I Am Moving To Nauru!

My head has been spinning for the last two weeks, since being offered my new job, which I started today with an induction in Brisbane. This is big! I will be flown to the nation in the Central Pacific tomorrow to get started!

I had been going through the pre-deployment process almost like just going through the motions, from the phone interview and lining up my referees, and then getting started on the medical. I needed to get my history of DVT all cleared for travel, and then also needed a few more vaccinations and boosters from the Travel Doctor. Having needles started to make it all real, but nothing like the actual call of offer!

I am about to set off to Nauru to work in the Regional Processing Centre there, where Australia is currently holding asylum seekers awaiting their claims for refugee status to be processed. I will be working as a Case Manager, providing welfare and social support as a Social Worker.

Of course, there won't be anything much that I can share about the work, any more than I could share anything about my past work experiences. But I can direct you to my new employers' page to check out the details, if you want to know more. There are some great videos there, that will give you an insight into the work.

As for me, I will be working in a Fly In/Fly Out (FIFO) capacity, on a roughly 3 week rotation, with a day a week off whilst away. I will be returned home at the end of each rotation, to rest and relax and recover from the impact of the role.

My day off will give me a chance to explore the smallest republic in the world, sitting midway between Sydney and Honolulu, and oh so very close to the Equator. Nauru is an atoll, and is the second least populated nation in the world, after the Vatican. I am looking forward to finding out more about it!

I am not sure of my ability to blog, or maintain an online presence, whilst I am away for work either. There is a lot of wait and see! This next 3 weeks is going to be pretty full on!

Ever since I got the call about the role I have had Paul Kelly's line Careful what you dream of...you just might get it! in my head. This role is clearly the "something amazing" I have been looking for, and working towards, for years. A way to make a difference in some way, to the people caught up in this ongoing political situation.

(Picture credit -  very outdated Nauru country profile on the New Internationalist)

Please note - any comments published here about my role are my own, and are not representative of my employers' in any way.

Patient-built CAMH Walls: Doors Open Toronto

On Sunday morning for the second day of the Doors Open Toronto weekend, I headed west on Queen Street West from home, and got to the CAMH site, soon to be their main center in the city.

Here I joined the walking tour, leaving on the hour all weekend, to see and hear the stories of the patient-built historic wall. The portions of the wall still in place today no longer keep people inside the centre, as was the aim for the asylum back in the 1860s and 1880s when they were constructed, and indeed until deinstitutionalisation of psychiatric care.

Our guide, Jeffery, a softly spoken gent, was engaging and informative, and took us along the wall to each plaque to explain elements of that portion of the wall, and also added patient stories linked to each side of the wall.

These boundary walls to the old asylum were hand built by the in-patients, which would have been back-breaking and physically arduous. Structurally sound, given it's longevity and visual pattern of brick placement, one wonders what the working parties would have been like. Completely unpaid and unrewarded, this labour has indeed been acknowledged as saving the city thousands of dollars, and was used as the only type of treatment back in the early days of care.



Bricked-in doors and windows show the changes of the wall and the function around it over the years. Tales of successful escape were shared on the tour, in addition to many of the patient inscriptions remaining in view today.

You can see a date on the first wall photo above, and this here shows one brick with the words 'Born To Be Murdered' scratched in - a lasting legacy of the hardship and hopelessness of being confined to a facility like this, and indeed the plight of the treatment options for psychological illness in years gone by, in addition to the experience of being used for hard labour throughout your days.

The wall and the plaques are open to everyday traffic from the park on the side of the current CAMH facilities, through to the back of the buildings, and thus one that could be visited all year round.

Melancholia and Ides of March

Last Saturday I spend the day in the cinema at Nova in Carlton, soaking in some pre-Oscar period movies. I also managed to see one of the MIFF movies I missed back in July, which was my favourite of my movie double day.

