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(以下資料僅提供英文版本)

2024 Non-local Placement
SU Xuelei, Undergraduate Year 3
Placement agency: Chinese Cancer & Chronic Illness Society of Victoria

About Chinese Cancer & Chronic Illness Society of Victoria
Chinese Cancer and Chronic Illness Society of Victoria (CCCIS), formerly Chinese Cancer Society of Victoria (CCSV), was founded in 1996 as one of the Cancer Council Victoria’s support groups. The Society was founded by social worker, Dorothy Yiu OAM JP (current Chairperson), in response to a request from the Cancer Council Victoria to address an urgent need for culturally and linguistically appropriate services for Chinese people who have been touched by cancer. Over the years, more cancer survivors and volunteers joined the Society to offer support to others, and to bring back their strength, confidence and hope.

(Extracted from CCCIS’ website)

My three months of work experience have left me wanting more, and I even considered moving to Melbourne. During this time, the CCCIS provided me with numerous learning opportunities, ranging from individual cases to group work, as well as various community education activities. It was a comprehensive experience that allowed me to fully apply the professional knowledge I learned in class and achieve a cycle of reviewing and reinforcing my learning. Although the centre has fewer resources and a smaller scale than other local NGOs, relying mainly on member donations, limited government funding, and volunteers to maintain its operations, the centre's work approach is more flexible. We do not have to deal with cumbersome paperwork, which allows us to focus on the clients and base our work on their needs, truly achieving a person-centred approach.

Due to the large number of clients I interacted with during this time and the diverse nature of the activities I participated in, I accumulated a wealth of experience in communicating with clients, enhancing my observational skills and adaptability, making it easier for me to handle unexpected situations at work. I believe that as a social worker, being able to adapt to changing circumstances is more important than possessing vast knowledge. When entering the field of social work, one realises that sometimes the difficulties and troubles faced by clients cannot be solved, and each person has different ways of addressing their issues. Therefore, there is no fixed intervention method or solution formula; one must have the ability to be flexible and adaptable, which is known as practice wisdom.

Moreover, beyond learning professional knowledge and skills in social work during this period, I also reflected on the meaning of life. The most precious memories at the centre are the life experiences shared by volunteers and clients and the kindness and humanity they radiate. Most of them are elderly individuals over fifty who are experiencing or have experienced cancer and severe disease, they often share their experiences and thoughts with me, bringing new insights for my future development.

Finally, I am very grateful to have the opportunity of overseas placement as it has brought me numerous benefits and inspired me in terms of learning, living, and my outlook on life. I believe that facing an internship alone in an unfamiliar environment is a challenge that can enhance one's ability to deal with difficulties in life. Additionally, observing the lifestyles and working methods of local people can broaden one's horizons and eliminate blind spots that arise from being in a comfort zone.

   

au 2024 01Family-like working environment 1

au 2024 02Family-like working environment 2

au 2024 03Volunteer meals preparation

2019港外實習
吳苡琛,社會工作社會科學碩士課程(兼讀制)二年級
實習機構:Western Health Foundation

引言
我在澳洲醫院完成海外實習是一件愉快的事。雖然我大多在醫院獨自處理個案,我跟隨了超過十名社工,並在他們身上學習到不同評估手法,也能接觸到不同類別的個案。此外,我需要和來自不同種族的醫護人員、專職醫療人士一起工作,也要接觸不同文化背景的案主,當中的評估、紀錄、和督導都需要用英文完成。這個需要運用英語的工作環境是一個特別和值得體驗的經歷。在下文,我將會介紹我的實習機構——Western Health。然後,我會分享我在實習中的在兩個工作崗位的體驗,以及別人給我的支援。最後,我會分享我在實習中所得的反思。

 

Western Health
為了應對墨爾本西部的急速發展、多元文化的社區、和低自評幸福感的需要,Wealth Health 在該地興建了多間醫院。由此推斷,服務對象大多處於低收入,社工提供全面醫療照顧的角色因此變得重要。

 

實習經歷
Western Health 提供了兩個工作崗位給我,分別是普通內科單位、以及婦女與兒童單位。這兩個不同性質的服務讓我大大見識到跨專業同工之間的團隊合作和他們以家庭為本的方式來為病人提供支援的工作。

