Supervision and the art of questioning

Posted: 31/05/2022

At any given moment in a supervision session, we may find ourselves wondering, ‘What is the most useful question I could ask right now?’ This, however, begs another question: ‘What do we mean by a useful question?’ Questions are fundamental in constructing—and changing—social realities. …Read more

Self-care is Not Self-ish

Posted: 13/05/2019

As a social worker, I have been taught I need to practise self-care as this will assist me to continue to help others. Whilst I agree that self-care does have this function, I feel like the self gets lost in this explanation since the …Read more

How is Strengths-based Supervision Different?

Posted: 13/05/2019

Davys and Beddoe, authors of Best Practice in Professional Supervision: A Guide for the Helping Professions (2010: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London), suggest that strengths-based approaches to supervision are different to an hierarchical and managerial model of supervision where the supervisor is perceived as the ‘expert’, who imparts …Read more

Picture of the Future

Posted: 06/03/2019

Picture this: You are in a room with your extended family. It might be a celebratory lunch, a special birthday, Christmas dinner, or some other festive occasion. And yet, it is not quite as exhilarating, and definitely not like it ‘used’ to be. The …Read more

In Memory of Wayne Patrick McCashen (1950—2018)

Posted: 17/12/2018

It is with great sadness and deep respect that St Luke’s Innovative Resources acknowledges the passing of our friend and colleague, Wayne McCashen.  Wayne died peacefully at home with loved ones by his side on 14 December 2018, aged 68. His beloved family—his partner …Read more

How can optimism skills help people?

Posted: 26/09/2018

The research into the psychology of optimism is based on studies into a condition called ‘learned helplessness’. Psychologists and other researchers have discovered that people or animals show changes in behaviour when they decide they can do nothing to improve or change a situation they find themselves in. These changes include lowered …Read more

Exploring ‘Organisational White Privilege’

Posted: 26/09/2018

The Bendigo Reconciliation Committee has developed a FREE resource for mainstream community organisations to explore the issue of ‘organisational white privilege’. The development of this resource grew out of a Conversation Circle arranged by the Bendigo Reconciliation Committee (BRC) and member agencies during the …Read more

‘What Works?’ goes digital

Posted: 09/04/2018

Organisations that work well draw on a dynamic combination of strengths. What are the strengths of your organisation? How well does your organisation do with strengths such as planning, leadership, fairness, communication, role clarity, and creativity? What about managing change and resolving disputes? Which …Read more

Ethics: A Practitioner’s Life on the Edge

Posted: 28/11/2017

Anyone who works with people faces a barrage of ethical decisions every day. All decisions by human services practitioners are taken within the context of values and ethics. Professional bodies and human service organisations generally have codes of conduct that may include ethical principles …Read more

Going Ahead in Tweaks and Bounds

Posted: 24/05/2017

Central to all models of life coaching is the belief that people have a capacity to change their own lives. This capacity can be diminished or constrained by many factors, both internal and external to the person. Change can come from many different places, …Read more

Reminders for Best Practice

Posted: 29/11/2016

In the hurley-burley of daily work with the ever-present ‘To Do’ list, it can be easy to lose track of the principles and values that guide good practice. Right in the midst of a supervision session, or when we are about to meet with …Read more

Processes and Skills of the Strengths Approach

Posted: 03/10/2016

Building a relationship of trust is the foundation for all respectful and constructive helping processes. This is facilitated by genuine interest in, and validation of, people’s experiences, strengths, capacities and aspirations. It is also facilitated by transparent practices and assisting the person to take …Read more

Supervision and the art of questioning

Posted: 10/06/2016

At any given moment in a supervision session, we may find ourselves wondering, ‘What is the most useful question I could ask right now?’ From a strengths-based, social constructionist perspective, what we perceive as real and important is not compelled by objective conditions but …Read more

Are we making a difference?

Posted: 20/05/2016

This was the ‘Top 8’ topic for a recent session held with Anglicare Vic workers at St Luke’s.  It highlights the importance of self-reflection and how simple, but rich it can be to provide opportunities for social workers to talk about their work, and …Read more

Reflecting on practice… ever poured muesli?

Posted: 11/12/2015

Ever poured muesli into a bowl and realised the good stuff has settled and now lies the bottom of the container? Did you ever see a kid with his/her arm in a cereal box searching for the toy that has inevitably found its way to …Read more