In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey tackle the heavy weight of professional fallibility. We often feel that because we work with human lives, we aren’t allowed the luxury of being human ourselves, leading to those 3:00 AM "mistake loops" in our minds.

Using the seminal work of Professor Eileen Munro, we dismantle the idea that errors are simply acts of incompetence. Instead, we explore how the high-pressure environments of child protection and social work naturally trigger cognitive biases and mental shortcuts.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Core Conflict: Balancing fast, intuitive reasoning with slow, logical analytic thinking.
• Reasoning Traps: How "Confirmation Bias," "Availability Bias," and "The Primacy Effect" can skew our assessments of families.
• The Systems Approach: Why we need to stop asking "Who messed up?" and start asking "Why did this mistake make sense at the time?".
• Building Skilled Intuition: Using supervision as a "lab" to socialize our thinking and "de-bias" our practice.

Whether you work in child protection, hospitals, schools, mental health, aged care, or any frontline role where human complexity meets high-pressure decision-making, this episode is a reminder that professional integrity isn’t about being perfect. It is about being transparent in your reasoning and brave enough to treat mistakes as an inevitable part of a system built on uncertainty.

Show Notes & Resources

• Visit our new website: relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au
• Connect with us: Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and our new YouTube page.
• Get in touch: Email your practice stories to Relationalpractice01@gmail.com.
• Featured Citations:
  • Munro, E. (1999). Common errors of reasoning in child protection work.
  • Munro, E. (2011). The Munro review of child protection: Final report—A child-centred system.

Editing by Angus Pinkstone

Music by Hannah Park

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In social work, we are often taught to "reflect" on our practice, but there is a deeper, more transformational layer called reflexivity. In this episode, Jodie and Rose break down these two distinct but interconnected methods for professional growth.

Using the analogy of the Rearview Mirror (looking back at an experience) and the Mirror (looking at ourselves in the present moment), we discuss how to elevate our practice across any setting. Grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, we explore how to move from simply observing a situation to truly transforming our professional identity and the way we hold space for others.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Core Distinction: Why reflection-on-action and reflection-in-action require different internal muscles.
• Kolb’s Cycle: How to use "Reflective Observation" and "Abstract Conceptualization" to turn everyday practice into lasting wisdom.
• Power & Integrity: How being reflexive helps us stay ethical and aware of the "taken-for-granted" assumptions we bring into the room.
• Practical Tools: Simple ways to integrate critical reflection into your supervision and daily routine.

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• New Website: Visit relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au to find episodes and our Ambiguous Loss printables.
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• Your Stories: Email us at Relationalpractice01@gmail.com or use the contact section on our website.

Music by Hannah Park

Editing by Angus Pinkstone

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive deep into the most essential tool in a practitioner’s toolkit: the art of truly hearing what isn't being said. They are joined by Ross Judd, an expert in communication and organizational culture, and the author of Listening: A Guide to Building Deeper Connections.

For social workers on the front lines, whether in child protection, disability, or crisis intervention, clients often "test the waters" with surface-level complaints before sharing their true stories. Ross introduces his R.E.O.S.T.A.R. process, a powerful framework designed to help practitioners break through these barriers, avoid the common "fix-it" trap, and build radical empathy.

Key highlights of this conversation include:

• The R.E.O.S.T.A.R. Process: A step-by-step guide to recognizing surface comments, empathizing with underlying emotions, and asking powerful questions to uncover core values.
• The Integrated Values Iceberg: How to remain self-aware of your own biases and values so they don't "block" what a client is trying to communicate, especially in high-stress environments.
• The Heavy Gift of Listening: A candid discussion on how to stay open and listen deeply to heavy stories without losing yourself in the process.

Whether you are navigating high-conflict family dynamics or trying to connect with a defensive client, this episode offers practical strategies to move beyond the paperwork and build life-changing connections.

Find Ross’s book at https://rossjudd.com/listening/

Connect with us:

• Email: Relationalpractice01@gmail.com
• Web: https://relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au/
• Socials: Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more content and practice stories.
• Support the show: Please subscribe, rate, and review to help us reach more social workers.

Music by Hannah Park

Editing by Angus Pinkstone