First Nations Social Work Cadet | 22nd December 2024

Over the last 8 months, our First Nations Social Work Cadet Emma has been gaining incredible hands-on experience, working alongside Ji, our identified solicitor. 

Working closely alongside Ji, Emma has been learning how a social worker can work alongside solicitors in the legal sector to ultimately provide strong holistic support for clients. Emma has highlighted how beneficial it has been to be a part of this program from a social work perspective as law underpins many social work core principles. Being in the law sector also allows social workers to provide a more holistic view towards clients. 

Together, Ji and Emma have made a real impact by:

• Supporting community outreaches at the Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service, Illawarra Women’s Health Centre and Aunty Jean’s Chronic Care Group.
• Actively participating in the Illawarra Aboriginal Community-Based Working Group and attending their annual Reconciliation Lunch.
• Providing compassionate, holistic legal support to clients and connecting them to additional services.
• Observing District, Supreme, and Coroners Court proceedings to deepen her understanding of the justice system.

Emma has had particular interest in the outreaches that ILC does with the community and has learnt the importance of rapport-building in the community and working with client in a space that they are familiar with and feel safe in. The experience has also enabled Emma to network with other community workers and services, experience the ups and downs of the legal practice and ultimately how to ensure the best outcome for the clients we work with.

Emma’s and Ji’s dedication to Indigenous social justice and their community is inspiring and we’re so proud to have had the opportunity to be on this journey, helping Emma to build the skills to make a lasting difference in the community legal sector.ecuring a home.

Ji – Aboriginal Access and Community Engagement Solicitor (left) and Emma – First Nations Cadet (right)

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