Co-Convener:
Shirley Witko
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Social Work Department, 1st Floor E Block, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, WA 6009
Phone (08) 6457 4666
Fax (08) 6457 4906
(08) 9346 4906
Co-Convener:
Iris Barten
Cirqol (private practice)
7 Hampden Rd, Nedlands, WA 6009
(08) 9386 1256, 0497918689
(08) 9386 1256
Intro:
WA social workers are pleased to be an active part of OSWA. There is a group of 10-14 members who meet monthly over breakfast and new attendees are always welcome. These members work across Perth’s tertiary hospitals, with adults and children, in private hospitals, other health organisations and private practice. These meetings provide an avenue for; -clinical and collegial support -to learn about useful and innovative resources, theoretical frameworks and projects -peer case discussion (with often shared patients) -to coordinate & deliver professional development opportunities -to conduct shared research This in turn improves psychosocial care for WA cancer patients and professional support and self-care for WA social workers in this field.
We see one of our greatest challenges and priorities is to engage and support rural and remote social workers who are often working in isolation. Another of our great challenges is working within the current FTE structure of Oncology and some Palliative Care social workers. For some social workers, this clinical specialty is combined with other clinical areas or they are rotated between disciplines. Consequently some social workers are not given the opportunity to specialise their skills and knowledge and may not feel sufficiently clinically supported.
Membership criteria: Open to all social workers in WA with an interest in oncology social work practice.
Fees: While there are no separate fees for the state group, all members of WA are financial members of OSWA ($40 annually).
Upcoming social/networking opportunities:
Monthly breakfast meetings are a networking opportunity in themselves.
Upcoming state group events:
- The WA Cancer and Palliative Care Network have a Psycho-social Collaborative Group which meets quarterly to network, share updates on latest and innovative activities or programs and to contribute to quality initiatives focussed on improving psychosocial care for the state’s cancer patients. This group is led by Dr Lisa Miller and is attended by various health professionals and organisations e.g. social work, clinical psychology, psychiatry, Canteen, Cancer Council, Breast Cancer Care WA, Carers WA etc. For further information contact the administrator Sharon Mears-Pugl ( ua.vo1544443068g.aw.1544443068htlae1544443068h@lgu1544443068p-sra1544443068em1544443068)
- The WA Clinical Oncology Group (WACOG) runs a psycho-oncology journal club which meets quarterly at the Cancer Council’s Crawford Lodge. Attendees take turns to present an article of their choice for the group’s discussion. Prior to these meetings a research meeting is also held sharing research ideas and activities and supporting each other with the process. Contact Paul Katris ( ua.ns1544443068a.awr1544443068ecnac1544443068@sirt1544443068akp1544443068) for further information.
Professional Development:
A 2 hour interactive workshop titled ‘What is effective supervision; experiences from Oncology Social Workers WA’ will be run mid 2016, building on the workshop delivered at the 2015 OSWA national conference. It will explore what makes supervision effective, looking at the advantages and disadvantages of different styles of supervision. It will also discuss adapting supervision to learning styles and the use of reflective tools, as well as including data from a survey looking at national Oncology Social Worker’s experiences of supervision. Open to any social workers with an interest in supervision, including students. Information will be distributed soon.
