Hayley Stone

Centrelink Social Worker

The quality of teaching staff and UQ’s 50 years of experience in providing social work education drew Hayley Stone to study the Bachelor of Social Work at The University of Queensland.

“UQ has a reputation for delivering quality social work education. The lecturers were enthusiastic, dedicated, professional educators that inspired good work within the social work field. Karen Healy was excellent in the Direct Practice course, giving and teaching hands-on practical knowledge to use in our work,” she says.

For Hayley, finding a job directly after graduation was easy.

“I gained employment after finishing my degree straight away. I have worked with the organisation I did my fourth year placement with, Community Connections, as well as Centrelink and the Princess Alexander Hospital in the Emergency Department, Trauma High Dependency Unit and Intensive Care Unit.”

Hayley now works as a Call Centre Social Worker with Centrelink in Tweed Heads.

“My responsibilities include supportive counselling, referrals, advocacy, crisis counselling, managing calls Australia-wide, crisis payment assessments for domestic violence and supporting the customer service advisors through training and de-briefing.”

A degree in Social Work at The University of Queensland can open many doors. “I would recommend completing a social work degree as it allows you to apply for a more diverse range of jobs than other human service educations,” Hayley says.

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Social Work is designed to prepare students for the realities of working life.

“It provided me with the skills necessary for front-line work, the networks to liaise and refer to other social workers in other fields, the ability to consult with those networks and the resources to go back to if required in the future” Hayley says.

“The electives were the most enjoyable part of the curriculum as it provided an opportunity to expand interests and develop further expertise in specific areas.”

Hayley says that one of the highlights of her time at The University of Queensland was meeting like-minded people pursuing their goals of working with people to better their circumstances, whilst making life-long friendships along the way.

“I developed networks that have proven invaluable in the work field,” she says.

Hayley advises students considering a Bachelor of Social Work to find what makes them passionate about working in the field.

“Remain committed and be ready to advocate strongly and fight for what you believe in. Grab opportunities with both hands, as social work is a job that can take you anywhere- into many different countries, states, fields, areas and technologies.” 
 

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