“I chose social work because I wanted a career that could help the misunderstood young people in our area.

One of my key motivators in studying social work was that as a downhill mountain bike racer, I used to train for jumps at our local BMX jumps in Orbost. There was a group of kids who used to hang out there that all came from complex family backgrounds. They had been labelled as problem children in our local newspaper, with much community outrage about their behaviour and lack of supervision. I was able to engage with them easily and saw a different side of them that was very workable if they received the right support. That’s what drew me to social work. I chose Monash so I could study off campus full time, but still had easier access to the campus from Gippsland than any other university. I completed my Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) in 2014.

In August 2021, I started work as a Family Services Specialist Disability Practitioner at Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, where I still work currently. My role involves a combination of case management for families where there is a person with a very complex disability, or multiple family members with disabilities. The other part of the role is supporting other family services staff across multiple agencies in our area to build their capacity for working with families with disability, and navigating the NDIS and other disability support networks.

I have lived in Gippsland most of my life. I moved to East Gippsland as a young adult to pursue a career in natural resource management and have never left. We have world-class mountain bike trails, the Gippsland Lakes and easy to access high country for skiing, camping and four wheel driving. Career-wise, I have been able to develop a really good reputation and have been offered many career opportunities. Essentially, I have been able to choose where I want to work and really pursue my own interests, which is great. There are so many benefits to living and working regionally, and I think more graduates should give it a go. Recruitment can be really challenging, and the opportunities regionally are endless.

My advice for anyone looking for a career in social work in a rural area would be to be brave and give it a go. There are so many opportunities to grow your career very quickly in a rural setting. Make sure you form connections in the communities you work in through sports, hobbies, young professionals networks, etc. The biggest challenge for professionals moving here is finding a social network. There are plenty of opportunities if you look for them though, especially if you are willing to try new things that are staple activities in the area you are moving to.

The most important achievements to me in my role are nothing big and flashy. They are the small changes you can help an individual or family make, some of which are truly life changing. I am very proud of being a truly trauma-informed practitioner and feel privileged to have been the person that people trust enough to engage in some really effective work.”

Jacinta completed a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), which is no longer offered.  
If you are considering a career in social work like Jacinta, explore the Master of Social Work.

Find out more about the Master of Social Work