Canada

I truly treasure having had the non-local placement at Community Family Services of Ontario (CFSO) during this summer. Over these three months, through both my placement at CFSO and my life experiences in Toronto, I have managed to achieve significant personal growth not just from a social work perspective but also as a human being. This transformative experience has deeply influenced my personal and professional development in several ways.

Firstly, I gained a deeper understanding of myself during this period. My colleagues at CFSO were incredibly supportive and provided extensive training, sharing their personal experiences as social workers and the various challenges they faced. One remarkable moment stands out in my memory: I shared my own difficulties with a colleague, who then guided me through a process of self-reflection, helping me to uncover the underlying reasons behind my feelings. As humans, we experience a wide range of emotions, but we often do not fully understand them. As social workers who encounter our clients' emotions daily, it is crucial that we also listen to and understand our own feelings first in order to effectively handle clients' emotions and help them understand themselves better. This self-reflection has been invaluable, allowing me to empathize more deeply with my clients and reinforcing the importance of emotional awareness in our work.

Secondly, the placement provided me with invaluable opportunities to connect with clients. Applying my counselling skills in real-world settings was both a challenging and rewarding experience. My supervisor allowed me to exercise flexibility within my role, enabling me to strengthen my skills and try various approaches I had learned. These real-life practices not only enhanced my professional capabilities but also instilled a sense of confidence in my ability to assist clients effectively. I witnessed first-hand impact of different counselling techniques and adapted them based on the unique needs of each client, reinforcing the dynamic nature of social work. Every client interaction helped me build a nuanced understanding of how to tailor my approach to meet their individual needs.

Lastly, the experience facilitated a profound connection with the broader community. Living and working in Toronto allowed me to gain an understanding of the social welfare system of another country. We visited different agencies focusing on mental health, elderly care, and child protection, which enabled me to appreciate their varied approaches and services. By communicating with professionals in these settings, I gained insights from their working environments, challenges, and methodologies. For instance, the policies in Ontario related to child protection are more fully developed compared to those in Hong Kong. Although my immediate actions may be limited, the knowledge and perspectives I gained from Toronto provide me with a new outlook on the social welfare system. In the future, we will be better equipped to observe service gaps and tackle them as social workers. Moreover, this exposure broadened my perspective and underscored the importance of building collaboration and networks within the community, which is vital for providing holistic support to those in need.

In conclusion, the insights I gained through this placement were not just theoretical but practical and tangible. By participating in different community activities and programmes, I saw how interconnected our work is with the everyday lives of people in these communities. I observed how small, consistent efforts by social workers can significantly impact the wellbeing of clients over time.

Agency visit_HongFok

Agency visit_TCCSA (多華會)

Community booth

Last day at CFSO

This summer, I was placed in MOSAIC, an organization located in Vancouver, Canada, which works to empower newcomers. I work with the Moving Ahead Program, which provides settlement services for refugee newcomers with high needs.

The experience of having a placement in Vancouver was very valuable and special. We experienced many unexpected and unique characteristics that ignited our reflection on the situation of social services and policies in Vancouver and Hong Kong. With the guidance of supervisors and discussions with field mates, we learned a lot about the differences between the two cities.

The agency and colleagues were very supportive and flexible. As long as you were interested, the agency and the supervisor would always encourage you to increase your exposure. When I was interested in the services of other service units under MOSAIC, an opportunity was always there for me to dig deeper. For example, I joined as an assistant and observer in an LGBTQ+ support group held by another team. Colleagues and supervisors always invited us to join various activities to widen our horizons for more learning and exposure in different roles. Staff trainings, field trips, workshops, case conferences, team meetings and the university research conference are just a few of the activities available. In Vancouver, practicum students can be present at case managers’ case interviews, called shadowing, to observe case managers’ use of skills. In Hong Kong, students could only discuss the case interview with colleagues due to confidentiality issues and policy. It is, indeed, a special opportunity to shadow case managers for observation. By joining programs and case interviews led by different colleagues, I also experienced different kinds of working styles, which started my exploration into different possibilities in service delivery.

One special lesson I learned is about awareness and obligation as a global citizen. In MOSAIC, you can meet colleagues from many different counties. We said it was like a mini United Nations, and it was true! Here, I have met people I never imagined I could meet, as we are from different parts of the world. Working with them, my ideas and horizons about the world have widened. I now know more about Middle-Eastern and African countries that I only had a vague idea about before. In addition, affected by the social movement in Hong Kong this past summer, I understand more about the importance of international attention and action to different issues. Thus, I developed an awareness of my obligation as an international citizen to pay more attention to international issues such as wars, fighting for freedom and democracy, the rise of feminism and so on. This enlightenment cannot be started without interacting with refugees and colleagues from multi-cultural backgrounds. I do treasure this experience.

All in all, the nonlocal placement experience is a unique one that has assisted my professional and personal growth as a social worker and international citizen. The atmosphere in Canadian society is inclusive, respectful and open, and worth experiencing. Coming to Canada also means that you can perceive your hometown, Hong Kong, from a new perspective. Needless to say, it is beneficial for our reflection and learning. I do recommend students to take part in a non-local placement to have a unique learning experience!

Art work drawn by group members

Burnaby Pride Festival

Joining MOSAIC Staff retreat

Sunset in Victoria

Watching firework competition in Vancouver