Melancholia is visually stunning, and a movie that gives you a glimpse and a feel for depression (Part 1) and anxiety (Part 2). Most of it is filmed by hand-held cameras, giving you a giddy feeling, and a headache at the end. A full biopsychosocial experience! It takes a lot of a film to make you feel the emotions of it's characters fully, but this pulls you in, and leaves you in a total psychological funk! Powerful cinema!

Kirsten Dunst is brilliant, and portrays a person moving through life with the weight of depression beautifully. Part 1 is her wedding, and one of the most lavish and gorgeous weddings...but her depression just won't play ball with everyone wanting her to be happy. It just doesn't work like that!

In Part 2, Kiefer Sullivan shines, as his wife, and Kirsten's character's sister, moves through the anxiety of pending doom - an approaching planet on track to maybe hit Earth. The visuals of this planet are amazing, and totally drawing...but the panic and anxiety of sister Claire is infectious. So well done.

The draw of this very visually pulling planet is contrast by the fear of Claire, and then when husband John makes his admission and acts upon his fear, the film is gripping. Kirsten's depressed Justine is seemingly unaffected, as depression burdens.

A great film. And as someone who works in mental health, such a strong and emotive portrayal.

My second movie was one of the George Clooney films that are currently on our screens - the political Ides of March, with Ryan Gosling. With the campaigning happening in the US right now, this movie highlighted to me that I have no clue about American politics!

A young main staffer on a presidential candidate's team moving into the primaries. The twists and turns of dirty politics, and of trying to uphold ethics in a world of saving face, political strategy, and dark secrets.

Clooney as Director allows his candidate character to preach some inspired stances and political platforms, which were to my liking! Love Clooney!

Responding To Crisis And Disaster - CIMA Conference

This week I attended the Crisis Intervention and Management Australasia's (CIMA) 6th Biennial Conference in Melbourne, and was totally inspired by the work being done, and the learning shared, from around the world, through the lived experience and from working with people in, and recovering from a traumatic event.  Hearing from people doing the kind of work I aspire to, and from people who have learnt and were sharing learnings from their own personal experiences of an event like the Black Saturday Bushfires, the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, and the Queensland floods, was awe inspiring.

The Conference was held at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, which is such a great space along South Wharf.  The food for the two days was totally sensational, but the mingling and networking was clearly a highlight.  I managed to catch up with my lecturer from last year, who was a Keynote Speaker for the Conference, and is also the Deputy Head of the Social Work Department at uni, plus my current tutor was there, in addition to people I had met when I attended one of CIMA's courses last year. 

The opening address echoed the sentiments of many of my fellow AYAD Cambodia crew, about the reverse culture shock of coming home from places so very different.  The difficulties in relating, and fitting back in, and finding interest in the mundane.  He, Andrew MacLeod, suggested to the industry that an RSL-like community group for Humanitarian workers is needed for worker recovery through shared narrative, just like the returned Veterans do so well.

We then heard from, and saw footage, of the Helicopter Rescue Operators winching people to safety amid the rushing, flooding waters in Grantham earlier this year.  Amazing!  Personal accounts of mental health professionals assisting people in crisis on a ship in Japan after the big waves, to developing peer support programs with staff in Singaporean hospitals, and setting up community groups to renew towns devastated by Black Saturday. 

One of the highlights of the Conference for me was hearing Dr Rob Gordon speak - an industry leader in the treatment of people who have experienced crisis and disaster, and best practice development, he spoke of his developing model of Personal Recovery.  Powerful and engaging, with funny personal stories, he was brilliant and inspiring.  And I even used his teaching from this week in my work with a client with PTSD yesterday, at a review.

Another amazing talk across the 2 days was that presented by the ABC Local Radio journalist and broadcaster behind the development of Recovery Broadcasting, delivering communications, and a chance for community personal shared stories.  Allowing communities after Black Saturday and the Queensland floods connect, be connected and heard, this form of broadcasting is assisting recovery by being part of it.  This was a really remarkable presentation and discussion, and amazing work they are doing!

