This is the second in a series of conversations we have been having with our past students to understand the impact of their studies on their work with young people in the community.
Here, Kristina speaks with Lori Fahey a recent graduate of the Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, which is run through the University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics. Lori will be joining the panel at our next information session on the 19th September – click here to register.
Lori Fahey is the Team Lead for Starlight Children’s foundation ‘Livewire’ program. In this role, she works extensively with the Livewire Online and In-Hospital Facilitators, providing fun, social connection and creative distraction for disabled and chronically ill young people aged 12-20.
Originally studying for a Bachelor of Social Work, Lori left university in 2003 to become a clown and children’s entertainer. This unique combination of skills led her to the role of Captain Starlight, creating positive distractions for children in hospitals across Australia. After a short sojourn as a freelance writer and blogger, Lori returned to her true passion with the Livewire program. With a diverse background involving community work, performance and online communication, Lori has been working in online and face-to-face medical spaces with children and young people for over 15 years.
In addition to her Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing and an (almost completed) Bachelor of Social Work, Lori has a Specialist Certificate in Creativity and Health for Children and Young People from the University of Melbourne.
Q: How did you find out about the Adolescent Health and Wellbeing (AHW) courses at the University of Melbourne (UoM)?
A: My workplace offers a partial scholarship for this course, and I have a few colleagues who completed it in previous years.
Q: How long did it take you to decide to enrol in the Graduate Certificate/Diploma course?
A: There was about five years between when I first heard about the course and when I (finally) enrolled. I spent a good chunk of that doubting my ability to study again at a university level! I completed a shorter Specialist Certificate in that time, which convinced me I had the academic skills to undertake a Graduate Certificate in Adolescent Health. I thoroughly enjoyed the Graduate Certificate and felt like I still had a lot to learn, so I kept studying until I had also completed the Graduate Diploma.
Q: What did you like about doing the course?
A: It felt like a buffet for my brain- there was so much to learn, both from the course work and from the other students. I loved scaffolding the different concepts and theories and building on them, and feeling my knowledge grow exponentially as I went through the modules. The tutorial sessions were particularly valuable. There were so many students there from different disciplines and practices, and hearing the concepts applied in different ways according to people’s professional experience was enriching, interesting and occasionally challenging, which is an excellent environment for learning.
Q: What was your favourite subject during your Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing?
A: Socioenvironmental Context of Adolescents was such a good introductory subject; it really challenged my thinking and allowed me to pull apart my own biases and preconceptions about the young people I work with.
As I got further into my course, I really enjoyed the Adolescent Health Project subject. It allowed me to take a deep dive into a project that was hyper relevant and targeted to my own practice, which allowed me some time and space to refine the framework and theories I’d learnt and integrate them into my day-to-day workflow.
Q: What was the hardest thig about studying with us?
A: It’s a big time commitment! I have two children and was working 4 days a week; fitting in time to study required a lot of discipline and a little bit of sacrifice. I’m happy to say it was very worth it!
Q: What was the most surprising thing you learnt during your studies with us?
A: I was actually surprised to see my natural optimism about young people backed up by evidence and research! Seeing a shift from young people being viewed through a deficit-based model, to a more realistic and optimistic strengths-based model, was lovely and reinforced my own practice approach. I was expecting to have to fight and make a case for that kind of approach and viewpoint – having it handed to us from the start was refreshing.
Q: What has been the most significant change, for you, as a result of doing the course?
A: This course has given me the ability to back up my practice wisdom with appropriate terminology and evidence-based theory. It’s one thing to intrinsically know that your practice techniques and approaches are effective and appropriate, but being able to put the applicable framework, theories and research into the context of your work is incredibly valuable and empowering.
Q: Why is this significant?
A: Working in a unique role that involves a hybrid of youth work and creative facilitation practice, it’s often difficult to explain, demonstrate and tangibly show how the role works, and the difference it makes to young people. Having language and theory enables me to legitimise and educate people about the work we do and highlight its importance.
Q: What difference has it made?
A: I’ve recently moved into the role of Team Lead within the Livewire program, partly as a result of the study I have done in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing. In this role, I’ll be shaping and developing new onboarding and learning & development for the Livewire team, as well as speaking about and promoting the program within the wider healthcare sector. I’m really excited to be able to integrate everything I’ve learned into these endeavours and share that contextualized language and knowledge with the wider Livewire team and healthcare sector.
Q: Any last thoughts for people considering doing either the graduate certificate or the Graduate Diploma/Masters in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing?
A: Do it! Prepare to buckle in, work hard, and learn an immense amount of interesting, applicable information. It will absolutely be worth your time and effort and will change the way you look at your practice and the young people you work with.