Social Work and Human Services - QUT

Social Work and Human Services
In this issue:
Special Greeting to First
Year Students
Welcome from Your
Course Co-Ordinator
KickStart and
StudySmart
„Demystification‟ for
New Students
Special Greeting to First Year Students
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all new social
work and human services students to our academic program
and to QUT. We know that 2010 will be an incredible year for
you as you embark on the next phase of your academic life and
your career. Our collective task over the next few years is to
ensure that you graduate with the skills, knowledge and values
to become the best professional practitioners that you can be.
As a first year student, I hope that you will make the campus your
home for the next few years. In the coming weeks you will meet
your lecturers, tutors and fellow classmates as well as staff and
students within the wider QUT community. You can learn some
more about our staff by visiting the SW&HS website. QUT staff are
here to assist you so please do not hesitate to ask us for
assistance.
Peer Mentors Wanted
Introducing one of our
Research students
Project News
Conversations with the
Field
World Social Work Day
Seminar; “What‟s
Happening in Youth
Services ?
Along with Jenny Felton Undergraduate Course Coordinator, I
am available if you would like to discuss your course or future
profession as a social worker/human services worker.
In the coming weeks we will be arranging some informal gettogethers
with students and I hope to meet many of you at that
time.
Professor Bob Lonne
Head of Academic Program, SWHS
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SWHS e-Newsletter ● March 2010 ● Volume 4 ● CRICOS No. 00213J

Welcome from Your Course Co-Ordinator
As a new student to the Social Work and Human Services
Academic Program, I would like to warmly welcome you to SWHS
and to QUT. As the undergraduate course coordinator, I am here
to assist you with any academic or enrolment issues that you
might face as you commence your course. You can contact me
to make an appointment with me either by email
j.felton@qut.edu.au or by phone on 3138 4727. If you are having
any difficulties at all with your studies I would urge you to contact
me. Problems are more easily remedied when they are small. I
say with sincerity that we are here to assist .and that we genuinely
care about our students.
I will meet many of you in second semester in my unit SWB104
Interpersonal Communication. Others I hope to meet at some
get-togethers we are planning throughout the year.
KickStart and StudySmart
Can I recommend a useful website that
will assist you to develop skills for
assignment preparation, research, time
management, note-taking and critical
thinking. To register for workshops,
access guides and online tutorials go to
www.kickstart.qut.edu.au or ask at the
Library Help Desks.
You will see on this webpage that there
are quick links to Assignment
Minder, Library study rooms and spaces
and Computer lab availability.
I hope your study in Social Work and
Human Services is rewarding,
challenging and fun. May it be the
beginning of a journey which brings you
immense satisfaction.
Jenny Felton
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Jenny Felton
SWHS eNewsletter ● March 2010 ● Volume 4 ● CRICOS No. 00213J ●

“Demystification” for New Students
On Friday 19 th February about 45 commencing Social Work and
Human Services students attended the Transition to University
Workshop which runs each semester as an introduction to university
life. This lively and motivated group of students made the most of
the day. Among the activities were a „demystification‟ of the
requirements of university life, a presentation/discussion by Jenny
Kaighin, a first year lecturer, a presentation/activity with Susan
Ryan, a careers counsellor, which helped students to think about
how university fits in with their career and life goals, and a session
with „experienced‟ students who offered their tips for succeeding
at university - this latter was a huge success with the commencing
students who really seem to value the words of wisdom from those
who‟ve been through it all! The students who gave up their time to
assist at this workshop were Kate Jesson, Sarah Grant, Joanne
Steptoe and Richard Hartman. I would like to thank them again for
their willing and generous contributions on the day.
The workshop was facilitated by Waveney Croft, who also
coordinates the SWB106 unit.
Peer Mentors Wanted
We are trying to generate interest in a Peer Mentor Scheme for
Social Work and Human Service students. Many Faculties and
Schools operate such a scheme with great success and it is valued
both by the students who receive mentoring and those who
mentor.
Waveney Croft
The idea is to enlist experienced students (second or third years)
who are willing to donate a small amount of time to assist new
students to settle into university life. The transition to university is
difficult for many students. The support of a peer mentor can mean
the difference between hanging in there and making it work, and
dropping out.
If you think you‟d like to make a difference in a commencing
student‟s experience of starting university, contact Waveney Croft
and join the Peer Mentor Scheme.
SWHS eNewsletter ● March 2010 ● Volume 4 ● CRICOS No. 00213J ●
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Introducing one of our research students:
Being the Artist Citizen
“The Mask I Wear”
by Eliza Leahy
“Crossing the Thin Red
Line” by Paul Munro
Karleen Gwinner
commenced PhD studies
with Social Work and Human
Services in 2007 after working
in Qld. Health with the
Northside District Mental
Health Services. She
graduated with Honours from
QUT Creative Industries Visual
Art in 1992.
At the beginning of 2009 the
exhibition Artist Citizen was
held in Brisbane to present
the artwork of eight
contemporary Queensland
artists, Brady, Coote, Howie,
Leahy, Mitchell, Munro, Oliver
and Spence. Curated by
Karleen, the exhibition
provided an opportunity for
artists, who also live with
mental illness, to show the
quality and depth of their art
as active artist citizens.
This exhibition was part of a
participation action research
to gain insight into the eight
artists‟ negotiation of their
identity and place in culture
against existing social and
cultural frameworks of mental
illness and art. The research
titled Diagnosed Artist has
highlighted junctures of
transformation of an identity
from a patient identity to an
artist identity.
Karleen is a visual artist with a
passion for community
cultural development. She
set out in her PhD to explore
participatory
and
contextual experiences of
art and mental illness. “I
understand that art can
inspire an individual to seek
greater personal meaning
and broader participation
in community spaces.” Her
experience working as an
arts worker with people
living with mental illness
encouraged her to dig
deeper into the knowledge
around the benefits of arts
in health endeavours. What
has been gained through
the research is an
understanding of eight
artists‟ unique position and
experiences
and
appreciation of how they
take action to construct
their identity on their own
terms.
Karleen is supervised by the
fantastic Dr Marie Knox and
the extraordinary Dr Mark
Brough.
Discussion of preliminary
findings have been
published in the Journal of
Public Mental Health
available online
http://metapress.com/cont
ent/a6807r7718420959/?p=
e37f0311667c4af8b04524c1
e9d74f02&pi=4
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SWHS eNewsletter ● March 2010 ● Volume 4 ● CRICOS No. 00213J ●

