Interview with Debbie Cook

When Debbie Cook returned home to Australia after working with amicus in the UK, our International Consultant Suzanne, asked her to share her experiences for other would-be adventurers.

S: Did your UK experience develop your professional practice, if so, how?

D: Yes, definitely. The social work practice over there can be very challenging and rewarding. I found that I learnt how to manage myself professionally in difficult situations with limited resources. Before leaving Australia, I felt very comfortable with a work car, stable employment, housing and friends. When I landed in a new social work job in London I felt very much out of my depth and was challenged about my professional framework and personal beliefs. This experienced has helped me with my job opportunities here as I am much more confident in myself and more confident in making professional decisions.

As I took leave without pay from my job in Australia I was able to return to my same employment and I am still there. However, I believe if I wanted to work elsewhere my UK experience would definitely help me.

S: Why do you want to work again in the UK?

D: When I was living in London I met my husband who is English. We decided to move back to Australia together. We have discussed moving back to England due to better work opportunities for my husband and also to be near his family. I think we will probably move back and forth during the next few years until we decide where to settle.
 
S: When you were living there how was it getting accommodation and adapting to life over there?

D: I think I received a big shock by moving to London from the suburbs of Brisbane! I slept on a friend’s floor for a few weeks and then I met a girl at work who had a 'closet' small room for 40 pounds a week - so I grabbed it and ended up staying there and being 'promoted' to a bigger room after a few months. I met some great friends in London and they helped me to adapt to living there. It took me a while to learn the transport system and the different way of life in a big city. But it was a great opportunity to meet lots of people who were in similar situations and from different countries.
 
S: How was it adapting to social work in the UK after working as a social worker in Oz?

D: I found the lack of resources in the UK different from Oz. For example: taking the tube to home visits and child protection notifications. I found this very daunting at first but I got support from other social workers in my team who were very helpful. I also found the paperwork and policy very different and this took a while to learn. I was lucky enough to be sent on lots of training days which helped develop my understanding of UK Social Work.
 
S: What sort of work are you doing now, why, and then what sort of work in the UK next?

D: I have returned to my original job in Australia working with foster carers. I have always enjoyed this work and wanted to return. I would really like to work with foster carers in the UK this time to broaden my understanding of this area. Previously I worked in the Child with Disabilities Team and this gave me a broad understanding as I worked with Children in Need and also Looked After Children.  
 
S: Did you get into any hobbies or interests in the UK that you weren’t interested in back in Oz?

D: I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time in the country and the Cotswolds with my husband’s family. During the time I spent there I really enjoyed walking in the country (and no snakes!). I visited the UK again last year and I went walking at the Lakes District which was excellent also.
 
S: Do you have any UK based travel experiences that you’d like to share?

D: During my time in the UK I usually went on holidays in different parts of England - which was not my original intention. I am glad I did this as I understand more about English culture and the different parts of England that I would not have bothered to visit if I did not know English people. I did some traveling to Croatia, Paris, Holland, and Italy. I really loved visiting Italy and would recommend going there!

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