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When 14 final-year social work students from the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ of ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (UOW) boarded a plane for Taiwan last October, they were stepping into the unknown. Each student was carefully selected for an immersive educational experience that would change the way many students viewed social work, and themselves, forever.

For Clodagh O’Neill the trip was nothing short of transformative.

“The trip was life-changing for me,” Clodagh said. “Not only in terms of it being the start of my professional journey as a social worker, but also personally.

“I learnt so much about myself and about working in a new culture. It opened my mind to all the things I learnt over my four-year degree. The experience gave me a unique chance to cement those skills and knowledge.”

^{The UOW students visit the Department of Social Work at NTU. Photo: supplied}

Funded by a and run in partnership with UOW, the and the , one of Taiwan’s largest non-government organisations (NGO), the inter-cultural learning program, co-led by social work lecturers, and Dr , offered an unparalleled opportunity for students to witness and engage with a distinctly different model of social work.

Program co-leader and social work lecturer, Nandini Ray, said taking students overseas and placing them in a completely different culture, environment, and routine gave them a chance to wipe their slate clean.

“It wasn’t just about learning new things – it was also about unlearning habits and perspectives that no longer served them,” Nandini said.

Learning from Taiwan’s collectivist approach

The two-week itinerary was packed with visits to the National Taiwan ¾«¶«´«Ã½, local NGOs, social enterprise and community programs, from social housing, after-school care for children living in poverty, to elderly daycare and homelessness services. In the rural mountainous region of Pinglin near Taipei, the students witnessed programs designed to support the area’s ageing population. It was here that Nandini said students’ eyes were opened to the differences between Australian and Taiwanese models of care.

^{The group visiting the Homeless Taiwan Association. Photo: supplied}

“The Taiwanese social work model is one rooted in collectivism. It’s about interconnectedness, it’s one where families and communities play a central role. They do community caring so much better there, and it was wonderful to see the students recognise that,” Nandini said.

“In Australia, we take an individual approach to social work. This means you’ll see our elderly placed in nursing homes; they’re seen as separate to the family, and the services provided are very individual and distinct.

“In Taiwan there is an underlying theme of kindness and connection in everything they do. It’s not separate; it is collective. It gave our students a greater understanding of community and what that means and looks like in terms of social work models.”

Social work student Grace Ellicott was particularly inspired by the collaborative nature of social services in Taiwan, where housing, mental health, and employment services often operate under one roof.

^{The students were inspired by the collaborative nature of social services in Taiwan. Here they are visiting an elderly daycare program. Photo: supplied}

“It’s a stark contrast to the individualistic and segmented approach we have here in Australia,” 24-year-old Grace said.

“Aged care isn’t outsourced in Taiwan. At Pinglin we saw how the elderly access services at a centre during the day but then go home to their families at night. There is a greater focus and expectation on the role the family play in care, and I loved that.

“There was also a much stronger social justice focus than what we see in Australia and even the way they connect with people from a cross-cultural perspective is unique.

“It made me rethink how I want to practice. My biggest takeaway was that I felt invigorated by social work, it’s hard to articulate, but seeing that in our work we are part of a bigger community of social workers is very empowering.”

Cross-cultural connections and challenges

At an after-school program organised by National Taiwan ¾«¶«´«Ã½ students in a local church, another UOW student taught a traditional Indigenous dance to local Taiwanese children, sharing stories about her totem and culture.

“The kids were transfixed,” said Nandini. “It was transformative not only for them but also for our student. The student spoke later about how she’d never had the opportunity to share her culture with Australian children, yet in Taiwan, she felt truly seen and valued.”

This sentiment was echoed by Dr Kenny Kor, who co-led the trip with Nandini.

“If this experience had been in a country similar to Australia, it wouldn’t have had the same impact,” he said. “The collectivist culture in Taiwan is embedded in everything they do – it’s community-oriented, it’s thoughtful, and it’s caring. That’s something our students really took to heart.”

Another one of the program’s standout moments came during a visit to a rural centre where elderly residents spoke an Indigenous language unfamiliar to both the students and their translators.

Grace said students couldn’t rely on translation apps and had to think outside the box to communicate.

