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60 seconds with … Rosemary Sheehan10 June 2009
Name: Rosemary Sheehan How long have you been with Monash University? Since 1989! Prior to working at Monash, where were did you work? I worked as a social worker in family welfare in the Western suburbs of Melbourne. What challenges are ahead in your current role? Two come to mind! Our department has just introduced a specialist postgraduate degree: Master of Social Work (Forensic Studies) in collaboration with Professor Jim Ogloff and the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science. It is an exciting innovation recognising that social workers increasingly work in contexts where forensic issues are key to their clients' problems. I am also convening a conference Children and the Law: International approaches to children and their vulnerabilities at the Monash Prato Centre in September. I do some work in the Children's Court in Melbourne and am aware how much the rights and best interests of children are challenged by new and emerging social concerns. There has been great interest – so far we have registrations from 17 countries. What is it about your job that is particularly satisfying? I co-ordinate the Higher Degrees by Research Program in social work and our postgrads come from all around Australia and overseas. They bring with them their experiences of working in quite challenging contexts and offer exciting insights into worlds we would not otherwise know about. What is your favourite place in the world and why? Annascaul on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland. My grandfather left there as a 12-year-old to come to Australia. He was sent away to escape the Spanish influenza. What is the best piece of advice you have received? My grandmother was always using sayings and the one "a worry shared is a worry halved " has stayed with me. As a social worker you encourage people to tell you their concerns to see what strategies can help them. What is something about yourself that most of your colleagues wouldn't know? I was a champion middle distance runner at secondary school and university. My father used to run marathons, before they were fashionable, and I used to run stages of the long distances to carry his water bottle. |
