Before leaving for Australia I was so nervous (my family can attest to that!) It was my first time traveling solo at all, let alone across continents! However, after studying abroad, I can truly say it was an unforgettable experience. In more ways than one. I learned not only about facts and figures that set the U.S. and Australia apart, but I gained incredible insight into how individuals feel about the policies, practices, and services being implemented. I also met some incredible people along the way, and was exposed to several ideas and opinions that both challenged and sparked different ways of thinking.

One layer to this entire experience that moved me greatly was hearing about Aboriginal experiences first hand (through VACCA- the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency) and also seeing how welcoming and accepting the other agencies are to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals. I did have limited prior knowledge of Aboriginal people and the varieties of cultures they encapsulate (you can’t really speak for everyone as there is so much diversity!) But hearing about the Stolen Generation, where thousands of Aboriginal children were taken and put with other families or in state care, and how recent it was, very much gave context to what we were learning. Trauma can move through generations, and though Australia has recognized the need to apologize, one still has to recognize all the trials faced even today. Though one resounding theme was resilience. Through hardship, there is still a thriving community of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals that are proud to be so, and that is so incredible to see and experience.

In addition, we visited an organization, VICSEG, which lends support and services to newly arrived immigrants. Melbourne is a wonderfully diverse city, as is Australia as a whole (over 25% of permanent residents are born outside of Australia). Australia also offers English language lessons to newly arrived immigrants (and childcare for their kids during) free of charge. VICSEG has unique groups that, in some cases, allow mothers and children to learn English together. They also have soccer groups for kids and teens, playgroups, and tons of support services and training.

In the visits to the other agencies, I was reminded time and again that culture really flows through several aspects of life. Agencies were ready and willing to not only learn from people of different backgrounds, but take their suggestions and make their voices be heard. And that’s incredibly important working in the mental health field. One may think they know what’s best for a person, but through hearing about their unique experiences and really having empathy for different struggles, a middle ground may be found. Cultural competency and sensitivity to other cultures is a necessity.

Beyond the need for cultural sensitivity, I’ve learned so much that will help me in my future endeavors. I’m a psychology major, and I actually learned psychology and social work go very well together! Having never taken a class in social work, I didn’t know quite what to expect, but there were definitely some similarities in the different concepts we talked about. Among my favorites are strengths-based approaches, and the family therapy components, which we learned quite a lot about. I will definitely take into account different strategies utilized by some of the agencies. And it just solidified my love of family therapy. If one doesn’t understand a client’s environment, there may be a crucial element missing from treatment.

This experience also gave me insight into other professions (beyond social work) and how they all work together on an individual’s case. I was very fortunate to be able to go to a renal team meeting at Royal Children’s Hospital. Doctors, nurses, a dialysis nurse, a psychologist, an Aboriginal services liason, social workers, and others have a team meeting every week where they discuss every patient (recent admits, current patients, and future admits) to the renal ward of the hospital. It was so cool to hear everyone throwing out ideas and really respecting each unique perspective on a patient’s case. The holistic approach is very much reinforced in Australia, which I love.

Studying in Australia was an incredible experience. From the diverse, thriving city of Melbourne, to the small towns we saw along the Great Ocean Road. Meditating in the rainforest, to setting up a playgroup for young kids at Berry Street, to visiting amazing historical sites. This trip was filled with so many experiences I will cherish and utilize going forward. Until next time, Australia!

Our time in Australia unfortunately has to come to an end this week. This past week has been very busy with agency visits, but we’ve also had time to explore Melbourne.

I (Emily) could connect the most with Berry Street organization. This service conducts playgroups for foster children and their carers, and parents. Berry Street was one of my favorite agency visits out of all nine of the agencies. I was so happy to finally have an interaction with parents and children, and to observe the different relationship styles between the foster carers and their children. Berry Street’s organization has a passion in connecting the relationship between the children and their carers. I truly do love the work that they do to interact foster carers, and parents and children all together. The staff at the agency during playgroup seemed to genuinely love these families and children. They care for these children truly, and their parents.
We made food for the children, sang songs, and even painted with them. This really lightened my mood and I was so happy to interact and play with the children. I feel that the children do love this group. After the play group many of the staff came together to give us a lecture on their programs. My favorite lecture was the one on domestic violence. I loved the family violence team information. They respond to every single referral (900-1000 per month) and that they look at risk factors, and always the high risk list. This is very important I believe and every referral should be looked at.

