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What social work means to me

In recognition of World Social Work Day on 15 March, we asked two student social workers currently on placement at St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals what social work means to them to acknowledges the fantastic and diverse work that social workers do across the world.

14 Mar 2022

Imidil – Masters of Social Work, Curtin University

I've been at St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals for almost a month now, and I have learned so much already about the role of a hospital social worker.

Prior to this experience, what I knew about social work was primarily drawn from research and others sharing their lived experiences of the profession. It is an extremely dynamic role that can take you to so many areas, but one thing that has been consistent in my perspective of social work is that the goal is to reduce human suffering and promote human flourishing.

In my learning so far, I have found that to be a social worker is to assist those in need to re-engage with society. They help to address systemic barriers that can come up in the processes of social work by addressing the vulnerabilities and risks a person is exposed to, and to assist them in the best way possible.

My experience at St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals has shown me that social work is hard work, and at times emotionally confronting. But, in the end, I have seen that the rewarding part of it is when the patient expresses such appreciation and gratitude for the help given by the outstanding social workers I have met.

Social Work is such an admirable and invaluable profession, and those who dedicate their lives to it add value and hope in times of crisis, letting vulnerable patients know that they aren't forgotten and won't be left behind.

Michaela – Masters of Social Work, Curtin University

As a very reflective person, I sometimes consider how I became to study social work, as my journey has not been straight forward. I have a degree in a very different field, and worked in a variety of spaces. But at my core I was always searching for a profession in which I felt connected to something bigger. And to me, that is what social work is about. It’s about connecting with people wherever they are in their lives. It’s about advocating for people who aren’t always empowered to advocate for themselves. It’s about co-creating a world that is more equitable and just.

I’m forever amazed at the breadth of social work, and a social worker’s ability to constantly wear many hats in their day-to-day practice. Counsellor, service coordinator, NDIS expert, just to name a few, which makes it challenging work.
Currently this work has been made more challenging because of COVID and everything going on in the world. But that’s what makes it that much more rewarding, because if we can support even one person in a day – that’s one person who feels more supported in the world. And that’s an achievement.

In the lead up to this World Social Work Day, I’ve been thinking about the invaluable experience of learning about social work from the remarkable team of social workers here at St John of God Midland Pubic and Private Hospitals. Each and every one of them brings knowledge and expertise across a range of fields and they practice with compassion and respect.