“It was surprising how much we could connect without words,” she said. “It taught us a lot about adaptability and empathy.”

Clodagh believes there is a lot more Australia can learn from the way Taiwanese people do culture and community. While initially feeling nervous about travelling to Taiwan because of the way the country is often portrayed in the media, her concerns were quickly alleviated after arriving during Taiwan Pride and seeing the caring and accepting nature of the Taiwanese people.

^{UOW students arrived in Taiwan during Pride Week and took part in celebrations. Photo: supplied}

“I am very passionate about LBGTQI issues and as someone who identifies as part of this community, I was apprehensive about how I’d be received,” Clodagh said.

“I look a bit different to the other students, I dress differently, I have shorter hair and I thought this could stand out. I wanted to be respectful of the Taiwanese community and culture, but I also didn’t want to hide who I was.

“It was a huge relief to get there and not have to worry at all. Seeing the parallels between Taiwan’s activism and Australia’s journey in this space was deeply reassuring. I felt safe, respected, and accepted everywhere I went.

“To be honest, the scariest part about the whole trip was the typhoon we experienced when we arrived,” she laughed.

Luckily, the typhoon had little Impact on the program, other than cancellation and rescheduling of some activities and a brief one-day lockdown at the hotel.

"We were well-prepared for the possibility of a typhoon. Typhoons are very common In Taiwan. We were in Taipei City when the typhoon struck and were given plenty of notice to prepare for the lockdown. We took advantage of the day we had at the hotel, meeting with students for a reflexive group supervision, taking a deep dive into their learning and un-learning," Kenny said.  

Transforming futures in social work

Selecting the group of 14 students was a meticulous process, with Kenny and Nandini interviewing 25 applicants. The researchers, from UOW’s School of Social Sciences, said getting the right mix of students was vital to the success of the program.

“We looked for students who were not only academically strong but also resilient, open to cultural differences, and interested in inter-cultural practice,” Nandini said.

“We focused on creating a diverse group, including Indigenous students and those from regional areas who might not have had this kind of opportunity before. Watching their transformation over just two weeks was incredible,” Kenny said.

^{Choosing the right mix of students was key to the success of the trip. Photo: supplied}

Initially Clodagh had been worried her marks would prevent her from being selected for the program.

“I was taking Nandini’s class in community development when the applications for the program were opened. Nandini and Kenny are two of the most passionate and inspiring tutors you could have and I knew I’d love to have the experience of doing this trip with them,” Clodagh said.

“To be honest, I really didn’t think I would be accepted or chosen. I have never been the top of the class during my degree, I am really passionate about social work and I am very committed to my degree but I thought that my grades might hold me back.

“I was so appreciative to be selected because for me social work is who I am and I’m committed to taking everything I learnt on that trip into my practice now I have started my career.”

For Grace, the trip wasn’t just about learning, it was about rediscovering her passion for social work.

“It reminded me that as social workers, we’re part of a global community. The experience reinforced the importance of working collaboratively and honouring cultural backgrounds. It’s something I’ll carry with me throughout my career.”

The New Colombo Plan is an Australian Government initiative that supports undergraduate students to study and intern in the Indo-Pacific region. These grants aim to deepen Australia’s relationships with regional neighbours and equip students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a globalised world.

While the grant was vital in ensuring the inter-cultural learning program could go ahead, it’s the reciprocal relationship UOW has with the National Taiwan ¾«¶«´«Ã½ that makes it as successful as it is. Nandini has been instrumental in fostering this relationship for many years and says it’s one built on mutual respect and trust.

“We’ve hosted NTU students in Australia, and this program was a chance for our students to experience their world,” Nandini said. “It’s not one-sided. And it’s not just an exchange of knowledge, it’s also an exchange of values.”

As the students returned home, they brought with them not just memories but also a new perspective on social work. Inter-cultural learning programs like this are invaluable, providing students with opportunities to step outside their comfort zones, challenge their assumptions, and grow both personally and professionally.

“It’s these kinds of experiences that prepare our students to be compassionate, adaptable, and globally minded practitioners,” Kenny said. “And that’s exactly what the future of social work needs.”

Find out more about UOW’s Bachelor of Social Work here.