During the visit, I was very intrigued to know if many of their clients are less likely to leave an abusive relationship if there is a family pet involved. I was informed this is an issue here just as much as America. Sometimes during interviews and assessments individuals do not think to ask children or families about pets enough in the family household, and it needs to be assessed more because they do get abused, and also children will tell animals things that they will not tell people. There are not enough shelters available to victims where they can bring their household pets.

One day I would love to work with individuals of domestic violence in a shelter where they can bring their pets. In the shelter counseling and meditation could be provided. This is my dream, and this experience in Australia has helped me to narrow down my true interests and what I want to do with my career! I am so truly thankful and blessed to have been able to go on this trip. I also am so fortunate and thankful to my supervisors for planning and creating this trip, and setting up all the agency visits. This is a life changing journey, and one that I will never forget!

I (Megan) also very much enjoyed this week of agency visits! Berry Street was definitely one of my top visits as well. It was so nice to be able to interact with the kids in the playgroup, and have the privilege to help set it up. The playgroup’s aim is to foster positive attachment, and these kids and parents seem to be doing a great job of it. 🙂

Berry Street is doing great things. They recognize foster parents, carers, and parents need support as well. They offer respite services where a child or children may stay in another’s care for (typically) one weekend out of the month to help the parent or parents recharge and take care of themselves. Allowing the parents to care for themselves and their needs during this time definitely helps in sometimes complex or difficult situations like foster care or families involved with child protection. This program also allows the kids to form other attachments with another family once a month; to see how they may function and to have other adults to look up to. I really loved hearing about this program, it seems to work quite well!

These three weeks in Australia have been life-changing. I definitely have learned a ton and I’m sure the entire group has a ton of new ideas to bring to their experience here in the states. Each country has their pros and cons and can definitely learn from each other’s systems.

Our second week in Australia was a once in a lifetime opportunity filled of spirituality and meditation, and even a heavier subject such as trauma at Lighthouse Foundation. The Lighthouse Foundation is a centre for young people who are experiencing homelessness. Many of these individuals have been exposed to trauma or family disfunction. The residential program is split up into ten houses for the youth, which may include up to four young people at a time, and two carers which work at alternating schedules. A carer is a loving and helping individual who serves as a guardian for the homeless youth. These carers receive regular training and debriefing sessions for self support. In order to adequately provide support for the youth, they must take care of themselves, and in order to do this they have weekly meetings to debrief. In addition to support from carers, the youth receive guidance from the community as well. Coming from a psychology background, we both connected with Lighthouse and their approach to working with individuals of trauma, and connecting it with the community. Having a strong connection with the community is a key approach to working with young people. Lighthouse aims to work on relationships, because it is key to the healing process. The group experience being positive is critical because trauma flows through the entire system as a whole, and this can lead to the traumatized system. The quality of the therapeutic environment and the relationships that are formed in the community are tremendously important for mental health, and this should be stressed more. This approach needs to be highlighted more in the United States in residential services for youth. Without the connection of the community the process can be hindered and we can bring this back with us for future practice with children. We both aspire to counsel children one day, and we hope to bring the approach Lighthouse uses with connecting the community to our areas. After learning a lot about homelessness at Lighthouse, we even learned a lot about meditation and spirituality at The Great Ocean road tour, which we hope to one day bring forward more in the mental health field.

The Great Ocean Road was built by 3,300 WW1 veterans after the war over the course of thirteen years. This beautiful scenic route was carved out and built along the coast line, with a mesmerizing view of the ocean. We like to think that during the process of the road being built, the soldiers had the opportunity to feel somewhat of a calming and therapeutic relationship with the ocean. The ocean is so powerful and mesmerizing, and therapeutic. Our group had the opportunity to meditate in three different locations on our journey down the Great Ocean Road. The first time at the beach, second watching the sunrise in the countryside and lastly in the rainforest. This allowed us to refocus ourselves on gratitude and self-appreciation. So often people in helping professions get burnt out, and taking care of yourself is a necessity.

