Curtin Bachelor of Social work graduate Julie Verley was recently awarded a 2016 Social Worker of the Year Award in the Rising Star category.
The WA Social Worker of the Year Awards have been held annually since 2009 with the aim of recognising dedicated social workers who have made a real difference to the lives of Western Australians.
Julie commenced her degree at Curtin after experiencing the loss of her mother together with moving to a new country.
“I had no family of my own and no friends. It was an isolating experience” Julie reflects.
Feeling the need to help make a positive difference in people’s lives, she discovered Curtin’s Bachelor of Social Work course.
“The Social Work course aligned well with my strong value of social justice. It was exactly what I was looking for. I entered uni as a (very) mature student and embarked on a career very different to what I had done in the past.”
It was Julie’s final professional placement as part of her degree that led to her current workplace Angelhands, and the opportunity to be recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ for her dedication and commitment to social work.
“I have developed as a practitioner over the past two and a half years. I have had the privilege of working across a variety of areas such as complex trauma involving homicide, domestic violence, sexual assault and cancer, providing counselling, advocacy, supervision, facilitation and training.”
