I’ve just booked into the National Rural and Remote Social Work conference which is being held at Inverloch in July. Having enjoyed the last one in 2011, I am really looking forward to this one.

There are a few presentations on my own area – supervision, which I am very keen to attend. Two areas I have an interest in – the provision of supervision to allied health and non-clinical staff and the provision of clinical supervision via Skype or telephone, feature in a number of the concurrent sessions. I am eager to hear others’ experiences of these areas.

Some of the sessions I am planning to attend include:

· “How a social work supervision model can support community nurses”

· “Online counselling and practice: email, chat and video: security, ethics, what is involved and how it can be done effectively.”

· “The challenges and opportunities of technology: An examination of the uses of Skype and Phone Supervision with Remote and Rural Practitioners.”

· “The supportive network: Technology and Rural Social Work Practice.”

When I undertake remote based supervision, I encourage, where possible, a face-to-face meeting as a way of beginning to build the relationship. Having met face-to-face helps facilitate the important step of building a trusting relationship between the supervisor and the supervisee. The rural conference is a good opportunity for potential supervisees to meet me and for us to get to know each other a bit, in a no-strings-attached way!

One of my other roles is as an editor of the AASW Victorian Branch’s Social Work Connect. Through the Social Work Connect, I have the opportunity to liaise with lots of people who are working in rural or remote social work. I also provide supervision remotely to a number of social workers. This conference will be a great opportunity to meet face-to-face with people who I have so far connected with via telephone, Skype or email.

The Social Work Connect will also be a great vehicle to report back on the conference. We are hoping to showcase some of the great presentations and workshops that take place. We will be soliciting those attending to send us in short reports of their experiences at the conference, as well as lots of colourful photos!

I am hoping to meet some of you there.