The sunset while coming back home was incredible.
It’s been a little over a week since I’ve been back in good old Ohio. I have noticed so many things that I missed while in Australia; American food, my bed…watching the Bachelorette. Over the month, I grew far more appreciative of my lifestyle. However, being in Australia changed my mind about a lot of things.
My goal is to become a clinical child psychologist and being in Australia did not change that. It did open my eyes, though. I realized the immensity of the problems facing youth, especially those in diverse and disadvantaged groups. Problems are always so much deeper than they appear. While visiting the agencies, I learned the truth in the quote “it takes a town to raise a child.” Often, if a child is suffering with a mental health issue, you can also find issues in the family, community, school, or peer relationships. It makes it difficult for psychologists and social workers to implement effective treatments. Visiting these agencies showed me the importance of holistically treating an individual, giving them strategies to deal with the external factors in their lives. It’s hard to remember that when a child leaves your office, they go back out into a possibly risky environment that may cause relapse.
One of these agencies that brought up issues of diversity was VACCA. VACCA is dedicated to helping the Aboriginal population in Victoria. Before heading to Australia, I knew barely anything about the Aboriginal population. Many of their struggles remind me very much of the struggles of our own Native Americans. Their government has a long history of oppressing Aboriginals, trying to rid of them through the stolen generation. We participated in a cultural awareness training and got to learn more about the history and traditions of Aboriginal culture. The difference between Aboriginal people and our Native American population is the way our governments have tried to right their wrongs. Australia has taken great strides to apologize to the Aboriginals while our government has not done the same. It was very interesting to learn how issues of diversity play into mental health treatment.
This is a opossum skin blanket that children at VACCA made and decorated. These blankets are a tradition among the Aboriginal community and are said to have a calming and spiritual presence.
The agencies were not the only part of visiting Australia that had an impact on me. My free time, my cohort, and cultural experiences helped me broaden my horizons. Exploring nature was my favorite part of the entire trip. I personally love to camp, so our camping weekend was incredible. Being in the presence of large mountains, flowing waterfalls, and wildlife allows you to feel small and humbled. Being there with my peers made it all the better. I was lucky to be in the presence of strong, goal-driven women who’s opinions and beliefs opposed mine. Hearing their opinions and thoughts allowed me to remember that not everyone is living in my world and it’s important to keep that in mind as a future psychologist.
One person who had a particularly positive impact on me was my friend, Taja. I did not know her before the trip but I am happy I got to know her. I got to see her try so many new things and really get outside of her comfort zone. I love to try new things and it seems so easy to me, so when I see other people I sometimes don’t understand why they’re so uncomfortable. However, this was not the case with Taja. While she was sometimes uncomfortable with new foods, experiences, or ideas, she fully embraced everything and just let herself grow. I also got to see her grow through our agency visits and really engage with the staff at each one. I admire her engagement and passion to learn. Becoming friends with Taja, and my other undergrad “squad,” really made this trip one to remember for a lifetime.
Left to right: Mary (me), Sam, Taja, Courtney, Erin, Jaine
Overall, I had a wonderful experience. It was nothing like I expected, but I don’t even know what I expected. I learned so much about Australia, social work, and myself. Visiting the agencies solidified what I want to become in my future. There is nothing I am more passionate about that helping those with mental health concerns, especially children. I got to learn all of these things while having so much fun in the process. If anyone is looking for a study abroad that will change your views, challenge your body, and include a great group of students (and professor), I would highly recommend this one. I can’t wait to explore more of Australia one day.
