Social Work Made Accessible: Recent Episodes
Social Work Made Accessible
A Singapore-based Social Work Podcast where we have conversations on our profession, the practice and people's perspectives.
In this episode, we're diving into the takeaways from the Empowered Families Initiative episode! We'll chat about how having aspiration-led conversations can shift our client interactions, imagine what scaling up EFI could look like, and touch on how we can develop new initiatives in our social service ecosystem. Don't miss out—tune in for a short, and hopefully inspiring discussion! As always, you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In this episode, we delve into the innovative approach of The Empowered Families Initiative (EFI). EFI is a developmental program that aims to invest in the plans of Singapore’s lower-income families to improve their life circumstances and their socio-economic position. We invite you to listen in! As always, you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
Links:
https://www.empoweredfamiliesinitiative.com/
https://www.instagram.com/empoweredfamilies.sg/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/empowered-families-initiative/
https://www.facebook.com/empoweredfamiliesinitiative/
In this episode, we explore the use of AI in by role-playing a first session with OpenAI's ChatGPT as both client and social worker. We share our experiences with using the technology and offer our thoughts into its potential benefits and limitations. Join us as we dive into this fascinating topic! As always, you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
Shownotes:
Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dqd0QiaMZw30tWHkR7EDonthFLqknVTT/view?usp=share_link
In this episode, we look back at our journey in Social Work thus far and share about what we would say to our younger selves. We talk about how the definition and expectation of Social Work is fluid, how we might show up better for the families we’re journeying with, and the hopes in discovering a niche. Also, we’re exploring shorter-form conversations! As always, you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In this episode, we are joined by Kwan Jin Yao (https://socialservice.sg/podcast/). We dive into his journey into Singapore’s Civic Society and the ongoing role he sees himself playing in it. We then expand on the practitioner-researcher relationship in the sector, explore how research skill-sets might be developed and what else can be done to translate research into practice. As always you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
Majurity Trusts’ The Messy Truths Podcast ft. Jin Yao: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1n3GFO8xfh7jpr8dgXDQyp?si=24a8a35cd267413f
In this episode, we converse with a community member about how poverty is understood and experienced by those living in poverty. We’re joined by Ruth and Ayu from South Central Community Family Service Centre, to explore how professionals can best come in to support, and our hopes around poverty eradication. As always you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
Note: Community members refer to those receiving services, otherwise also known as clients, service users, or beneficiaries. Ayu is a pseudo name, used to protect her identity.
In Episode 26, Dr. Justin Lee from the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) shares responds to our question on how else we might understand the social service ecosystem. We go beyond the familiar and consider other characterisations and contexts. Tune in! As always, you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In Episode 25, we give a prelude to the upcoming series, as we explore other actors in the social service sector working alongside social workers. Tune in! As always, you can find us on Instagram at @swmadeaccessible.
In Episode 24, we speak with Lewin from Solve n+1, a Community-Based Management Consultancy in Singapore. Innovation is this conversation's core subject matter. We share our perspectives on Innovation in the Social Service Sector and what considerations might we need to have to see more of it occurring. We also consider how the multi-disciplinary space might function and what resources might be harnessed from it. Tune in!
As always, you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In episode 23, we zoom in on the recommendations made by MP Louis Ng during Budget 2022 for Family Service Centres (FSCs). We share our thoughts on his 3 recommendations for FSCs; (1) introducing a cap on cases, providing additional resources for (2) research work and (3) community work. Tune in!
As always, you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In Episode 22, we are joined by Xian Jie and Pei Yi. EP22 Part 2 continues the conversation from Part 1 and explores how power and privilege can affect our practice as Social Workers. Tune in! As always, you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In Episode 22, we are joined by Xian Jie and Pei Yi. EP22 Part 1 sees us sharing our thoughts and reflections on power and privilege. We explore the origins of Xian Jie and Pei Yi’s lenses of power and privilege and what helped refined it over time. Tune in! As always, you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
Last episode, we explored what might being Trauma-Informed look like in Social Work Practice. In this episode, we zoom into supervision as a domain. We are joined by not 2 but 4 practitioners to discuss the topic of trauma-informed supervision and what it may look like in our practice!
