Bio: Eleanor Irving

What brought you here to Sanctuary Aus?

I was lucky enough to be placed with Sanctuary Aus as part of my 1000-hour placement for my Master of Social Work degree at ACU, where I currently study.  

What keeps you here at SA?

What do you like about your role? 

So far, I am enjoying getting to know the beautiful families with which Sanctuary Aus works and the amazing, dedicated therapists who support them. It is exciting to witness such impactful work first hand. 

Your Previous Work

My work experience is a little eclectic: I have worked across multiple day care centres in the UK, for charities that support adults grappling with mental illness and as an international nanny for neurodivergent children. I have worked as a science teacher in Takoradi, Ghana and established and ran mental health recovery programmes in Colombo, Sri Lanka. I have also worked as a support worker for both adults and children with a variety of diagnoses, such as ASD, ADHD and a variety of mental health concerns. Presently, whilst not on placement, I work as an Early Intervention Key Worker for Leading Lights Early Intervention, who provide holistic, early intervention support to families in the Canberra region and surrounds. 

Your previous study

I have a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Leeds, UK and a master's degree in social anthropology from London School of Economics. I have also completed several short courses to further my understanding of complex issues of social justice such International Women's Health and Rights and trained as a Key Worker/ Primary Therapist". 

The friendly and supportive team have made my placement journey a joy. I cannot thank Kim, the CEO of Sanctuary Aus, enough for her supportive and inclusive approach to student placement.