Graduate Profile - Social Work

Bachelor of Social Work working as a Youth Development Officer in Tonga (Australian Youth Ambassador for Development).

Kali Smith

From a very young age Kali had a desire to live and work in a developing country. After graduating from University she began looking for opportunities to fulfil this dream and came across the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program.

Kali is now heading over to Tonga for twelve months as a Youth Development Officer at the Tongan Family Health Association, a non government organisation focussing on reproductive health. She is very excited about taking up this position as it combines her passion of working with young people with her love of travelling and desire to live and work in a developing country.

At the Tonga Family Health Association Kali will be undertaking duties such as assisting in the planning and coordination of the Pacific Action for Health Project and implementing skill based youth programs at the association's Youth Centre.

Kali has a Bachelor of Social Work from Flinders University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Social Geography) from the University of Adelaide. Throughout her university studies Kali worked as a Youth Worker with homeless young people, as a School Services Officer for young people with learning difficulties and as a carer of intellectually and physically disabled young people. After graduating from her Social Work degree Kali worked at Family and Youth Services and then moved on to take up the position of Community Health Worker with The Second Story, Youth Division of Child and Youth Health where she currently works.

Kali is looking forward to the challenge of living and working overseas, immersing herself in Tongan culture and learning a new language.

This profile is used with the permission of AusAID