With more than a decade of experience in the Human Services sector, Gloria said it was the “stigma and lack of mental health awareness” that prompted her to get into social work.
“It has always been my passion to make a positive impact in people’s lives,” she said. “Growing up in a society where people would discriminate against those with a mental illness, I always wanted to know how the human mind and behaviour works.
“Social workers are crucial in the community because they enhance human wellbeing by providing therapies and advocating for others that may need a voice. They also focus on helping individuals to overcome difficult situations in their lives.”
Born in Zimbabwe, Gloria immigrated to Australia in 2018 after a stint working in the UK.
Upon settling in Australia, Gloria quickly realised that mental health was more widely recognised, which gave her a better opportunity to harness her passion for helping others.
“Through conversations with people, I realised that people in Australia talk openly about mental health, there is no shame in having a mental illness,” she said.
“I remember one day sitting and chatting with my husband about how I wanted to be an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and he was very supportive.
“I enrolled into studying Master of Social Work in 2019. It wasn’t an easy journey, I was working full-time and studying full-time, but the hassle was worth the tassel.”
Recently completing her Masters in Social Work, Gloria wants to bring what she has learnt to her role as a Case Worker in MercyCare’s Family Wellbeing team.
“As a Family Wellbeing Case Worker, I offer practical counselling using Trauma Informed Practice and Evidence based approaches to support children, young people and their families who are experiencing diverse life issues that are making them feel sad, stressed, angry or anxious,” she said.
“Holding a Masters in Social Work has so many benefits in my current role. Just to list a few, I now have the ethical knowledge and skills to support vulnerable Australians and people from CaLD backgrounds.
“I offer Individual and family counselling utilising social work theories such as strengths based, person centred, trauma informed approaches and evidence-based models when working with young people and families to reach their potential.”
Making a difference in peoples’ lives is what Gloria loves most about her role at MercyCare.
“I love my job because it allows me to make a difference in people’s lives,” she said. “I love interacting with young people and building rapport and this allows me to support them in a way that will help them to achieve their goal.”
Want to join a team of passionate and dedicated people and make a difference in the WA community? Find out more about working at MercyCare here.
