A People World, Rather Than a Paper World—Bronwyn Hyde

Abstract

At the time of interview, Bronwyn Hyde was the Senior Social Worker, Mental Health, at Orange Health Service in rural New South Wales. She graduated in social work in 1976 from the University of Sydney and commenced work in rural NSW with the fledgling Community Health Services, as one of two social workers within a multidisciplinary team. After gaining a diploma in education, Bronwyn was employed in the TAFE system for some years within the child studies and community services sectors, firstly as a part-time teacher and then as a full-time teacher and acting head teacher. She then returned to social work in 2001, securing a position with a child and adolescent mental health team working across both hospital and community settings in Orange. During this time she attained a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health (Child and Adolescent) from the Institute of Psychiatry, before completing her Master of Social Work (Advanced Practice) at Charles Sturt University in 2009. Prior to her return to social work in Australia Bronwyn worked as a social worker in a culturally diverse area of East London, for Newham Social Services, in the field of child protection. She is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Social Work course through Charles Sturt University and is completing her research on recovery-oriented practice within a rural mental health inpatient facility. Her thesis is entitled “The lived experience of an admission to a mental health inpatient unit—what’s recovery got to do with it?” Bronwyn’s life and practice suggests to emphatically refocus on basics: deep listening, relationship building, locating in the people world and questioning the “taken for granted” assumptions.