30/06/2025
Very true words by a fantastic local social worker
It's been such a heavy day for this whole community today.
One thing I wanted to talk about is that last week at the YJ T2S graduation, one of the senior staff was speaking to the young people about how we all get up and think about them, on the way to work, on the way home, when we know they are having a rough time particularly. I think that's a really special and important thing to remember because it's true and shows the nature of the relationships we have with clients.
I can't echo that sentiment enough. Before I worked as a social worker, it just could never register to me that people who were paid to care about me genuinely cared outside of that container. But we do. Wholeheartedly and endlessly. And about people who aren't even our clients but who pop up in conversations, or who are friends of friends, or who are just in our presence more than our actual clients, or who are our friends clients.
I went to my friends office the other day and I was reminded of this because she had up all the art work and gifts she'd been given by her clients. We all do that, you know?
We think about you if we see something that reminds of us of you. While there are boundaries because we are paid professionals who acknowledge our power + need a break sometimes, we actually just bloody care a whole lot. It's real. Because it's a relationship. And relationships matter more than anything. The relationships you build with your professionals are real and genuine. You matter more than you'll ever know. I know the thought often runs through people's minds that they don't matter to anyone, but are you also taking into account all the professionals in your life? Cos it's such a heavy + hard hit when we lose you. Because you matter. And you are really really cared about.
Hang in there. I'm so glad you're here 😊
ID: a photo of a crocheted seahorse sticky taped to a wall.
