Hi all,
I have applied for a social workers post in Darwin, Australia and am waiting on the interview. Could anyone give me tips on interview questions they may ask?
Also, i am only 19 qualified, will this be a barrier to gaining a post in oz? I know in most parts of oz the minimum of 2 years cp is required but the northern territory don't appear to request this.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Hi,
Whats your view, and give examples on where Aboriginal culture and laws clashes with white european culture and laws. How will you resolve this to maintain working relationships.
Considering your not from Australia and will be new to the country and possibly have little or no awareness of the Aborginal culture or Australians for that fact. Are you going to engage in studying Aborginal culture? Nothing worse as a social worker than not being respectful of cultures not your own, especially coming from the culture which usurped the indigenous people then made it difficult for them to integrate bringing disease, alcohol, and laws that conflicted with their own. Social work has some bad history ie white Europeans forcibly removing Aboriginal children during the fifties. Only in the last 10 years have the Australian government apologised for that episode of horendous social engineering - I might be wrong but i dont think the British government have yet... Are you aware of these facts and how that might inflence the views of those you work with.
Very humid in Dawin like Singapore 98% humididty- Dawin unlike other cities Sydney, Adelaide or Perth is more remote and may not have the same access to resources that bigger cities have-how will you adjust your working practice? Can you cope/adapt and continue to practice to a high standard with high humidiy for 10 months of the year- or the heat?
Rural social work is different and requires a different set of skills from working in the city. what do you think you will need? Are you doing rural social work in Northern Territories or operating in Darwin.?
As long as the recruitment drive accepts your degree credentials and it meets immigration controls as far as points accrued for a degree in a occupation Australia is trying to fill then you should be fine. Sounds like you have your resilience skills, motivation, and enthusiam, to practice and anywhere you go those are useful tools to have.
Regards
Bagheera
Perhaps not referring to it as 'oz' would help! Perhaps not expecting any real experience says something about their desperation! Ask any Australian social workers why they chose to work in the UK.
Thank you Rupert for your most helpful reply!!!!!
Annielamb: Thank you Rupert for your most helpful reply!!!!!
No 'Shirack' - I'm sure that she meant exactly what she said!
Shirak and Rupert - I posted this thread in the hope of getting a little advice not to b ridiculed! Thank u, hope ur both feeling smug and superior!
Annielamb: Shirak and Rupert - I posted this thread in the hope of getting a little advice not to b ridiculed! Thank u, hope ur both feeling smug and superior!
Annielamb:Sorry Shirack - after reading Rupert's nasty little reply I assumed you were also being derogatory. My apologies!
Just make sure you do not mention the cricket!
Hope that clears things up for our less able colleagues.
Hi Annielamb,
I moved to Darwin last year through what i imagine will be a similar process for you. One of the most important things to have knowledge of, has to be the Indigenous culture. With over 70000 indigenous people in the NT it is important to recognise the implications of their culture and the Stolen Generation.
The interview itself was not too hard but i had researched prior to the interview. If you look on the NT government website you may get some information on local initiatives.
Social Work in the NT is both challenging and rewarding, i can honestly say it is not what i expected and so far it has been an amazing experience.
I hope this helps.
Sam
Surely not referring to 'oab' above although Australian cricket does seem to be resurgent.
Rupert M: Surely not referring to 'oab' above although Australian cricket does seem to be resurgent.
Well thats partly because they are not demoralised by the English fans singing ( To the tune of "He's got the whole world in his hands) ;
We get three dollars; to the pound
We get three dollars ( etc)
...any more!
( Which is relevant as well as humorous, because the exchange rate has seriously affected the value of whatever assets you may be taking with you, especially if you are selling up and buying out a house out there. A million bucks was only £333,000 four years ago, now its nearly £700,000)
Hello Annielamb,
I also have applied for this and awaiting interview; i have been looking for opportunities like this for a year now and suddenly it came...I have worked in C&F's teams for 4 years but only 6months in CP.
Anyway, I had a telephone interview for a senior prac post - i knew i wasn't at that level but just wanted the interview experience. Anyhow I didn't get that one (was 15months ago) but this is what i remember them asking:-
- What 3 words would your friends say about you? (really odd q - wasn't expecting this at all)
- How would you deal with a mother who said to you in confidence that her fella was hitting her?
- What would you do if you saw your colleagues getting really behind on profile notes?
