Why Don’t We Self-Reflect on the Small Encounters?: A Question Posed by a Japanese Student during a Multicultural Field Placement

Authors

  • Saori Yamashita The University of Western Australia
  • Nada Eltaiba German Jordanian University, University of Western Australia

Keywords:

critical self-reflection, refugee, cross-cultural practice, supervision

Abstract

This paper illustrates my (Yamashita’s) critical self-reflection as a female social work student from Japan living in Australia while conducting my first placement in an organisation that provides refugees and asylum seekers with holistic mental health support. The self-reflective process on a small miscommunication enabled me to learn lessons and identify strengths as a future social worker by unpacking the influence of my own cultural background. The main implication of this paper is that, particularly in the multicultural setting, applying self-reflection and self-critique even to small encounters enables social workers to grow as professionals.

Author Biographies

Saori Yamashita, The University of Western Australia

Saori Yamashita, MSW is Social Worker, Royal Perth Hospital and Anglicare WA ARBOR Program, Perth, Australia (saori.yamashita@health.wa.gov.au; saori.yamashita@anglicarewa.org.au; samatsuo23@gmail.com).

Nada Eltaiba, German Jordanian University, University of Western Australia

Nada Eltaiba, PhD is Associate Professor, German Jordanian University, Mushaqar, Jordan, and Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia (nada.eltaiba@uwa.edu.au; eltaibanada@gmail.com).

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Published

2024-05-10

How to Cite

Yamashita, S., & Eltaiba, N. (2024). Why Don’t We Self-Reflect on the Small Encounters?: A Question Posed by a Japanese Student during a Multicultural Field Placement. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 30(2), 63–68. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/2056

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