Congratulations, Bridie

Bridie Bell Denman has been chosen by the University of Tasmania to receive the 2026 Anglicare Tasmania Scholarship in Social Work.

Tell us a little about your background. I grew up in nipaluna/Hobart with my parents and younger brother. From a young age, my family instilled in me the importance of community, kindness, and responsibility to care for the world around us. I was especially influenced by my grandmothers, who both dedicated their lives to supporting others and creating spaces where people felt welcomed, safe, and valued.

How would you describe your journey to social work?  After I graduated from Year 12, I felt a lot of pressure to begin my university career immediately, which led me to start studying a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English literature. It took me a couple of years to come to the decision to move to social work as I felt it aligned with my values and was more meaningful to me.  I am grateful for this period of uncertainty, because it ultimately led me to a degree that I genuinely enjoy.

Are there any specific skills you’ve learned during your study?  Some of the most valuable skills I have developed through my studies at UTAS are humility, reflection, and deep listening. I’ve come to recognise the way I see the world is shaped by my own experiences and identity, and that this is only one way of understanding.

Throughout my degree, I have been encouraged to critically reflect on my assumptions and engage with perspectives and experiences that are different to my own. These moments of learning have strengthened my ability to listen and practice with care, curiosity and respect.

What sort of work placements have you done to date, and what is on the cards? I completed my first placement in 2025 with the Huon Valley Council, working within their youth and community development team. This experience was incredibly valuable in helping me understand what social work can look like at the community level.

In a few weeks, I will begin my second placement at the Tasmanian Department of Health, within their statewide mental health services team. It is a research-based placement, with a focus on policy development. I am particularly looking forward to learning how policy processes incorporate and centre the expertise of people with lived experience.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?  I see myself continuing to live in lutruwita/Tasmania and working within the social work field. I am currently interested in both direct practice supporting children and families, as well as macro-level social work and policy development. I work with children and families as a teacher’s aide and outside school hours educator and would love to continue this work within a social work sphere.

What would you say to someone completing a career in social work?  Social work is a challenging, but incredibly rewarding field, that offers a variety of career choices. It gives you the opportunity to work alongside people and communities with respect, dignity, and care.

The scholarship will make a meaningful difference to my final year of study as I complete my placement and Honours thesis. It will allow me to take some time off from work to focus on my studies during this very busy year. I am very grateful for the opportunity, and the immense support that the Anglicare scholarship provides to social work students like me.

More information

The Anglicare Scholarship in Social Work is worth $5,000. It is offered each year to a third or fourth year student of social work at the University of Tasmania. The University selects the scholarship winner.

Read interviews with former scholarship recipients Zayden Dare-Rainey (2024) and  Georgie Jones (2024).

Visit the University of Tasmania’s School of Social Work webpage for course outlines, information on career opportunities and student case studies.