If you have ever sought a career that empowers you to make a tangible difference in hospitals, schools, or global communities, social work is a powerful path. Built on the core values of compassion, resilience, and advocacy, this field is dedicated to the belief that meaningful change begins with human connection.
To explore the evolving importance of the social work profession, Online Result interviewed Professor Mim Fox, Head of Social Work at the University of Wollongong. A renowned academic, researcher, and podcaster, Professor Fox has dedicated her career to understanding how social workers support vulnerable populations through crises, including poverty, grief, and social inequality.
Well-known for the Social Work Stories Podcast and her influential leadership in Australian social work education, Mim shares her journey, the core competencies students gain, and the invaluable perspective international students bring to the field.
Key insights from our interview with Professor Mim Fox:
- Professor Mim Fox, Head of Social Work at the University of Wollongong, explains how the field goes far beyond charity or crisis response.
- It’s about understanding people, culture, and inequality, and learning to create positive change in practical, respectful ways.
- In Australia, students train through 1,000 hours of real-world placements, learning to work in hospitals, schools, and communities.
- They also explore Indigenous perspectives through decolonised education practices like yarning circles.
- For international students, this mix of theory, reflection, and practice makes studying social work both deeply personal and globally relevant.
Finding purpose: How it all began
Q: What initially inspired your interest in the social work field?
A (Mim Fox): Growing up, I was deeply moved by global crises, such as famine and conflict. Events like the Rwandan genocide sparked my interest in humanitarian efforts in Africa and developing nations. I viewed social work as a direct pathway to effecting change, though I quickly realized the discipline’s scope was far more multifaceted than my initial understanding.
Q: Did your journey begin with community volunteering?
A: Yes, I was active in local volunteering throughout high school. However, my real transition occurred during university through field placements. These hands-on opportunities in agencies revealed that social work is inherently about human-centered change. I learned that social workers provide essential support for complex challenges—ranging from domestic violence, systemic poverty, and disability to the unique impacts of navigating life as a First Nations person in a post-colonial environment.
Q: Was there a defining personal experience that solidified your career path?
A: My commitment didn't stem from one specific event. However, as a young social worker, I supported a close friend through the loss of her mother. Being present during that tragedy underscored how critical it is to offer professional support to those dealing with grief.
This realization led me toward hospital-based social work, where I specialized in intensive care, emergency departments, and palliative care. Supporting individuals and their families through terminal illness shaped my understanding of the deep empathy required in this field.
“I transitioned from a macro-level focus on global change to understanding the profound impact of working directly with individuals and families.”
Associate Professor Mim Fox, University of Wollongong, Australia
Q: How old were you when that shift occurred?
A: I was in my late teens or early twenties. That realization fundamentally altered my approach to social work—balancing the need for large-scale systemic change with the deeply intimate, personal work of supporting someone in crisis.
Q: How would you describe the essence of social work to a newcomer?
A: Social work is fundamentally about fostering positive change and empowering individuals during their most vulnerable life transitions—those moments when their stability has been disrupted.
Social workers operate across hospitals, schools, justice systems, and community health hubs. Once you look for them, you realize they are everywhere, serving as quiet catalysts for rebuilding lives and strengthening communities.
“Social work is about creating positive social change and helping people through the moments in life when they’re most vulnerable.”
Associate Professor Mim Fox, University of Wollongong, Australia
Q: Why is social work especially critical in today's global landscape?
A: It is less about a single event and more about the multifaceted pressures on modern society. For instance, the environmental crisis—often referred to as eco-social work—highlights how vulnerable populations suffer the most from climate change and poverty.
We are also facing a widening gap in wealth and equality. In Australia, the current cost-of-living and housing affordability crisis is forcing many to struggle just to meet their basic needs, making the role of the social worker more vital than ever.
Conflict and crisis remain constants, but the choice of how we respond matters. Whether on the front lines of global conflict or addressing domestic mental health needs, social workers are essential wherever people are faced with inequality and vulnerability.
Learning across cultures: Voices from the classroom
Q: How do you support international students in bridging their cultural backgrounds with local practices?
A: Diversity is fundamental to our learning environment. Every student’s personal story and unique background serve as the starting point for our curriculum, ensuring they are seen as individuals rather than just students.
