1. Neither Sophist nor Scientist: 30 years in the field Wendy Zerner BA, BSW, Dip Ed Wendy_Zerner@health.qld.gov.au Multicultural Mental Health Coordinator Cairns & Hinterland Mental Health Alcohol Tobacco Other Drug Services

2. Overview Sophist, Scientist So much more Sage, Sustainer, Scavanger, … Why Social Work? Practice Wisdom from – Government, Non Government experience

3. My Social Work Journey

4. The 1980ies…individual LOCAL GOV VIC – whole of community health and wellbeing issues – opportunities STATE GOV TAS Psychiatric Inpatient Facility - teaching hospital. SW advocate. Ethical dilemas

5. The 1990ies…individual FEDERAL Social Security (Centrelink) - individual advocate, guidelines Need for conformity big government organisations Policy change slow - impact huge (compare NFP and other government) STATE Rural Hospital Social Worker – strength of partnerships & work the team

6. 1998 – 2003…community… NFP COMMUNITY SUPPORT CENTRE potential  Volunteer program –unique contribution & some personal control; educational opportunity builds community; reciprocity  Political action possible  Opportunity Partnerships – to achieve goals of number of organisations simultaneously

7. 2003-6 …community continued LOCAL GOVERNMENT Manager client = community Partnership potential Reality policy v politics

8. Recovery work 2006 - 2007 The strength of a shared journey STATE GOVERNMENT Department of Communities - rescuers. NFP LIFELINE People, organisations, communities where they are at physically & psychologically

9. 2007+ Multicultural Mental Health Coordinator – Cairns & Hinterland Individual, family, cultural group interface with State Government system Impacts on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Individuals and Communities FAMILY CULTURAL COMMUNITY WHOLE OF COMMUNITY LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTERNATIONAL

10. Summary Journey from Individual focus …doing for – to Community focus …more patience…greater sustainability Partnerships - seek out the like minded Personal power (challenges of individual obstructionists) Find the ‘creative corner’ Be aware then forget the self