Brooke Walton
Brooke Walton
- Student type: Domestic
- Degree type: Masters
- Degree(s): Master of Social Work
“I grew up by the beach in San Remo (next to Phillip Island) in regional Victoria. I love to be outdoors, gardening and getting into the ocean are essential for my wellbeing. I graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Work with Honours in 2017.
Studying at Monash University allowed me to do a double degree, which was hugely beneficial as the arts degree component of my qualification helps facilitate my practice as a social worker. I majored in sociology and criminology, and I use this knowledge daily as part of my practice.
A highlight of my Arts degree was being able to complete an internship in Indonesia at a women’s education program through the New Colombo Scholarship. This experience enabled me to develop a more in-depth knowledge of the complexities of navigating systems that can impact people’s lives.
I am an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, combining private practice with my part-time role as a mental health practitioner at a regional high school. I was proud of myself when I achieved my Mental Health Accreditation. This enabled me to have more autonomy over my career and to address gaps that I wouldn’t necessarily be able to if I worked for a large organisation.
My current role as a mental health practitioner at a local high school involves a mixture of providing individual mental health assessment and support to students, providing consultation for education and wellbeing staff about how to best support student mental health, and implementing whole school and group-based programs to enhance student wellbeing outcomes. In my private practice, I work alongside clients of all ages experiencing a variety of mental health challenges and I am especially passionate about supporting people as they navigate change, process grief and loss and adjust to major life transitions.
Combing both roles provides for dynamic and multifaceted social work that requires me to be flexible, responsive and good at time management.
By far the most rewarding part of the role is the relationships I develop with clients. Working as a mental health professional in a school means you are also privy to the daily life of students that you are working with or have supported previously. This is a privilege and the little things like having a student pop into my office to share something good that’s happened to them, makes the job incredibly rewarding.
I care deeply about providing high-quality and accessible mental health support to people living in regional Victoria. While that sometimes leads to ethical dilemmas, and the need to always be mindful of the importance of boundaries and confidentiality, it provides me with an incredibly rich and rewarding career.
My advice for any social workers, particularly those working in regional areas, is to get to know your community and don’t work in isolation. Seek out other allied health professionals who work in the same regional area as you and who understand the complexities that this can bring. Prioritise working for an organisation that encourages peer support and critical reflection; this will keep you going when times are tough."
Brooke completed a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Work, which is no longer offered.
If you are considering a career in social work like Brooke, explore the Master of Social Work.