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With increasing numbers of international students entering Australian social work programs, research has focused on the challenges of teaching these students due to perceived cultural differences and language comprehension. However, limited research has examined their experiences when transitioning to practice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 international MSW graduates originating from 10 countries and residing across three Australian states. Participants' transition to practice involved similar challenges to those described in research for the broader cohort of newly qualified social workers. However, for the current cohort, initial concerns are equally focused on "fitting in", due to a learned perspective that their cultural and linguistic difference would inhibit practice. Drawing on ecological systems theory, belonging was influenced by contextual factors relating to levels of cultural diversity within workplaces; co-worker support; and participants' sense of preparedness from their education. For all participants, these feelings of difference lessened over time, with some later reflecting that their cultural difference and lived experience was beneficial to their practice. Findings suggest that the strengths of these diverse students could be more readily recognised during education and the field, for improving preparedness for practice, and inclusivity in Australian social work. Problematising international social work students and focusing on their perceived deficits can erode graduates' confidence when first transitioning to the field. The need for cross-cultural learning opportunities for educators, students, and field education agencies is highlighted for recognising the benefits of diversity and for improved preparation of early career social workers for the current professional field. Advances in training and education are needed in organisations where more culturally diverse graduates are securing employment, to ensure that international graduates are supported in early practice, and that diversity is valued in workplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about what academics focus on when providing assessment feedback to international students for whom English is an additional language (EAL). This study examines written assessment feedback provided to 11 EAL-speaking international students throughout a two-year Master of Social Work programme and investigates their perspectives of this. Content analysis of written feedback revealed considerable variations in the volume, format and focus of feedback; this was also reflected in data provided by participants in interviews. Feedback was mainly content-focused, with a low chance of wider transferability, while language and academic skills had a limited focus. Participants' attitude toward feedback and their reported engagement with it is in alignment with the process view of feedback. This study concludes with suggestions to further facilitate student engagement with feedback and improve consistency across the Social Work programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International student numbers entering Australian social work programs have consistently grown in recent years, and subsequent discourse has problematized their educational experiences. However, no known research has described this cohort after graduating or explored their post-study outcomes. An anonymous online survey was conducted with 49 recent Master of Social Work graduates from 16 Australian universities, coming from 15 countries. The study findings suggest that migration to Australia was a key motivator for respondents when enrolling in social work study, with most remaining in the country after graduating. Securing professional employment was challenging for most due to having a temporary visa status; self-reported language barriers; competition with local graduates; and unfamiliarity with the local context. Initial post-study pathways were shown to be distinctly challenging for this cohort, due both to an individual sense of difference and to systemic barriers connected to migration policy and locally held biases. Despite this, many graduates persisted in their pursuance of a social work career. Further in-depth examination of the transition from international student to practitioner is required to understand the post-study experiences for this graduate cohort. Such information can also contribute to more inclusive settings in social work education where international students' capacities are more widely recognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, such as ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, and zanubrutinib, are commonly used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Waldenström macroglobulinemia, and mantle cell lymphoma. These inhibitors can cause cutaneous adverse events, including ecchymoses, skin infections, and hair and nail changes. Edema, or swelling, has been reported in 5-29% of patients treated with BTK inhibitors, but it has not been well classified. This article presents two cases of persistent upper extremity edema in patients on BTK inhibitor therapy and discusses the possible mechanisms and management of this side effect. [Extracted from the article]

It is generally understood that visits to see incarcerated family members are good for children, families and those in prison. Much research has focused on the impact of prison visits on children and incarcerated mothers, 'parents' as a generic group or barriers to contact, while less attention has been paid to the effect of prison visits on incarcerated fathers. When COVID-19 spread across the globe in early 2020, prisons restricted in-person visits. In Australia, alternative forms of communication between prisoners and their families were utilised, including phone calls and video visits. Drawing on data from an online survey of caregivers of children with a family member in prison (n = 84), this paper specifically focuses on a sub-sample, reporting on imprisoned fathers (n = 70), describing and evaluating experiences with video visits. Most respondents reported that the father was not coping well with the lack of face-to-face contact, and almost two-thirds of respondents reported problems with keeping in contact after in-person visits were suspended. However, a small cohort of fathers were found to be coping well. These findings are explored, highlighting barriers to technologyfacilitated visits, and point to a range of issues that need to be addressed for such visits to be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Argentina, the primary modes of contact between parents in prison and their children are contact visits and telephone calls. Prior to the pandemic, access to mobile telephones was limited and there were established barriers to contact visits, including distance and cost. Maintaining contact during the pandemic via either of these modes was made even more difficult. However, advocacy and multi-agency collaboration facilitated greater access to telephones and the