How do Social Workers Practice in Rural Health Roles?

Welcome back to the Social Work Café blog!

Today, I’m thrilled to share highlights from our latest podcast episode, featuring one of the most experienced and dynamic social workers in the Wagga region, Liz McRae.

My journey with Liz began during my undergraduate studies when she was a workshop facilitator for our microskills content.

Liz has a passion for teaching, especially during our intensive sessions, which she finds invigorating. I wholeheartedly agree; engaging in diverse social work activities keeps us refreshed and inspired.

In our recent conversation, we delved into the nuances of health roles in rural settings.

Liz, like many amazing social workers based in Wagga, is a proud graduate of Charles Sturt University. She completed her degree in her mid-20s and has since carved a remarkable career path.

After graduating, Liz initially worked in the sexual assault field before moving to London to practice, which she found incredibly enriching.

Upon her return to Australia, Liz joined the health sector and has since navigated various roles, including child protection counselling, oncology, renal care, acute social work, and most recently, aged care.

The variety in her career has been a key factor in maintaining her enthusiasm and longevity in the field.

Liz’s ability to stay fresh and excited about her work is something I deeply admire.

One of the standout aspects of our discussion was Liz’s perspective on lifelong learning.

She believes in constantly developing new skills and gaining knowledge, whether within her primary role or through other avenues such as teaching and mentoring our CSU students (#ShamelessPlug).

Her advice to always be learning and growing is a testament to her commitment to self-care and professional development.

Liz’s passion for rural practice shines brightly in our conversation.

She addresses common misconceptions, such as the belief that rural social work is limited to psychosocial assessments or that it lacks excitement.

On the contrary, rural practice is incredibly diverse, offering a wide range of scenarios and opportunities for continuous learning.

This diversity is similar to what Cat Crutchett highlighted in season 1 about the dynamic nature of social work in health.

Social workers play crucial roles in supporting patients and families, advocating within health and legal systems, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals.

Hospitals are bustling environments, and social workers like Liz often create space for families to slow down and process their experiences.

Liz’s holistic and multidimensional approach allows her to identify system gaps, particularly in rural areas, and share this insight with allied health and medical teams who may have different perspectives.

The scarcity of resources in rural communities necessitates “tricky problem-solving,” as Liz puts it, and underscores the importance of a strong collaborative team for both professional growth and effective service delivery.

Challenges in rural social work include limited access to supervisors within the organisation and the complexities of maintaining confidentiality in tight-knit communities.

Liz’s narrative vividly illustrates the high level of skill required for health social workers, especially in rural settings.

Despite these challenges, she emphasises foundational microskills like active listening and collaboration as her favourite techniques.

This podcast episode is particularly timely as I recently had the pleasure of visiting the social workers at Wagga Base Hospital with Professor Kyoko Otani from Nihon Fukushi University, Japan.

Kyoko is a leading social work professor with a background in mental health and significant contributions to professional identity and supervision.

Currently on sabbatical, Kyoko spent nearly three months in Auckland, New Zealand, as a visiting scholar before her brief but exciting visit with us in Wagga.

It was a joy to connect Kyoko with our vibrant social work community, including Liz and other colleagues in the acute social work and mental health teams such as Rachael, Beth, Eliza, and Jasmin, as well as at other local organisations, including Laura (who you have met before) and Matt.

A special shoutout must go to Marnie and Haydee, two fabulous social work placement students how guided us around the hospital.

Their generosity and willingness to share their time and experiences made Kyoko’s visit truly enlightening.

I must also extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making Kyoko’s visit so impactful, especially my colleagues Wendy Bowles, Andreia Schineanu, Kat Castelletto, Karen Bell, Fredrik Velander, and Therese Jones-Mutton.

This exchange has deepened the ties between Australian and Japanese social workers, fostering a collaborative spirit that transcends borders.

Until next time, keep learning, stay inspired, and continue making a difference!

Dr. B