I had not been to a conference before, and feel like it marks my emergence into my professional standing and confidence.  Hearing the current thinking, research and treatment methods from around the world, and feeling part of this group of people taking it away and using it in their practice, was so very inspiring.  

Cuts To Better Access

Something that has happened this month, that seems to be getting minimal press, is that the Senate in this country passed cuts in access to mental health services through the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative.

Better Access, through Medicare, meant that since 2006 people experiencing mental health issues could discuss these with their GP, and receive a Mental Health Plan to see a Psychologist or Social Worker, for up to funded (or near fully funded, depending on the practitioner) 18 sessions. This level of care would allow for assessment, and evidence based treatment for the issues presented. It also allows people who would normally not talk about such things, develop a trust in someone to enable them to open up, talk and address these concerns, before symptoms become something that needs a higher level of treatment, such as hospitalisation.

The new cuts, or redistribution perhaps, now means that such a person seeking help with mental health issues in this way will have access to 6 funded sessions. With a further 4 pending another GP review and approval.

There are many personal stories being shared by consumers and therapists across the web and blogospheres, many treaters outlining the people this is affecting the most - having their sessions end abruptly, not having access to further care at a crucial point in their treatment - or Psychologists working for free to ensure people are not at risk.

You can read more here, and you can sign the petition here, against it:

'Better Access' to Psychological Services Petition | GoPetition

Taking Regular Breaks

I know people laugh at me and my propensity to take annual leave frequently, but whilst I do it to feed my travel bug, I frequently talk about the need for regular breaks to my clients, under the guise of self care. All together too many people who land on my caseload with some mental health concerns have truckloads of unused annual leave up their sleeves, and haven't had a holiday in years.

Burnout, emotional exhaustion, stress, depression and anxiety, are all diagnoses that I deal with within my client group, from people who are overworked, who have pushed or are pushed too hard for too long. Usually with many outside-of-work life factors too. Often with a lack of support from their workplaces.

As a traveler who needs little excuse for a trip to the other side of the world, and is one of those people who plans her next trip the second she is back at her work desk and jetlag free from her last one, I really don't get this. We all get a week of leave every 3 months, at a full time work rate - and that's an acknowledgement that it is not healthy to work flat out without a break!

So take it! Get away from the stress and pressure, take some time for yourself. Don't necessarily take it in big chunks like I do (although, can anyone else hear the West Indies calling again??), but ideally take it spread across the year. Do it so you don't end up seeing something like me cos you have hit the wall - hopefully we would be seeing each other with a backpack on, somewhere totally new instead!

R U OK? and Not-So-Common Sense

Whilst I would like to think that all my years of uni and work experience mean that I provide a specialised service to people with mental health issues, I really think that active listening, checking in with people on their general well being and ensuring continued engagement is just what people do. Sadly, wrong. But that's what people in general should do!

It's not hard to ask someone if they are ok. Although, perhaps if it was, the R U OK? Day wouldn't have gained so much attention. Because people don't. People seem scared to ask, in fear of a real answer, in case the answer is more than "yes, thanks". The continued stigma and fear of mental illness is shocking, considering the prevalence of one in five Aussies.

I work with many cases where someone has been off work due to a psychological injury, for a whole range of reasons and antecedents, where often no one from the group of people that they would normally interact with 8 hours every working day, every week for years, has asked if they are ok, or checked how they are going.

I am always stunned. Outraged, but hurt for the person more so.

I hear the excuse that because it had been indicated that the client was experiencing depression, etc, it was thought best not to call them. Usually so the client is not more upset, is the thought. Well, I don't know what is more upsetting than if you are off work/away from anywhere because you are unwell, and no one calls you to let you know you are valued, important, and that someone there cares.

Take to people! We all need to do it, for each other. Engage in what our Indigenous brothers call Sorry Time. Listen. Sometimes it's just a call, 5 minutes of your time! Could be all the difference to someone's recovery.