development of support resources for parents in prison and their families in the community. This contemporary comment first provides context about imprisonment in Argentina, then highlights what is known about parents in prison in Argentina, subsequently focusing in on how family contact was negatively impacted by COVID-19. Next, the strategies deployed to reconnect families separated by imprisonment via regular contact are described. The remaining knowledge and evidence gaps, role of multi-agency collaborations and community advocacy are highlighted throughout the commentary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people living in residential out-of-home care (OOHC) comprise a small proportion of the total Australian OOHC population, but are known to be a particularly vulnerable group. Those transitioning from residential care at 18 years or younger seem to have poorer outcomes than those leaving foster care and kinship care. The recent introduction of forms of extended care until 21 years in most Australian jurisdictions has highlighted the need for additional assistance for all care leavers, yet paradoxically residential care leavers currently receive the least ongoing support. This critical commentary draws on recent relevant research findings and policy developments with regard to extended care locally and internationally. It presents the case for the concept of extended care to be adopted, via a nationally consistent model of extended care support for all residential care leavers incorporating formal housing and other support programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mothers with a mental illness are a relatively invisible cohort within the criminal justice system. Research typically focuses in a siloed way on imprisoned women with a mental illness or those who have children; despite considerable crossover, knowledge about women who straddle this divide is missing. To address this gap, this article draws on data gathered for an Australian Research Council funded study conducted from 2011 to 2015, that examined the arrest and imprisonment of primary carers, and the implications for children. An exploratory mixed methods approach, using structured interviews, was implemented. This article focuses on how 21 mothers with a mental illness navigate the criminal justice system in the state of Victoria, finding that failing to consider the intersection between motherhood and mental illness has significant consequences for this group of mothers. Notably, mental illness creates a barrier to engagement and participation at key decision-making points early in the criminal justice system—particularly at arrest and sentencing where it remains largely invisible. Findings highlight the need to expand gender responsive practice beyond prison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the association between child sexual abuse (CSA) and homelessness among women is well documented, few studies have investigated this topic from a feminist standpoint, examining the impact of sociocultural factors such as rape culture. Based on a qualitative life course approach, individual interviews were conducted with 21 women who experienced both CSA and homelessness. Participants were between 29 to 60 years old (M = 45 years of age). Analyses revealed that CSA disclosure experiences were characterized by victim-blaming and disbelief. Women's traumatic experiences were further aggravated by these types of reactions. Finally, CSA and negative social reactions to women's disclosures of CSA were perceived as the onset of social exclusion, which lead to their homelessness. This study shows how traumatic CSA experiences and negative social reactions to their disclosure can both contribute to social exclusion and isolation, and to homelessness through the internalization of rape myths. These findings support the importance of focusing on CSA prevention to reduce social exclusion and homelessness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cases of non-IgM lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) are rare. We performed a case–control study comparing features and outcomes of 31 non-IgM LPL cases and 93 Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) controls matched by age, sex, and year of diagnosis. Odds of MYD88 mutations were lower (odds ratio (OR) 0.22, p =.05), and median time to treatment was shorter in cases than in controls (4 vs. 32 months; p <.001). Odds of extramedullary disease were higher (OR 4.20, p =.01), while odds of neuropathy (OR 0.22, p =.25), and hyperviscosity (OR 0.26, p =.26) were lower in cases than in controls. Odds of using chemoimmunotherapy were higher (OR 2.62, p =.11) while odds of using proteasome inhibitors (OR 0.35, p =.15) and BTK inhibitors (OR 0.17, p =.21) were lower in cases than in controls. There were no differences in response and overall survival (OS) between cases and controls. Despite clinicopathological differences, response, and survival outcomes are similar between non-IgM LPL cases and WM controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Victoria, data indicates that in 2013–2014 there were 74,992 adult male arrests, yet little formal attention has been paid to the parenting status of these men, despite knowledge of the impact of parental arrest and incarceration on children being well established. This article addresses a gap in the literature by providing new insights into the experiences of arrest of 34 primary carer fathers incarcerated in Victoria. It examines how incarcerated primary carer fathers experience planning processes for their children at the time of arrest and what factors facilitate or hinder the planning process. To do so, the article draws on data gathered for an Australian Research Council funded study conducted in Victoria and New South Wales between 2011 and 2015. Key issues include: the primary location of paternal arrest; the presence, or absence, of children at the location at which the arrest is made; police awareness of children; and subsequent discussions between police and fathers about suitable care. Findings indicate that half of all arrests took place in the family home. Children were present in 10 of these arrests and half were characterised by force, a large number of police, or weapons. Findings also indicate that in around one-half of all arrests, children were not physically present, despite fathers continuing to have responsibilities for these children. Despite 27 of the arrested men reporting that the police were aware (or made aware) of their children, almost all of these men (n = 26) were not asked about suitable care even when their children were physically present. Overall qualitative findings depict an absence of any discussion about children between police and fathers during the arrest process. The study highlights the demand for guidelines regarding child sensitive practice when a primary carer father is arrested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusess topics within the issue including parental imprisonment, father-child relationship, and impact of the same on children.

