Integrating Social Work in General Practice Settings 7 Aug 25

Join us for a compelling panel presentation and discussion on embedding social work in General Practice settings, presented by Associate Professor Ines Zuchowski, James Cook University, and a team of colleagues.

The Research team will present findings and insights from the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) funded Social Work in General Practice project, where social workers and social work students were placed in six GP clinics across Townsville and Cairns.

The panel will present data about social work intervention, areas of health and patient outcomes. Researchers and social workers on the panel will explore the two roles of social work in general health care: Generic and Mental Health Accredited social work.

Join us for the presentation and the opportunity to engage directly in discussions about social work supporting General Practices and their patients, facilitating wholistic health care, easing pressure on clinical staff, supervise student placements, and developing evidence about social work practice and its outcomes.

About the panel –

Associate Professor Ines Zuchowski

Associate Professor Ines Zuchowski has extensive work experience as a social worker in social welfare practice, exposing her to a broad range of interventions and fields of practice. Research has been an integral part of her professional social work practice. Ines is now employed an associate professor in Social Work and Humans Services at JCU.

Her current research project explores social work and social work placements in GP settings.

Ms Lucia Heynck

Lucia Heynck is currently a research student at James Cook University, where she is writing her Masters thesis on "Social Work in General Practice: A Qualitative Investigation of Social Workers' Perspectives in North Queensland."

Lucia brings valuable experience to her academic studies, having worked as a counsellor for people with mental health issues, as well as at a counselling station for survivors of sexual abuse.

Mr Abel Fusire

Mr Abel Fusiere is a General Practice Social Worker at the Kirwan GP Clinic in Townsville and an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker operating in private practice.

He brings extensive experience working across rural and remote regions of Australia, engaging with diverse communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, veterans, young people in out-of-home care, and individuals with complex mental health and disability needs.

Ms Rebecca Lee

Bec Lee is an experienced Social Worker with over 20 years in the field. Throughout her career, she has held both frontline and management roles across various government and non-government organisations. Notably, Bec spent several years with Relationships Australia, specialising in both relationship and individual counselling.

During her time working on Palm Island, she contributed to the development of a shared skills counselling model.

Date: August 7 2025

Time: 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm AEST

Where: Live online via Zoom (link to be provided on day of presentation)