Navigating Social Work in Australia: Connor’s Career Journey Across Continents

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On this episode of The Social Work Pivot, I’m joined by Connor Appleton, a UK-trained child and family social worker who made the bold move to permanently relocate to Australia in 2022. Connor shares his first-hand experience of the culture shock that came with living and working in a new country, as well as the unique challenges and opportunities he’s encountered practising social work in Australia.

Tune in to hear Connor’s reflections on the differences in social work systems, his tips for making relocating to Australia to practise social work, and the personal growth that comes with stepping outside of your comfort zone. If you're thinking about working abroad or curious about how social work varies in a different country, this episode is for you!

Connor Resources:
Work as a social worker in Australia:

• The recruitment agency Connor used to find job roles in Australia: https://berecruitment.com.au/
• Facebook groups/communities – ‘Social Workers Wanting Oz’ is a great one with lots of activity but, there are many.
• To explore different types of visas and costs - https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing - Note that Social Work is often on the Skilled Visa list (often reviewed)
• AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers/ equivalent to Social Work England) who assess your international qualifications for employment and migration purposes (via an online application) - https://www.aasw.asn.au/education-employment/international-qualification-recognition/

Connor's recommendations to learn more about Australia's history:

• This is a good resource to learn about significant moments in Australia’s recent history, which continue to shape to way that we work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities – notably the stolen generation and the people’s apology. There are also links to further reading material, youtube videos etc. https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/stolen-generations
• This is a powerful documentary about the impact of the Voice referendum held in 2023, for aboriginal communities to have a voice in Parliament, aboriginal culture and how the communities differ across the country. https://ourvoiceourheart.com.au/
• Information about delivering an Acknowledgement of Country, which is usually made before all meetings in the workspace. https://www.indigenous.gov.au/contact-us/welcome_acknowledgement-country

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