Making the Move the Other Way: A UK Social Worker in Australia

A guest blog post by Gabby, a UK qualified social worker who moved to Australia

Although UKWorkLife usually focuses on supporting international social workers moving to the UK, stories like Gabby’s offer useful perspective on what it’s like to practise across different systems. Gabby’s journey from the UK to New Zealand and Australia highlights how social work skills transfer across countries, how practice frameworks shift, and what it really means to adapt to new professional environments. Her experience provides practical insight and a reminder that careers don’t always follow a straight line. Here is Gabby’s story:

Finding My Path into Social Work

I grew up in a small town in Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, and always knew I wanted to work with people in a meaningful way. That instinct naturally led me into social work.

After university, I began my career in a specialist child protection and court team in Southampton. It was intense, fast‑paced, and at times overwhelming, but it gave me the foundations I still rely on today.

It was during this period that I first heard about social work in Australia. A colleague mentioned that social workers had access to a pool of cars for visits. At the time, I was driving a bright red Suzuki Jimny that was barely holding itself together, so the idea felt like a luxury. I didn’t know it then, but that small comment planted a seed.

Deciding to Leave the UK

By 23, I felt a growing pull to see more of the world. My best friend was travelling, and I didn’t want to look back and feel like I’d missed out. So another friend from university and I took the leap.

We started in Thailand with no long‑term plan, just curiosity and a desire to explore. What followed was nearly a year travelling across Asia, which broadened my perspective both personally and professionally.

Eventually, we made our way to New Zealand, planning to work temporarily before continuing our travels.

Living and Working in New Zealand

We settled in Auckland city centre, where I secured a role as a community social worker linked to a children’s residential service. I supported children and young people transitioning into residential care and then back into the community, work I genuinely loved.

One of the most meaningful parts of my time in New Zealand was working alongside Pacific Islander and Māori families. Being invited into people’s lives, learning about their cultures, and understanding their values shaped my approach to culturally responsive practice in a way no textbook ever could.

Still Not Ready to Go Home

After some time in New Zealand, the urge to travel returned. I spent a month exploring Vietnam and Cambodia before heading to Australia a country that had never been part of the original plan.

But something in me knew I wasn’t ready to return to the UK.

Starting From Scratch in Australia

I arrived in Cairns intending to complete farm work to extend my visa. Unfortunately, the only available job involved carrying bananas, not ideal when you’re 5’1”.

So I adapted.

I took a job at a hostel in exchange for accommodation, working as a gardener and maintaining the outdoor areas. It wasn’t a long‑term plan, but it gave me time to think.

Eventually, I made a bold decision: I used my last $80 on a flight to Melbourne. Looking back, it was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken.

Rebuilding My Career in Melbourne

In Melbourne, I started as a live‑in au pair, earning around $200 a week in exchange for food and accommodation. I saved what I could, moved into a hostel, and eventually secured a role with a fostering agency.

I still remember my first proper pay check, $46 an hour, and being shocked at how much I’d earned in a week. After earning $19 an hour in New Zealand and $200 a week as an au pair, it felt life‑changing.

Soon after, I moved into a permanent child protection role, where I stayed for around six years.

The Reality of Child Protection in Australia

Working in child protection in Australia was both familiar and very different from the UK.

I worked across several areas, starting in case management and later moving into the sexual abuse investigation team. Some of the biggest differences included:

• Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families: There were additional consultations, cultural considerations, and documentation requirements that weren’t clearly explained to me at the start. Like many overseas social workers, I learned through experience, often by being thrown in at the deep end.
• A very different court system: This was one of the most confronting adjustments. Compared to the UK’s emphasis on partnership and anti‑oppressive practice, the process in Victoria felt more adversarial. Serving paperwork one day and expecting families in court the next was challenging. Court days were long, unpredictable, and lacked clear legislative timeframes.
• Limited permanency options: Unlike the UK, there is no equivalent adoption pathway. The most permanent outcomes are usually:
  • Permanent care with relatives (often with mandated contact), or
  • Long‑term foster care

This lack of permanency, combined with placement shortages, had a real impact on children, families, and practitioners.

Varied professional backgrounds

You don’t need to be a qualified social worker to work in child protection in Australia. People come from a range of educational backgrounds, which can influence practice approaches and create moral tension at times.

Despite the challenges, I was fortunate to have a supportive team leader from the UK who understood the transition. Over time, I grounded myself in the values and frameworks I’d learned in the UK, relational, strengths‑based, and reflective practice.

And I came to understand something important: there is no perfect system. Every country has strengths and flaws.

Becoming a Parent and Shifting Direction

During my time in child protection, I became a parent. After my first child, I moved into an intake role to better support my family. After my second, I knew I was ready for a new chapter.

Moving into Women’s Mental Health

I transitioned into a women’s mental health service, a big shift after years in statutory child protection.

What surprised me most was how transferable my skills were.

The service supported women experiencing PTSD, anxiety, and depression. My role included:

• Social work
• Care coordination
• Facilitating psychoeducational groups (e.g., boundaries, relationships, trauma understanding)

It was incredibly meaningful work, and being part of someone’s healing journey, even briefly, is something I’ll always carry with me.

Where I Am Now

Looking back, none of this was planned. I never expected to build a life in Australia or for my career to evolve in this way. But every step, from the UK to New Zealand to Australia, and all of the travel in between, shaped the practitioner I am today.

I now work as a team leader in a child and youth team within a sexual abuse and family violence service. And I’m passionate about supporting other social workers who are starting out, starting again, or making the move to Australia.

If my journey shows anything, it’s this:

There is no single “right” path, and sometimes the most uncertain decisions lead to the most meaningful opportunities.