MSW?

You know how a big, life changing decision comes out of the blue? It lands at your feet, and you look at it for a bit, and then pick it up, and it just feels right? One such thought has hit me in the last couple of weeks.....and it's taking force!
So, I attended an Information Session this afternoon, at the University of Melbourne. For the Master of Social Work.

I had actually found inspiration for this, the thought of it, from a blog I stumbled upon on the Randomiser on NaBloPoMo. She's doing what I want to be doing!

This feels like the answer to the 'what do I want to be when I grow up' question. I mean, I am a Social Worker, working as a Psychologist, registered and recognised as neither. I need professional registration of some form. This feels like the way to get that, do some learning again, and jump into a profession that I am, and can be, passionate about.

I was actually hoping that they would talk me out of this big idea today! I told them that, too! But they told me that my background would be advantage for the course, that I would do well given my experience, and clearly they could see 'research student potential' written on me. They were really encouraging, and supportive, and informative - but also real about how this course would work for people in the real world, ie people who have to work to pay the rent, feed themselves, etc. That is refreshing!

Trying to be a Psychologist

I gave up my day of sleeping in and rest today, being Melbourne Cup day, to put in a day reading applications for Assessments Australia. The applications are for aide funding for children with special needs, in the government schools of Victoria.

Tapping into my uni studies in disability and psychological assessment and educational supports, and also all that hands-on related work I have done....I always walk away from this work questioning what I am doing in OR (Occupational Rehabilitation). It always stirs up the 'what do I want to be when I grow up' question.

Earlier this year I had started the Supervision and submitting a Plan to the Board process, to work on being registered as a Psychologist. But I have been disheartened, again, by the rejection of my Plan, with a million little comments for change and modification to my job, duties and projected reading and skill development for the next two years. Plus the talk in psych circles of the increasing difficulties of getting a Plan approved, and the push towards further formal studies.

I feel ill just thinking about more study, and am reminded of this post...and yet, maybe this is the only way. Which is another thing to put in the 'too hard' basket for now!

Reading reports about kids in school, and their quirky idiosyncrasies, like the tendency to seek out corners at Kinda to pee in, or only eating pasta with sauce but cracking it if the sauce is actually on the pasta to start with, or insisting on discussions only about train timetables, reminds me that Educational psych is still a major interest of mine.

But then I have good patches at work, and feeling like I am actually doing something. I know that OR is not for me for the long haul.... Work, and other people's jobs, is nothing something I am passionate about. And yet, helping someone get their lives back together after an injury, or a non-work related illness, or an issue at work, can also be quite amazing.

Hmmm, maybe I need to try a new tact on the 2009 Husband Find, and stop worry about all this. A ha ha, as if....

The Order Of Melbourne

Late nights and stress, and a bit of work, allowed me to finally submit my Supervision Plan for the consideration by the Psychologists Board of Registration Victoria today...and thus, much needed Friday night drinks were sough for the end of the month.

The Order Of Melbourne was drawn out of the pack for the Project, and whilst avoiding the sections of central Melbourne blocked off after a gas leak during the day, Mary and MJ, Bec, Alissa and Lana joined me as we walked to the bar.

Admiring the stuff animals all around, we found a table for a few drinks, before going upstairs for a peek at the much reviewed rooftop. Tiny and cold at this time of year, this would be a great place an a warmer day.

Mary, MJ and I then ducked in next door, to have a drink at Red Love. Much colder in here, because of the balcony, this bar was busy and had many big group functions here. A mix of early 90s music kept up entertained for a drink, before we called it a night.

AIH and The Presets

On Thursday night we finally got to use tickets we bought back in March, to the pre-sale sold out show at Festival Hall. After making it back to the office from my thrid supervision session, and having my Supervision Plan approved by my supervisor, and thus ready to submit, I grabbed Dan and Mary for drinks downstairs at ...if. We were soon joined by Kym, for pre-gig drinks.