This study investigates relationships between older prisoners’ social experiences and their levels of distress. One hundred and seventy-three older prisoners (aged ≥ 50 years) from 8 Australian prisons were administered the Kessler Psychological Distress (K10) Scale, with additional information collected via individual interviews. Psychological distress scores were significantly associated with measures of self-reported safety (p < .001), prison victimization (p < .05), perceived social support from staff (p < .01) and inmates (p < .001), current employment (p < .05), and level of exercise (p < .001) among older inmates. Findings suggest that strategies for improving sense of safety, social support and level of exercise may ameliorate distress among older prisoners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papua New Guinea is seen by many to be one of the most troubled countries in the world today; it is challenged by infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, by violence—both in the home and in the broader community—as well as by the difficulties associated with responding to communities who are largely rural, remote and inaccessible. It is in this context that the profession of Social Work exists and in which students undertake their fieldwork practicum. The University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) is the primary provider of Social Work education in the country. This small study sought to investigate third-year UPNG Social Work students' reflections on their first fieldwork experience and their perceptions of preparation. Twenty-three students provided data via a written questionnaire. Content analysis revealed that most students felt only ‘just prepared’ for placement. While many highlighted the value of communication skills to them during fieldwork, there was considerable uncertainty about the role and nature of Social Work, with administrative duties seeming to dominate. Students were, however, clear about improvements; these focused primarily on the sequencing of the curriculum, to ensure that they had covered core learning materials prior to placement. The implications for practice and the challenges to implementation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There is a substantial body of knowledge that describes and analyses supervision of higher degree research students. However, the literature is relatively silent on the question of appropriate pedagogy for the supervision of honours students. Using a sample of social work students who completed their studies during the period 2005–2010, the authors set out to gain some preliminary knowledge of the appropriate pedagogy for the supervision of honours students. The findings reveal that most honours students constructed their supervisors as being expert companions, and provide some support for a social work model of academic supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although the population of imprisoned mothers is increasing, little formal data have been gathered about their dependents. This article draws on data from a study that examined the impact of maternal incarceration on 20 adolescent children in Victoria, Australia, focusing specifically on how and what care arrangements were made for the children and the implications of this care. Findings show a number of supportive and hindering factors that influence the making of care arrangements, including the support of another adult who enabled the woman in her role as mother, mothers' realistic outlook, and subsequent behaviors. Even where there were chronic problems, such as substance use, with a balance of supportive factors, these women were able to make reasonable and stable care arrangements for their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGL) is an indolent T lymphoproliferative disorder that was difficult to diagnose with certainty until clonality testing of the T cell receptor gene became routinely available. We studied the natural history and response to treatment in 25 consecutive patients with T-LGL diagnosed between 2004 and 2008 in which the diagnosis was confirmed by molecular analysis, to define an effective treatment algorithm. The median age at diagnosis was 61 years (range 27–78), with a male to female ratio of 1:1.8 and presenting features of fatigue ( n = 13), recurrent infections ( n = 9), and/or abnormal blood counts ( n = 5). Thirteen patients with symptomatic disease were treated as follows: pentostatin (nine patients), cyclosporine (six patients), methotrexate (three patients), and alemtuzumab in two patients in whom pentostatin was ineffective. Pentostatin was the single most effective therapy, with a response rate of 75% and minimal toxicity. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) 37 months from diagnosis were 80% and 52%, respectively. Treatment of T-LGL should be reserved for patients with symptomatic disease, but in this series, pentostatin treatment was less toxic and more effective than cyclosporine or methotrexate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]