Social worker Sreejith (Jay) Sreekumar has a deep passion for learning. With two master’s degrees in social work, and postgraduate diplomas in women and child development and disability management under his belt, Jay is currently studying health service management in addition to working full-time as a grade three social worker.

“I might be one of those people who want to study forever.”

Jay first started his working life in fashion before following the need for a career where he felt he could contribute more to society.  He initially completed a social work degree in his home country of India and then moved to Australia to pursue a Master of Social Work at Monash University. Looking for a contemporary learning experience where he could explore topics that he was passionate about, Jay chose Monash based on the opportunities offered for self-directed learning and the University’s reputation.

“I’m proud to say that I’m a Monash alumnus. I’m thankful for the experiences I had at Monash, especially the excellent mentoring and guidance from my lecturers - Professor Philip Mendes and Dr Samone McCurdy. I was fortunate to co-author a research project with them, which was published.”

Jay knew early on, that he wanted to practice within a health service setting. His first social work role was as a grade one practitioner at West Wimmera Health Service. Moving from Geelong to Nhill, Jay admits he had some ‘country shock’ at first but that the health service played a huge role in helping him build local knowledge and support his transition.

“It took a while to develop and get a sense of what I’m trying to do, but once I realised the immense scope of opportunities, I haven’t looked back.”

Jay has now worked at West Wimmera Health Service for over six years, progressing from a grade one to a grade two social worker, where he is currently taking on additional duties as a lead practitioner. He is proud to be part of the rural health workforce and feels valued by his adopted community.

“Rural settings have a scarcity of skilled hands - there’s always a need for skilled professionals. Compared to an urban setting, you are valued more in a rural setting. On the other side, the community might not be well aware of what your role stands for or social work practice. There’s a place for you to make people aware and what you can offer to them. I’ve felt like I’ve always had high visibility here and am part of a tight-knit community.”

Jay acknowledges that working rurally also comes with its challenges, such as staff shortages, fewer resources and health inequities, but that navigating these helps refine a practitioner’s skills.

“You need to be aware of those health inequities to be able to provide solutions and interventions when they are required.  Once you are aware that you have to provide this outcome with these particular resources, it’s a very challenging task, and once you achieve that, you get a sense of fulfilment.”

Reflective practice and supportive supervisors are key to success, according to Jay, when practising rurally.

“I think a person may need to actively engage in reflective practice, they need to seek ongoing supervision or else there is a serious possibility of burnout. I’m not mentioning this to scare people who may be looking into rural practice, but just to be realistic. I’m of the belief that if I could do it, anyone else could.”

Jay’s advice for social worker graduates moving rurally is self-preparation, particularly understanding the unique demographics and needs of the local region.

“Every community is unique - the way the community functions, the way it looks at life and the common occupations. You need to start preparing and know your community, it will help guide and inform your practice.”

While Jay hopes to eventually move into roles where he can practise his leadership and management skills, his focus is making a difference in his community.

“These days, I have goals but I don’t plan my career in a particular way. It’s about trying to achieve what I can. I’m happy with small but steady steps towards trying to find that better self and being a better practitioner. It’s an ongoing learning process.”

Learn more about the Master of Social Work