Katrina and Kylie finally made it to the big smoke in time for another round of drinks and a snack, before we piled into the car, to make our way to the venue. Arriving just as their was a lull, it was a race to get to our door, searched, padded down, and down to the fllor for a spot for the second act.

Architecture In Helsinki was actually my main reason for getting tickets to this gig, and they didn't disappoint. Opening with a new track, and then an awesome, fun Hold Music was full of energy, and led a packed multi-purpose room Fesival Hall into dacing like crazy!

A couple more new songs, including a slow one dedicated to Bert Newton, lost some of the crowd, before they launced into a cover of Teardrops, then Do The Whirlwind. That Beep had the bulk of the audience moving, the set ending too soon with Heart It Races....can't wait till they do their own shows again!

Bumping into Dianna and Amy in the crowd, our little group were soon surrounded by tall, young lads, eager for the headline act. The massive room went dark, and then with light-show backing, The Presets emerged.

Opening with a massive verson of Talk Like That, the room erupted! Songs like This Boy's In Love, and If I Know You and then Are You The One? My People, and then the encore finisher I Go Hard, I Go Home.

Top night, loud, two great Aussie bands, and I don't think I have danced that much or hard since I got old! Ha!

Psych Supervision Commencement

Yesterday, after years of procrastination since my first attempt, I have met with a new Supervisor to work through starting my Provisional Psychologist process. I have found her through Cairnmillar, and after our first meeting it's all systems go....and I have a lot of work and organising to do!!

Since completing my 4 year Psychology sequence at uni, being my Bachelor and then Honours year, I need to either study more or complete 2 years of supervised practice. This also means that I need to complete and have accepted, a Supervision Plan, with the Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria. This is the hard part. I have had one knocked back, and I have been disheartened by the process. After finally picking it up again last year, I found that my supervisor no longer had capacity.

So now, reaching my longest stint ever at one job, and realising this registration will not only open doors, but will also shore up my professional standing, it's time to tackle it again.

My supervisor has a great and solid background in clinical psychology and teaching, and is picking up more supervisees. She has talked to me about the need for perserverance, and the expected difficulties to get a plan approved. And also the lengths of support she has been providing for this process.

Loads to do. The Plan, the Log Book of all my weekly supervision sessions, and a summary of every psych related things I do.... Recording everything and being organised...not things I am good at!

I feel like I am blogging about it, almost to keep me honest and on it. Scary, starting this massive endeavour again. So much to do!

Strangers and Charlie

The MIFF mini-pass allows you three additional daytime weekday movies, which are all too tempting, and oh such hard work for a full time worker! Monday I ducked out of work for a 'long lunch', and power walked down to the Forum for Strangers.

Not the only moviegoer to rush in as the cinema went dark, and rush off as it ended, I settled in to watch this movie about a Palestinian girl and and Israeli guy, who meet accidentally after switching bags on the subway in Berlin. Amidst the soccer World Cup mayhem, these two develop a sweet bond despite the political background of the unrest and warring going on at home. An interesting platform to look at the Gaza unrest, this movie left a warm glow for the rest of my working day!

Tuesday I worked for Assessments Australia, which I have been doing here and there for some sessional work. Reading applications for the Department of Education's Program for Students with Disabilities, determining eligibility and support needs for children in primary and secondary school here in Victoria, this work reminds of my disability knowledge and interest. A way for me to build my hours during my provisional psychologist registration period (well, that's the plan!), delving into the lives of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Severe Behavioural Disorders, Intellectual Disability or Severe Language Disorder with Critical Educational Needs, gives me respite from the return to work world, and places me within the beautiful State government buildings at Treasury. Some sad stories, about struggling in the classroom, or deterioration, but also a great way to apply all those years of university and work with this population.