I (Emily) would love to one day either be a psychologist or therapist for children and victims of domestic violence and trauma, and to teach meditation classes to these individuals. I feel passionate about helping these individuals through the healing process, and to show them to be one with their mind. Changing your thoughts are the first step to changing the world that you live in.
I (Megan) would love to work in an elementary school as a school counselor or intervention specialist. Looking at issues from many different perspectives is needed and often beneficial. Just because many people feel treatment for a certain disability or disorder needs to be a certain way, everyone has their own strengths that need to be drawn upon for progression. Differences should not merely be tolerated, they should be celebrated.

Overall, the Great Ocean Road was a wonderful spiritual journey and a great time to step away from our busy stressful lives and to truly be thankful for everything that we have. Meditation is a great way to get in tune with yourself and to calm the mind. This journey in Australia has so far been a life changing experience!

Aussie Rules, Literally.

This past Wednesday (May 13th) and Friday (May 15th) our group had the privilege of visiting the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. We each received individual schedules which allowed us all to have unique experiences more tailored to our courses of study. Overall, at the end of the first week, the Royal Children’s Hospital seemed to make an everlasting impact on us.
The main lobby is open and inviting and there is art everywhere. Soon after, you see a giant aquarium. Other areas include a meerkat exhibit and a starlight room with fun activities for the kids. Each floor has a theme animal as well. It seems extremely catering to children and their families (who understandably may be hesitant going or staying at a hospital). Small things like this make a huge difference. Imagine being a small child and being ill, and having to go to this massive scary hospital. However, with the friendly staff, inviting aquarium, and game room a child can feel more comfortable. Being both psychology majors, we both got a taste of what it is like being in the psychology department at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Although our two days at the hospital differed on the second day, our first day at the Gatehouse Centre was together. We are both interested in learning more and want to help individuals who have suffered emotional and mental trauma. The Gatehouse Centre is a therapeutic service for children and their families who have suffered from sexual assault and trauma. Although we learn about this in class, we never have the experience of asking questions to social workers who work in sexual abuse. We learned about their court system and their theories that they use to work with their families such as family systems. One interesting fact about this service that really struck us is the fact that the children do not have to testify in court many times in the same room as their abuser. Children are prepared for court by explaining the justice system, and they conduct pretrial education and processes with the child to make it less frightening.
The second day at the hospital was also a wonderful experience. I (Emily) had the opportunity to shadow a research assistant that is also a general psychologist in the neuro psychiatry department. This was a wonderful experience because I had the chance to view a screening assessment of an adolescent being tested for a learning disability. I have never had the chance to sit in on a screening and scoring of an individual and to see all the cognitive tests that they receive during this process. I left the testing feeling drained and sad due to the information that the individual disclosed involving substance abuse and suicide. I felt as though the individual needed more help on finding a counselor for these issues, and was not receiving it. Overall, this entire week was a wonderful experience, and we feel so fortunate to have been able to participate in all the agency visits including VACCA.

In addition, there’s an aboriginal health center with a small area with couches and a tv, in it’s own area apart from the rest of the hospital. Some aboriginal families may travel from very far, so having a familiar area can help families feel more at ease.
And there’s a Ronald McDonald (Ronnie Macca) House very close to the hospital. I was extremely happy to hear Australia has Ronald McDonald houses as well. It’s an invaluable resource for families whose children are staying in the hospital. Though it does work on a waitlist system, so it really depends on if there are enough beds. If not, the hospital has a few rooms (without nurse care) for families to stay if their child is having surgery the following day.
In Australia, everyone pays into a system to provide them with public health insurance. If someone makes more than a certain amount, they are encouraged to take out private insurance. Royal Children’s is a public hospital, so the majority has access to it (and Royal Children’s is a leader in a lot of specialties, so that’s a huge plus).
I (Megan) was able to sit in on an interdisciplinary care meeting for the renal ward on Friday. These meetings are held every Friday for approximately two hours. Doctors, nurses, health educators, social workers, and an aboriginal health liaison meet to discuss the patients currently admitted (and even home care patients, as many do home dialysis). I sincerely appreciated to efforts on the part of all staff to be sensitive to the various biological, mental, spiritual, and social aspects of each patient’s care.
All in all, Royal Children’s was an incredible experience and I’m sure what we’ve learned will be invaluable tools we can take back with us. Theories discussed in the sexual assault training can be applied to other areas of trauma in our classes, and the screening assesment for disabilities is universal, can be used in our future practice.

By Emily Sorrenti & Megan Johnston