Our teaching staff emphasizes close mentorship, ensuring every student feels recognized and supported throughout their degree. By celebrating successes and providing guidance through academic and personal challenges, we help international students navigate the unique support systems available in Australia.
Q: What distinguishes social work education in Australia?
A: While core social work theories are universal, our approach in Australia is distinctly shaped by our cultural landscape and history.
A key differentiator is our use of a decolonised lens. Given Australia's profound First Nations history and the ongoing legacy of colonisation, our education integrates Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing, which are integral to our teaching philosophy.
Students participate in practices such as yarning in a circle. This practice removes traditional hierarchies and power imbalances, creating an open, equal forum for conversation. While initially unfamiliar to some, it fosters deep respect and understanding for Aboriginal perspectives.
“Social work in Australia uses a decolonised lens. Our country has a strong First Nations history and a deep legacy of colonisation, so it’s essential that our education reflects that.”
Associate Professor Mim Fox, University of Wollongong, Australia
This foundation is vital; it equips students to work effectively with First Nations communities, helping them understand indigenous worldviews while ensuring they avoid replicating systemic racism or discriminatory practices.
Furthermore, Australia’s multicultural fabric heavily influences our pedagogy. We operate on the principle that every individual story is significant, which is reflective of both our academic environment and Australian society at large.
Real-world experience: What placements look like
Q: How do field placements prepare students for professional practice?
A: Every student must complete 1,000 hours of field education, typically divided into two 500-hour placements. These opportunities immerse students in real-world organizations, allowing them to assume legitimate professional responsibilities.
Students engage with diverse settings, including schools, hospitals, legal services, and community NGOs. Whether supporting families in crisis or assisting elderly populations and youth, these environments offer invaluable exposure to the realities of social work.
They work with a broad spectrum of people, utilizing counseling, casework, and community-level interventions. These placements aim to foster positive, structural change through both direct service and policy-based research.
“Social work is rarely about a single fix. It’s about slowing down, understanding people in their specific circumstances, and supporting them in the way that best meets their needs at that moment in their lives.”
Associate Professor Mim Fox, University of Wollongong, Australia
Q: How do personal experiences shape a student's learning and placement journey?
A: Studying social work requires self-reflection. Before you can support others, you must examine your own values, worldview, and lived experiences. This level of self-awareness is critical for ethical, effective practice.
During placements, students often encounter complex human struggles that challenge their preconceived notions. Witnessing these challenges firsthand provides the emotional depth needed to become an empathetic and effective social worker.
Classroom discussions revolve around these field experiences, focusing on critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving. We emphasize that there is rarely a universal answer; rather, we focus on navigating processes that respect the unique circumstances of every individual.
Social work is rarely about a single fix. It’s about slowing down, understanding people in their specific circumstances, and supporting them in the way that best meets their needs at that moment in their lives.
Q: How do students integrate personal experience with theoretical learning?
A: Just as the people we support have their own stories, our students bring their unique backgrounds into the classroom. Part of the degree involves critically examining those personal worldviews and how they influence interactions with others.
Through self-reflection, students learn how to connect abstract theory with the human reality they observe in placements. Seeing the commonalities in human suffering often leads to profound professional growth and emotional intelligence.
We facilitate ongoing debates regarding these experiences, reinforcing that social work is about how to move toward solutions rather than simply having the answer. It’s an exercise in adapting support to the person standing right in front of you.
Building a career that changes lives
Q: What career trajectories are available to social work graduates?
A: Graduates have diverse career paths. Many serve as hospital social workers, while others excel as school counselors, corrective service officers, or case managers. The possibilities are vast.
Whether focusing on disability services, elder care, or child and family protection, graduates are equipped to work in areas involving long-term care and guidance for those at risk.
Roles may carry different titles—from case manager to community worker—but they all rely on the same fundamental training in counseling, group work, research, and policy development.
Q: What advice do you have for prospective students considering this field?
A: Social work is an ideal field for anyone driven to create positive change and who values collaboration, diversity, and community engagement.
Students often start thinking they have all the answers for "fixing" problems. The most successful ones, however, are those who are open to questioning their assumptions and realize that genuine, sustainable change is created with others, not just for them.
You won't emerge as an expert with all the solutions. Instead, you will become a facilitator who helps others discover the solutions that truly work for their unique lives.
If you have a genuine desire to build change and stand alongside people during their transformations, social work is undoubtedly the profession for you.