- Tell me of a time when you did something exceptional at work? They said not the usual working 50 hours, staying behind, etc. This i really struggled with!! As its pretty hard to do anything exceptional in CS's these days!
- Why do you want to come to Australia?
- Where do you need to improve?
- What would you do if you weren't getting on with your manager ( a lot of the qs were really negative and i felt like it may have been a negative culture)
- What would you do if the TM was off sick and you were the most senior in the office?
- Tell me of a time when something went wrong on your caseload?
Thats all i can remember for now....happy to brainstorm with you...i have been researching all the visas and all sorts for a year so i know a lot.
But if you are awaiting interview, that means they know your age so only barrier now should be your interview? Actually your age is probably going better for you rather than mine (33) as they could get you there on a 18-30 visa and just offer you a 3 month contract for starts. Whereas with me i would be the riskier £6000 visa where they would strap me down for 2years. So actually you are in better position...
Did you look at applying elsewhere? The above interview was for melbourne. Have you been to Aus? I visited twice last year which included Darwin. Yeah it is really humid and apparently thats where previous uk people have left. However, I love the humidity which is why i go to the Far East etc. Australia is like really really expensive aswell (except petrol), so if you are offered make sure they know you know this (in terms of bartering a salary).
Hi Jojo,
Thanks for the reply!! That's really helpful!
My original post was misleading, I am 19 months in post, I'm 34 years old so I too, would require the 457 visa. I've been in a c+f team for 19 months, 10 months cp trainined. Did you do the 4 year degree? I think with the 4 year degree they don't look for the same amount of work experience - fingers crossed! Did you apply through an agency? I applied through Reed Healthcare, it was the consultant there who told me I should get an interview but not heard anything for a few weeks now. I've also applied to Western Austraila - I applied direct to them. Have a look at their website. A very helpful guy from this website directed me towards reading material to help prepare me for working with the aborigine culture 'bringing them home' and 'sacred little children'.
I was in Australia for a month over Christmas and New Year, 3 weeks in Sydney and 1 week in Cairns. I think the weather in Cairns is similar to that of Darwin so I should find it manageable. I absolutely adored Cairns, Sydney was amazing too but Cairns took my breath away!
It would be good to keep in touch and support each other I any way we can!
Thanks again for the helpful reply n have a good day
Hello,
Ah yeah I did wonder after posting how at 19 you had a degree; wondered if there was a new scheme. Ah I did a 3yr psychology degree and 2yr masters which should see me through. Yeah i went through Sugarman; they told me last week that NT are making up a panel over next two weeks...i guess it will be the same time. Yes i have applied to WA, well just finished the 4 questions so sending it tonight. I'm not sure where to put desired locations though? I want to be in a warm place so won't go to the south coast of the state.
Ah yeah sounds like you are on the same life pathway as me, I went twice last year, but haven't been to WA so don't know what its like.
Ah Sam, what kind of questions did they ask then? Anything like mine put above? In what way is it different? Do you get any support or do you just kinda get on with it?
My friend worked for Melbourne for 3months and said it was extremely tough, much tougher than here....don't know how anywhere can get much tougher than working in assessment team in CS's these days???
Thanks, Jo
I'm currently working in CP in Australia, I'm in Victoria rather than the Northern Territory. Each state has it's own laws and policies so nothing is standard across Australia as a whole so my experiences may be very different to others who are here and practising in other states.
Surprisingly at interview I was asked nothing about my understanding or knowledge or Aboriginal Culture. A lot of the questions I was asked were similar to UK interviews and I was told to give all of my interview answers as if I was working under UK policy and legislation.
The laws/systems/policies and practices here, in my opinion, are far behind those in the UK. I am astounded at some of the things that happen here and have to challenge other professionals practice almost on a daily basis. Also you don't need to have done ANY Social Work training to be a Child Protection Worker here, therefore, you may find yourself working alongside people who have never studied child development, trauma, anti-oppressive practice etc
Hi Annielamb, I am in a similar position to you; I have applied for a position in Darwin through Sugarman and I am also awaiting an interview date. I have been researching Darwin and have read a lot about the stolen generations and bringing them home reports.
Please stay in touch and let me know how you get on.
Ah ok Lychee, it must be NT not being very quick about organising the interview then as I haven't heard for a while. Did you apply to WA?
I think you can still apply to WA as it looks like an open pool.