Through a fish-bowl method, our guests tap into their personal experiences to share as supervisors on the topic before passing the baton on for our hosts to explore their observations and learnings from the conversation. Tune in! As always, you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In this episode, we sit down with Jessica and Ling Fang to explore what Trauma-Informed Practice in Social Work might look like. Drawing from their years of experience, Jessica and Ling Fang take us through what the principles of Truma-Informed are how they have been applied in practice across multiple levels; not only with those they worked with but themselves. Tune in! As always, you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In this episode, Dr. Alicia Pon returns to answer your questions! We covered questions that would serve as complimentary to EP17. To name a few, Dr. Alicia gives us her take on explaining our roles to children, what we can do to work on the therapeutic relationships with them, and gives her personal reflections on what she has learned from the children she has worked with. As always you can find us on Instagram @swmadeaccessible!
The Association of Play Therapy in Singapore: https://www.apts.org.sg/
In this episode, we explore working with children through the world of play! Join us as we speak with Sook Wai to understand how we can discover our inner child, and use play as an avenue to work with our clients. Tune in! As always, you can find us @swmadeaccessible on Instagram.
In this episode, it is our great pleasure to invite on Dr. Alicia Pon to share with us 3 principles in working with children. Being a seasoned professional, Dr. Alicia takes us through the importance of appreciating the brain development of children, the elements of engaging with them, and the foundations of having a Rogerian Person-Centred approach and how it looks like in practice. Tune in! As always, you can find us @swmadeaccessible on Instagram.
In this episode, we round up the first year of Social Work Made Accessible and introduce our new host, Ming Fang!
We trace the growth and development of SWMA, exmaine the highs and lows over the past year, some misconceptions that listeners may have about the podcast and finally, what we hope to see ahead as we embark into the 2nd year.
We’d also like to thank everyone who have been alongsiders with us in this journey - our fellow listeners, guests and sector professionals! We appreciate you tuning in, and for sharing your nuggets of wisdom with us! As always, you can find us @swmadeaccessible on Instagram.
In this episode, we discuss with Ming Fang, a NUS social work graduate, about our motivations, thoughts and experiences in indirect work experiences in our undergraduate days. Curious to find out our takeaways, considerations and how you may approach indirect practice? Take a listen, and let us know what you think! Reach us via Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In this episode, we share our thoughts on the portrayal of Social Service Professionals in the media with a majority focus on the Singapore landscape. We examine our responses to recent notable videos, suggest reasons for the responses, and potential ways that we can contribute to enhancing the understanding of the Social Work Profession. As always, reach us via Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In this episode, we speak with Lyon, award recipient of the 2020 Promising Social Worker Award (PSWA). We begin our conversation on Lyon’s sharing of her heart for the sector, diving deeper into the topic of professional Identity, and recounting her journey to where she is presently!
Roles are then reversed where Lyon interviews both Rachel and Dominic on how the podcast as an initiative has shaped their professional identities. Now that’s a first for us! As always, reach us via Instagram @swmadeaccessible!
In this episode, we speak with Fareez, seasoned Social Worker that applies Narrative Ideas in practice. Through the episode, we dive into what sparked Fareez’s interest in Narrative Ideas, the common concepts, and how it is applied collaboratively in practice. As always, reach us via instagram @swmadeaccessible!
In this episode, we speak with Farid, an avid advocate of MI. We go through what MI is, the spirit that undergirds the technique, and how it looks like when applied in practice. Reach us via instagram @swmadeaccessible.
