"When I finished my Bachelor of Social Work in 1998, I got the job I wanted straight away with a domestic violence service in the Department of Health and Human Services. The experience I gained here was invaluable in embedding a commitment to theory and practice.
"I then moved onto what still remains my most fulfilling and favourite job, as a therapeutic counsellor/educator for a sexual assault support service. These years saw the greatest development of my social work values, knowledge and skills, the legacy of which has been a commitment to ethical and accountable anti-oppressive practice.
"In 2003, I moved to London where I lived and worked for six years. I held a range of social work and social work management positions, but mainly worked with unaccompanied asylum seeking children and young people.
"I then returned to Australia and co-ordinated a domestic violence counselling service. This re-motivated me to focus more on community development principles in social work and prevention projects.
"I am now in Cambodia building the social work capacity of an organisation that supports orphaned, homeless and trafficked children and young people."