First and foremost, we both would agree that the 16 hour plane ride and being completely exhausted upon arrival has definitely been worth it. Being the first time to ever step foot on another country brought so many mixed feelings and uncertainty for what to expect however the first bit of views has been simply amazing. The first couple of days was more of an adjustment period and the tour of Melbourne was very insightful. Katie, our tour guide showed us so much history in the city and gave us significant meanings behind the scenery. For example, the statue of Pastor Sir Douglass Nicholls who was an advocate for the Aboriginal people. That was awesome to see the city being able to accept having his statue in the park.StatueCity View
When Wednesday arrived, it was time for our first agency visit. We visited VACCA (Victorian Aboriginal Childcare Agency). I (Mary) think that we all did not know what exactly to expect out of our first visit. However, our trainers, Robert and Cal, made us feel at home right away. They guided us through a cultural training to become more aware of the history and state of the Aboriginal population. It is incredible to draw parallels between the Aboriginal people of Australia and our Native Americans. Australia, as a country, has made great strides in apologizing and making right the wrongs they committed against the Aboriginal population. Although Aboriginal culture is not the same as before colonization, VACCA makes sure that Aboriginal children can learn their culture while also being able to adjust and flourish. I (Taja) felt so connected once I stepped foot in VACCA and learning how the Aboriginal people had a shared struggle history that my culture had; it was such a feeling and sense of connection that I felt that is beyond words.
Our next visit was to Anglicare, and it was AWESOME. We were able to use the tools that they use to encourage conversation and openness. Anglicare emphasizes and encourages those who are dedicated in the social work field to focus not so much on the problems but instead embrace solutions. So, we had 2 1/2 hours of play which meant using their thought provoking resources to engage in conversations. One game that I (Taja) enjoyed the most was called Deep Speak; which were cards that asked questions based on relationships, moral values, and other personal topics that you could either answer honestly or tell a big fat porky pie (white lie). I thought it was great that the trainer suggested you to tell the client that in the beginning because it allowed the client to feel comfortable. Also another key thing that the trainer stated was being creative was key because creativity is keeping us away from burnout. The main thing that I (Taja) took from this session was to find ways to add “play” when interacting with a client because it allows openness and invites conversations that could’ve been hidden.
Overall, our first week was eye opening, full of new experiences, and lots of learning. We are excited for the coming week and all that is in store for us. Stay tuned.
Taja and Mary
