by Mandy Stone
Manager, Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre

For the next three months I have the privilege of mentoring a social work student, Belinda Godhard. Belinda is currently undertaking her Masters of Social Work and as part of her degree she must undertake 28  weeks of placement in a community service agency.

Belinda is not the first student that has been on placement at the Port Douglas
Neighbourhood Centre, nor the first local. Over the years I have acted as an employer referee for my students and am proud to state that all my students have gone on to fulfilling work in the sector.

Our students have a unique opportunity to learn “working with people“ skills at the Neighbourhood Centre as the Centre reflects a microcosm of the world in which social work students will be employed in.

Belinda has only been here for three weeks and already she is spending time with the participants at the lunch and friendship group and of course the volunteers who prepare the great lunches (group work skills).

Belinda has assisted the group to make little dolls to send to children in our sister city in Japan (community education), and she is getting very involved in the Carnivale Float preparations and working with a group of volunteers getting it all together (community development).

She has participated in and assisted in documenting our three year strategic planning process and has sat in on new volunteer interviews, and emergency relief interviews, where clients are agreeable, building her communication skills.  Belinda will soon be involved with playgroup and new parents group as part of her early childhood development role, and also volunteer and staff training.

And if that's not enough, Belinda will learn about fundraising, budgeting , marketing, report writing, crisis intervention, accessing government departments such as Centrelink, Department of Housing, Department of Community Services, other local, regional and statewide support services. Last but not least she is developing skills on how to offer support and assistance and if clients are agreeable may be able to sit in on some counselling sessions.

Having a student is a two way learning opportunity for all staff and volunteers. Students teach us new ways of doing things and constantly challenge our beliefs by asking why, and forcing us to actually consider why we do what we do. Why do we offer this person a particular support process and another person another?

Students bring enthusiasm, usually youth and energy to our organisation.
Students bring me a lot of joy. I am passionate about the community work we undertake at the Neighbourhood Centre and I appreciate the opportunity to share and inspire this passion, hoping that the student will keep this passion all her life like I have and teach and inspire others.

Social work is a lot more than counselling and “helping people and listening to their problems.” Social work is recognising the affects that the social environment can have on the individual and assisting that individual to work on the affects of the environment.

The Neighbourhood Centre is one place where we all can work together towards seeing that all community members have access to the basic human needs - income, shelter, food, and community. We can learn from each other how to treat each other with respect and care.