Su-ah (Joy) Jeung completed her student placement with ADS from August to November 2024. Her time with ADS enriched her understanding of community-based social work, building her confidence, skills and commitment to supporting culturally diverse communities.
What drew you to volunteer and/or to do your student placement with ADS?
When asked about my placement preferences at University, I was drawn to the idea of community capacity building and working with vulnerable people. My interest in these areas made my assignment to ADS a pleasant surprise.
What are you studying and where?
I am a third year Bachelor of Social Work student at The University of Sydney.
How has your personal history and/or your cultural background informed your work with ADS?
I resonate with the services and programs provided by ADS due to my personal migration experience. I migrated with my parents to Australia in 2008, and grew up in this country. My personal migration experience has made ADS’ work even more significant and meaningful for me.
What ADS programs have you assisted with and how have you been encouraged to apply your studies and/or expand your skills in your role?
Through ADS, I have been able to observe theories and approaches learned in university be put into practice. ADS has proved themselves as a person-centred organisation, making clients a priority and acknowledging them as the experts of their own lives. In this way, I was able to learn how people in vulnerable situations can be empowered. ADS’ practice of informing communities through educational sessions and the fostering of a sense of belonging amongst new migrants and refugees is a practice that will continue to inform my own social work practice in the future.
What has been the most challenging work you have done with ADS during your time as a volunteer / student?
A personal challenge I faced during my time at ADS was my fear of the unfamiliar and new. This initially was a barrier to my best learning at ADS, however, as ADS continued to throw me into the deep end, I learned to overcome my fears of client interaction and interagency interactions. Instead, I have found myself developed to become more self-assured and confident in unfamiliar atmospheres. I have also gained greater confidence in the knowledge of navigating systems and connecting with new clients and groups.
What strengths have you brought to your role / placement?
A strength I brought to the organisation was an open mind and willingness to learn. As a student at placement, my main role (aside from assisting the caseworkers) was to learn. ADS has given me plenty of opportunities for learning by inviting me to various training sessions that inform the way I approach new migrants and refugees. As a result, I was able to bring greater trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices to clients.
What has been your proudest moment, greatest achievement, deepest connection in your time at ADS?
My role in preparation for the Migrant Information Day (MID) has been a great accomplishment of mine. Organising MID has put me through various challenges and tasks I had not done before. I was placed in charge of creating the floorplan for the stalls, as well as being a key communicator between ADS and other organisations. I was involved in the onsite meetings where I needed to network with other service providers and also direct service providers regarding their stalls and positions for the day. Watching the MID fall into place and run smoothly made me feel proud of the team works, the many meetings and preparation processes which all came together to empower and welcome new migrants and refugees to our community. I felt grateful to have been a part of such a significant day!
‘Be You With Us’ is ADS’ tagline, and it reflects the organisation’s commitment to welcoming and accepting everyone of all ages, gender, culture, sexuality, and religious beliefs. How have you been encouraged to “Be You With Us” during your time with ADS?
The ‘Be You With Us’ tagline has been reflected during my placement through the amount of welcoming I had received from not only the ADS workers, but also by the community members. As a student, I have been involved in many culturally specific community activities. Despite myself being unfamiliar with the cultures and languages of the community groups I have joined, I never felt displaced due to the welcoming environment and kindness demonstrated by the attendees and staff.
What more should the Australian Government be doing to welcome migrants and refugees and to ensure they find the support they need to adjust quickly and well to life in Australia?
I believe that funding organisations should hold more events like Migrant Information Day, which would be helpful in various ways. New migrants and refugees not only received relevant information on services available in the local area, but the event was also a chance for some communities to showcase their cultural practices through dances and music. I observed CALD communities finding a sense of belonging through the sharing of culture and experiences with other attendees. Events like MID are an opportunity for attendees and service providers to network with one another, enhancing the quality of service for CALD communities.
What is your ultimate goal and how has the work you’ve done with ADS equipped you for what you would like to do next?
My ultimate goal during placement was to gain a sense of direction for my future social work endeavours. During placement, I discovered an unexpected liking and passion towards community-based social work. ADS hasn’t limited me to the settlement programs focused on one-on-one client work, but has opened doors for me to explore other areas of social work. Now, I have an idea of what kind of social work field I would like to become involved with in the future, which is community capacity building.
Please finish this sentence: I love ADS because …
…it has impacted my personal and professional development greatly. I learned various skills such as professional writing, database management and facilitating community capacity building programs. On top of this, ADS has allowed me to feel comfortable and confident in the field of social work.