Aussies tend to be flexible like this ;-)
How can you have a full social work qualification at just 19? By the time you would have finished a 3 year degree programme you would have been at least 21 and only then would you be starting your postgrad in social work which would take you 2 years, so you would be at least 23 or 24 by the time you got your CQSW. Many graduates cannot get onto post grad sw courses unles they have also gained a lot of experience in relevant work which in your case would had to have been during the vacations, otherwise many take a year out after graduation working in the voluntary sector while applying for sw courses. My point is that it is rare even for social workers to qualify at 22 so I cannot see how you are fully qualified at 19, unless you meant 29?
On the point of working down under you will find that it is much more difficult to get a job in the populated areas like Sydney but much easier in the outback as few Australians never mind Europeans want to work and live there. I knew somebody who worked in the Northern territories and they felt very lonely and isolated and could not wait to get back to the lovely, crowded,damp cool climes of the UK! Perhaps you have spent time there? I would not chance it unless you know what you will be going to.
newry jim:How can you have a full social work qualification at just 19? By the time you would have finished a 3 year degree programme you would have been at least 21 and only then would you be starting your postgrad in social work which would take you 2 years, so you would be at least 23 or 24 by the time you got your CQSW. Many graduates cannot get onto post grad sw courses unles they have also gained a lot of experience in relevant work which in your case would had to have been during the vacations, otherwise many take a year out after graduation working in the voluntary sector while applying for sw courses. My point is that it is rare even for social workers to qualify at 22 so I cannot see how you are fully qualified at 19, unless you meant 29?
O.P has already clarified above that they are 19 months into their first post, not 19 years old.
newry jim: How can you have a full social work qualification at just 19? By the time you would have finished a 3 year degree programme you would have been at least 21 and only then would you be starting your postgrad in social work which would take you 2 years, so you would be at least 23 or 24 by the time you got your CQSW. Many graduates cannot get onto post grad sw courses unles they have also gained a lot of experience in relevant work which in your case would had to have been during the vacations, otherwise many take a year out after graduation working in the voluntary sector while applying for sw courses. My point is that it is rare even for social workers to qualify at 22 so I cannot see how you are fully qualified at 19, unless you meant 29? On the point of working down under you will find that it is much more difficult to get a job in the populated areas like Sydney but much easier in the outback as few Australians never mind Europeans want to work and live there. I knew somebody who worked in the Northern territories and they felt very lonely and isolated and could not wait to get back to the lovely, crowded,damp cool climes of the UK! Perhaps you have spent time there? I would not chance it unless you know what you will be going to.
??????????
OP clearly states that shes 34 and been in post for 19 months
Yeah not a lot of UK people like the humidity but I love it and have been to Darwin. Of course holidays and working are different but personally for me I have poor circulation and really really struggle in UK...even in Summer!! Planes are like taxis out there.
But yeah, not for the faint hearted...however, even those in Sydney/Brisbane do return just because they miss UK/family rather than it being a remote Australia thing.
Depends also I guess whether its just one individual settling or trying to settle a whole family which as pros and cons of both.
Sorry my hand slipped mid sentence!!!
Yes Annielamb I have also applied for WA too, I have an interview next week, they are interveiwing via Skype!
Hi jojobuesox,
Have you also applied for a position in northern terroritory? If so, we could stay in touch and share ideas if you like. ( sorry if my spelling is bad!)
Hi Lychee,
Yes i applied for NT back in December....they said they wanted people to be out in January...so don't know whats going on there? Have you heard about an interview??
xx
Which agency are you with for the NT, Lychee? x
Sugarman.
Hi I also applied in December, I am awaiting an interview date too. They told me interviews would be late Feb, early March. I' m getting anxious now as I thought I would have heard by now.!?
Ah yeah, I am Sugarman too; I just heard that they were coming over to London in March... but nothing firmer as yet. Its kinda delaying me a bit as i wanted to go out on tourist visa to travel a bit before working. But hey ho...
How much CP have you done Lychee?
Sounds like some of you are being well and truly strung along by the agencies.
I have been doing CP for five years. How about you?
Hey Lychee,
I had it confirmed last night about an interview date for March.Have you heard? Ah yeah I have worked 4 years across teams (voluntarily where need arose).
Hi jojobluesox,
hope you are well. I had it confirmed also!!! I have been told that the date is provisional at the moment and I am waiting clarification, march 19th i think. Have you been told that is the confirmed date? Have you been asked to go to the offices before that date also?
Feeling very excited but also very nervous!!!!!
Have you had an interview for WA yet?