I rushed out of work again on Wednesday night to meet Mary at Greater Union for Playing For Charlie. An Aussie movie depicting the struggle of a young carer, looking after both his mother and baby brother, also trying to find his way in the world, and pursue his talent at rugby. Lots of cracks about rugby being for rich kids, this movie was filmed in Melbourne, and has introduced a great new actor in Jared Daperis to the big screen. A full Aussie flavour and passion for sport, disgraced Neighbours actor Shane Connor played the coach with a heart, which made this film. Another recommendation from the Festival!

Home For A Year

Today marks a whole year since I returned from the UK, touching down in Brisbane for a massive summer. Can’t help but take stock today, looking back and thinking – is this, what I am doing now, what I meant when I decided to come back?

In that year, I watched a whole lot of cricket, and then footy, as the seasons changed. I have been homeless for much of that time, and unemployed for a chunk of time too!

Feeling that I have come back to a world where people don’t usually play on a school night, and it seems so much harder to get people to join you for one and every thing you want to do. And I am so far away from anywhere I haven’t been before, for travel! Much harder to just jump country for a week, or a weekend!

But that said, I am getting into a groove with work, and starting to enjoy it. Has it’s ups and downs, quite severe at times, I admit, which has me totally questioning it all. But recently there was an opportunity to return to the UK….and the promise of summer was too alluring. Still working away at getting that Psychologist registration process started – and procrastinating at the long term commitment – but getting closer and closer to just taking the leap and getting on with it.

Seriously chipping away at that debt monster, too, which is just a small dog size now!

Loving my house, and working hard on the social life. Melbourne is such a great city, with it’s vast array of music, sports, and things to do. It’s all good.

Employment

I start a new job tomorrow! After much drama, and second interviewing and chasing references (Thanks Scott!), I was offered the position on Monday, and I start tomorrow!

The position is a six month contract with Konekt, an Australia rehabilitation company. The job is to be one of their Psychologists, which will also let me commence my Probationary period, to work towards proper registration. All good.

So much drama with the job hunt, with a time where I was getting nothing. Then an influx of interviews hit - and I was offered four of these jobs! The decisions of what job to take, or to hold out for, and the task of rejecting offers was all a bit of anxiousness...but all good in the end.

Plus it's in the CBD! Queens Street! This means wearing 'corporate'...whatever that means!! Total frauding!! Hee hee!

So looking forward to getting started with setting up life in Melbourne again. The ideal will be to reconstruct my life in London, with people to see, drinks to be drunk, and places to visit, things to do! The challenge begins!

Money For Nothing

It's been over two months now since I finished work in London, and headed home. Now that the Summer Of Tash and the cricket tour is done and dusted, it must be time to face reality...this means finding a job, somewhere to live, obtaining a car, and setting up life again. All sounds like too much work!!

I have signed up for the dreaded Newstart Allowance, and am now a slave to Centrelink so that I can get a small amount of living asistance while I search for work. And they make you work for it - I have to prove I have made contacts for eight jobs a fortnight!

I am looking for work, but am in that dilemma about whether to get a job to bring up the cash flow, or wait it out until something exciting, and something that I want to do, comes along. Of course, this is also made more difficult by the fact that I don't reall know what I think would be exciting, thus making the task of finding that amazing job just a little more tricky!!

I have had a job interview, and am looking at lining up some locum work in the meantime while I keep searching, and whilst I am waiting to hear from from jobs applied for.

How can I still have the "I don't know what I want to be when I grow up" question, when I will be 30 this year!! Very scary! The problem is, really, too many options! I want to get my Psychologist registration sorted out and completed. But what kind of psych? Will I stick with kids and families? Back to Rehab for good money? Or dabble in the forensic that I have always thought about?? Too many options!

In the meantime, I am reading lots, doing odd jobs that I haven't done for years (I still have my photos from Cambodia to put in an album!!), watching the tennis and cricket...all good. I am more afraid that I won't get bored being a bum, than anything else!!