As it is near impossible to cover everything about MI in an hour, here are some terms we made reference to that will benefit from further digging into:
PACE, DARN CAT, Transtheoretical Model of Change, Change vs Sustain Talk
In this final episode of 2020, we are joined by Chantel who was in the pioneering batch of Social Work students in SUSS. Chantel shares with us the emphasis of SUSS, the opportunities that is present in the institution, how the Social Work course is structured, and her memorable experiences. Reach us via Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
Click this link to join the SUSS Social Work Students Channel: https://t.me/joinchat/El-QtmIH7soOhc8t
In this episode, Flora, a graduate from NUS joins us to share about her experience. We dive deeper into her personal experience of doing a thesis that one may say is unconventional, what is it like taking a second major, her attitudes towards education and how it determined the way she framed her Social Work Education journey in NUS! Reach us via Instagram @swmadeaccessible!
In this episode, we are joined by Kiev, a graduate from Nanyang Polytechnic Social Work. We talk about the entry process of how he entered into NYP Social Work, his experiences, memorable modules and the takeaways he had! Reach us via instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In this episode, we “close-off” Dominic’s Social Work education (HOORAY!). WE discuss some key takeaways, suggestions, areas for change, and some final words of encouragement to current and future students. Reach us at swmadeaccessible@gmail.com or via Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In this episode, we discuss about our views of meritocracy in the past and the present. Through the conversation, we also observe how dignity is tied to meritocracy and if we ourselves are able to handle the “costs” of not participating in such a system when we are parents. Reach us at swmadeaccessible@gmail.com or via Instagram at @swmadeaccessible. Note: This episode is a continuation from EP05.
Source: Teo, Y. (2018). This is what inequality looks like. Singapore: Ethos Books.
In this episode we discuss the 2018 publication - This is what Inequality looks like. We begin by introducing the difference between poverty and inequality from the book. Next, we discuss what ‘hats’ we put on when we read the book, Singapore narratives we’ve observed and the tensions we have with leisure. Reach us at swmadeaccessible@gmail.com or via Instagram at @swmadeaccessible.
Source: Teo, Y. (2018). This is what inequality looks like. Singapore: Ethos Books.
In this episode, we attempt something new! In response to a listener’s sharing, we present our preliminary thoughts about the conception of society, disequilibrium and equilibrium in society may look like, and respond to some of the listener’s remaining questions. Reach us at swmadeaccessible@gmail.com or via Instagram at @swmadeaccessible.
In this episode, we attempt something new! In response to a listener’s sharing, we present our preliminary thoughts about the conception of society, disequilibrium and equilibrium in society may look like, and respond to some of the listener’s remaining questions. Reach us at swmadeaccessible@gmail.com or via Instagram at @swmadeaccessible.
In this episode, we explore the idea of Social Workers “being nice” and reflect on our personal experiences of fitting into that mould during our time as undergraduates. However, the working world offers the reality of professionalism, responsibilities and challenges while striving toward the common goal of enhancing individual well-being. How do Social Workers maintain their ‘niceness’ in such parameters? Should you wish to share your perspectives toward this, reach us at swmadeaccessible@gmail.com or via Instagram @swmadeaccessible.
In this episode, we share our personal journeys that led us to the social work profession as well as how it ties into our wider conception of humanity. We also share our perspective on the purpose of human relationship in Social Work. What about you? What brought you into the profession? Reach us at swmadeaccessible@gmail.com or via Instagram at @swmadeaccessible.
In the first episode of Social Work Made Accessible, we attempt to define and distinguish social work as a profession. We also compare it with the common misconception that social workers are simply volunteering. How would you describe Social Work to a member of the public? Let us know your thoughts at swmadeaccessible@gmail.com or on Instagram at @swmadeaccessible.
In this episode, we bring you through the thinking behind Social Work Made Accessible. We discuss the question, "why a podcast in the first place?" as well as introduce ourselves, go over how we met and talk about what we hope this podcast will achieve!
If you have podcast ideas or simply want to share a thought with us, email us at swmadeaccessible@gmail.com or drop us a message at @swmadeaccessible on Instagram.