Project News
Staff are undertaking a
number of research
consultancies at the
moment. Phil Crane, and
Judith Burton are working
with Redland City Council on
the development of a new
youth space at Capalaba
funded through an Australian
Government Safer Suburbs
grant. As part of this they
have undertaken a survey of
Redland resident‟s views and
experiences of safety, crime
and anti-social behaviour.
Phil Crane and Jenny
Kaighin are working with
the Dovetail Consortium
and Queensland Health to
develop a Service Practice
Improvement Kit for the
youth drug and alcohol
sector.
Phil Crane
Conversations with the Field
These popular lunchtime
sessions are on again this
semester.
Angela Barnes from Brisbane
Youth Service will be our
guest.
Each Conversation features a
one or more practitioners
from a particular agency who
will share their thoughts on the
trends and opportunities in
their field of practice.
Most of the time is set aside
for students to ask questions
and discussion. All students
are invited.
So bring your lunch to O-B511
on Thursday 18 March when
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SWHS eNewsletter ● March 2010 ● Volume 4 ● CRICOS No. 00213J ●

World Social Work Day 16 th March 2010: Making
Human Rights Real – the Social Work Agenda Feedback
People are making changes in their lives to improve their quality of
life every day across the world - and social workers are there
helping them. World Social Work Day is a celebration of these
achievements and an opportunity to highlight what work still has
to be done for people‟s rights to be respected.
AASW - North Queensland Branch
Our Director of Academic Programs Mr Ross Daniels will be guest
speaker at the AASW North Queensland Branch, Townsville Social
Work Network (in collaboration with James Cook University - Social
Work and Community Welfare and Student Association,
Queensland Health - Townsville Hospital and Institute of Mental
Health Services, Townsville) and will present on the topic of social
work and technology. Ross will also be presenting at 5.15pm at
Southbank in the QCA Lecture Theatre and Gallery (226 Grey St,
South Brisbane).
To all Social Work and Human Service Students
Social Work and Human Services
O Block B Wing
Kelvin Grove Campus
Phone:
(07) 3138 4520
Fax:
(07) 3138 0296
E-Mail:
swhs.enquiries@qut.edu.au
Web Site:
http://www.hlth.qut.edu.au/s
whs/
Social Work and Human
Services
Each semester, the QUT Social Work and Human Services Program
runs a seminar series for all students to meet, listen to, and chat
with practitioners and experts in the field.
We are holding our first „Conversations with the Field‟ seminar in
O Block –B Wing Room 511 (go down the stairs from level 6,
through the automatic doors and to the left).
Thursday 18 th March 1-2 pm
What’s happening in Youth
Services?
Angela Barnes
Brisbane Youth Service
Entry is free & attendance open to all current or interested social
work and human service students. Come along and bring your
lunch and meet fellow students.
All students are welcome to send contributions and/or ideas for the
next edition of the newsletter to Emma McCaul
em.mccaul@qut.edu,.au.
FACULTY OF HEALTH
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SWHS eNewsletter ● March 2010 ● Volume 3 ● CRICOS No. 00213J ●