A. 第一個崗位:普通內科單位
我在這個崗位中最大的得著是社工和不同專業之間的協作。這個單位負責處理面對複雜的醫療問題的成人至長者。在這個單位中,每個專業在提升病人的整體幸福感上都有著不可或缺的貢獻。在跨專業團隊會議中,我可從中觀察到醫護人員、專職醫療人士和社工在解釋和維護病人權益方面的不同角色和互相協調。此外,同工和照顧者之間會舉行家庭會面,化解家人的誤解和爭執。我觀察到不同的專業如何一起舒解家人的顧慮和制訂病人的照顧方案。以上的經歷都展現出高度的團隊合作,是在提升病人生理、心理、社交三方面的健康上的重要基石,亦體現社工在團隊中作為協調者的角色。這些經驗是非常珍貴的。

B. 第二個崗位:婦女與兒童單位
在這個崗位,我體驗到社工在家庭和機構中保護病人和防止他們被忽略的工作。這個單位會接收有複雜問題的新生嬰兒至青少年,當中包括有物質濫用問題的懷孕母親、早產嬰兒、曾經試圖自殺的青少年等。從中,我可以觀察到社工在幫助病人之外還會支援其家人以解決問題。他們也會採取兒童保護措施來保護新生嬰兒和兒童,並以家庭團聚為目標。再者,為防止失去轉介的個案,我會和社工在移交會議中檢討目前的個案,並尋找潛在的個案,而我也會約見有需要的懷孕母親,及早提供支援。這些經驗展示了作為醫務社工的艱辛,他們在救助面臨危機的家庭方面,實在功不可沒。

 

別人的支持
在實習期間遇上障礙是常見的事。中文大學、Western Health、墨爾本大學和當地的國際生都曾經幫助過我。中大提供了一個獲取海外工作經驗的寶貴機會,也在我有需要的時候幫助我。其次,Western Health的教育講座透過持續學習和臨床督導增加了我

的實務經驗。第三,墨爾本大學提供的綜合研討會和理論為主的督導有助我認識澳洲的政策和背景。最後,我和其他的國際生會互相分享自己的顧慮和一起解決困難,成為在我背後的支援。所以,在完成實習的過程中,我從不孤單。

 

反思
社會工作一個需要不斷反思的專業。完成實習後,作為一個在澳洲實習的醫務社工和即將成為社工的學生,我有幾點反思。

A. 醫務社工:在限制下工作
醫院的醫務社工是受到限制的;醫院的政策過於鼓勵病人早日出院,但回家對他們來說未必安全。因此,社工有責任保護病人的權益。雖然社工的角色會被環境限制,但也要嘗試為案主爭取權益和與其他持分者之間取得平衡。

B. 澳洲的社工:接觸來自多元文化的人士
在接觸澳洲的新移民或難民的時候,保持文化意識是重要的一課。基於他們的弱勢狀況和對醫療系統的不信任,他們的健康狀況並不理想。在開始之先,詢問他們何時來到澳洲是十分重要的。這樣可以正常化他們的移民身分,讓他們感受到我們的同理心,使我們可以評估他們適應新環境和社區參與的程度。

C. 即將成為社工:自我關顧
要成為一個社工,自我關顧是非常重要的。在幫助案主的時候,我們有時會忽略自己的需要。但是,如果我們沒有抒發自己的壓力,我們最終可能會過勞,無法再幫助案主。事實上,食早餐和做運動便已經是自我關懷。因此,愛自己是必須的,自我關懷並不自私。

 

總結
總括而言,Western Health提供了住院服務來滿足區內健康狀況欠佳的需要。完成在普通內科單位以及婦女與兒童單位的兩個工作崗位後,我得到與多專業人士合作和以家庭為本來幫助案主的經驗。事實上,在我面對困難時,我得到的幫助使我並沒有為海外實習擔心過。而且,我也反思到自己作為醫務社工和澳洲的社工時可如何在限制中工作和接觸不同文化的人。最後,自我關顧並不是自私的,因為它能提升我成為社工的能力,使我可以持續幫助案主。

我在此祝福每位學生在實習時都能好好照顧自己和在自我反思中有所得著。

   

au 01
來自墨爾本大學的督導主管

au 02在普通內科單位的工作團隊

au 03
做匯報的學生

au 04
在婦女及兒童單位的工作團隊

au 05參加教育講座的學生