Nordic circle on decolonizing social work

On 9-10 May 2022, 20 participants gathered at the University of Helsinki for the first Nordic circle on decolonizing social work. The event was opened by Kaurna Elder, Uncle Mickey O’Brien at Inparilla on Kaurna Yarta who gave a welcome to country. Luke Cantley explained why we do a welcome to country. The SWIRLS team (Social Work Innovation Research Living Space), which included Dr Michelle Jones, at Flinders University talked about Australia’s historical context and colonial legacies and the continuing impacts on health and wellbeing. The gathering continued with dialogues, performance art by Janet Park, discussions on Bedouin social work by Dr Nuzha Allassad Alhuzail, meditations led by Dr Einav Segev. Groups were also facilitated by Dr Henglien Lisa Chen, Dr Ann Anka, and Dr Michael Wallengren Lynch. The aim of the event was to consider the impact of colonization from personal and embodied perspectives.