinwhichunitsaretaught.

Itshouldbeacknowledgedthatthesuccessof this course reflects, in large part, the ongoing commitmenttoprofessionaldevelopmentandBestPractice interventions of the Executivein the Department for Child Protection(DCP);asinpreviousyears,nineteenofthestudentsarescholarshipholdersfromDCP.In addition, another student has receiveda half scholarship from her employer, asign of the growing recognition of theprogrammeoutsideofDCP.

As the convenor of thisprogramme, I am privileged to have hadthe opportunity to work and learn withthe threecohortsofenthusiasticstudents,allofwhomhaveshownacademicrigour,

professionalexpertise,andadeepcommitment to improving the

livesandopportunitiesofchildren,as citizens and as recipients ofchild protection services. Severalgraduates from Years One andTwo have continued their post-graduatestudy.Someareabouttocomplete theGraduateDiplomainAdvancedSocialworkwithaviewtoenrollingtheDoctorateinSocialWork;othersareabout toenrol to

become MA and PhD students. I believe this isa very exciting development for social work as aprofessioninWA.

Asthisyear’sprogrammedrawstoanend,Ilookforwardtocelebratingsuccesswiththisgroupofstudents,andtopresentingtheprogrammeagainforafourthtimein2010.

Update on the Graduate Certificate in Child Protection Practice

Child Protection Practice Graduate Certificate class of 2009

by Asst/Prof Brenda Clare

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Street addressSocialWorkandSocialPolicy2ndFloorSocialSciencesBuildingHackettDriveEntrance1CarPark3General enquiriesPh +61 8 6488 2990Fax +61 8 6488 1070Emailrosa.catalano@uwa.edu.auWebwww.socialwork.arts.uwa.edu.au

Since completing her BSW degree withHonours in 2001, Sheree Bootes has worked withyouth, adults, families and communities. Shehas been employed in a diverse range of settings,includinganAboriginalcommunityonMorningtonIslandintheGulfofCarpentaria,andworkingwithformerchildmigrantsinFremantle. For the last three years Sheree hasstudied Gestalt therapy, which she describes ascreating self-awareness and working with issuesin the ‘here and now’. Sheree gained Medicareaccreditation as a Mental Health Social Workerin 2008, and is also trained in Pranic healing. In August 2009, Sheree opened Reconnect Health & Wellbeing at Lyra House in thepicturesque South-West WA town of Denmark.Sheree named Reconnect Health & Wellbeingto reflect her holistic approach to working with individuals, couples, familiesand the community. Sheree and her partner James live on a2ha property outside Denmark with their threedogs. Sheree enjoys swimming, paddling andhiking, and also coaches an under 13 mixedsoccer team for the Denmark Junior Soccer Club.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Graduate Profile: Sheree Bootes, BSW (Hons)

Postal addressSocialWorkandSocialPolicyM256SchoolofCulturalandSocialStudiesTheUniversityofWesternAustralia35StirlingHighwayCrawleyWA6009Australia

Newsletter EditorDrPhilippaWhite

[email protected]

ThankyoutotheSocialWorkgraduatesofpreviousyearswhosentusinformationabouttheircurrentactivities.IfyouwouldliketoappearinthenexteditionoftheUWASocialWorker,pleasesubmityourinformationwithaphotograph,eitherbyemailorpostalmail.Hardcopyphotoswillbescannedandreturned.

UWA Social Work and Social Policy

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