The Social Worker / Le travailleur social

The Social Worker Interview with Francesca Serwaa

In this episode of The Social Worker Podcast, we speak with Francesca Serwaa as part of CASW’s special series celebrating 100 years of social work in Canada. Francesca brings us into a conversation about mental health, addictions, Black communities, justice, reintegration, representation, and care. She reflects on her path into social work, from her early interest in psychiatry to placements in harm reduction and justice-related spaces that shaped her commitment to supporting people navigating complex systems. Together, we explore what it means to build trust with Black and racialized service users, especially in communities where stigma, silence, and “keeping things in the home” can make accessing support feel difficult. Francesca speaks with honesty about the power of representation, the importance of confidentiality, and the responsibility social workers carry when they are trusted with people’s stories. She also invites us to think differently about advocacy. Not only as protest, policy, or public action, but as the everyday work of connecting someone to support, helping a person reintegrate with dignity, naming barriers, and reminding people that they are not alone. And in a field where we are continuously talking about self-care, Francesca leaves us with a grounding reminder: boundaries are not a failure of care. They are part of how we continue. They are part of how we turn guilt into strength.

The Social Worker Interview with Tyler Coulbourne

What does it mean to practice social work with curiosity, accountability, and the courage to hold more than one truth at a time? In this episode of The Social Worker Podcast, we speak with Tyler Coulbourne (he/they) as part of CASW’s special series celebrating 100 years of social work in Canada. Tyler’s path into the profession was anything but linear. From working as a flight attendant, photographer, bartender, hiking guide, pirate deckhand, and more, Tyler reflects on the many experiences that shaped how they show up in social work today. At the centre of that journey there has always been a commitment to relationality, learning, community, and supporting people in meaningful ways. Throughout the conversation, Tyler shares how queerness, decolonial learning, adult education, and Indigenous approaches to practice have shaped their understanding of what social work can be. They also speak honestly about the tension of being part of a profession with a history of harm while remaining committed to pushing it toward liberation, justice, and deeper accountability. This episode invites social workers to sit with complexity, resist simple answers to complex problems, and imagine a profession rooted in relationships, humility, mutual aid, and meaningful solidarity.

The Social Worker Interview with Jaeyell Kim

In this episode of The Social Worker Podcast, presented by the Canadian Association of Social Workers, we’re joined by Jaeyell Kim, a Korean-Canadian social worker, educator, and mental health advocate whose work is deeply rooted in supporting youth, newcomers, and families across Canada. Jaeyell shares his journey into social work, shaped by his own lived experience navigating racism, migration, and identity. From being one of the only Korean-speaking social workers in his community to building more accessible and culturally responsive care, his story highlights the critical role of representation in mental health services. In this conversation, we explore: * What “transitional trauma” means and how it impacts newcomers navigating unfamiliar systems * The realities of language barriers, stigma, and access to care in immigrant communities * How culturally grounded practice can build trust, safety, and connection * Jaeyell’s creative use of comics and storytelling to make mental health more approachable * His advice to the next generation of social workers on cultural humility and lifelong learning This episode is a powerful reminder that social work is not just about services — it’s about understanding, belonging, and meeting people where they are.

The Social Worker Interview with Lisa Mishibinijima

As we close out National Social Work Month, The Social Worker Podcast is honoured to feature Lisa Mishibinijima, whose spirit name is Kinew Kwe (Golden Eagle Woman).  Lisa is an Anishinaabekwe of the Bear Clan and a band member of M’chigeeng First Nation. Before any professional role, she grounds herself in her relationships — as a daughter, sister, mother, wife, cousin, friend, hunter, and helper. These responsibilities guide how she moves through the world and how she shows up in community.  Living and working in Sioux Lookout since 2009, Lisa has spent over 20 years supporting community wellness through roles in harm reduction, youth justice, counselling, shelters, management, and frontline service. Today, she works with the Hepatitis C Program at Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, continuing to support healing and wellness in First Nations communities.   In this episode, Lisa reflects on:  * The importance of relationships and accountability in social work  * How land-based knowledge and culture shape her practice  * Supporting community through harm reduction and frontline care  * The role of lived experience in guiding healing and wellness  * The land as teacher and guide in both life and practice

Le balado du Travailleur social : entretien avec Marie-Michèle Doiron et Gaëlle Troude

Alors que nous continuons à célébrer le Mois national du travail social et le centenaire de l’ACTS, le balado Le Travailleur social a l’honneur d’accueillir Marie-Michèle Doiron et Gaëlle Troude, de l’AQTS.      Marie-Michèle est travailleuse sociale depuis 2009 et exerce à Québec, où elle travaille au sein du réseau de la santé et s’implique actuellement dans le milieu syndical et les négociations. Gaëlle, travailleuse sociale depuis l’obtention de sa maîtrise, a bâti sa carrière dans des milieux communautaires et institutionnels à Montréal, avec un engagement profond envers la collaboration et la pratique systémique.  Dans cet épisode spécial, Marie-Michèle et Gaëlle racontent comment leur parcours personnel dans le travail social a commencé, ainsi que le cheminement qui a mené à la création de l’Association québécoise des travailleuses sociales et travailleurs sociaux (AQTS) — une association professionnelle dédiée à la représentation et à la défense des travailleurs sociaux à travers le Québec.        Dans cet épisode, elles reviennent sur :   * Leurs parcours uniques vers le travail social et ce qui continue d’inspirer leur pratique    * La création d’une association provinciale et l’importance d’une voix collective   * La distinction entre les ordres professionnels, les associations et les syndicats   * La nécessité d’une plus grande reconnaissance et visibilité de la profession   * Leurs espoirs pour l’avenir du travail social au cours des 100 prochaines années