Experience

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  Self-Employed

  • Eastern Region

  • Senior Investigator

    • Jan 2013 - Present
    • Eastern Region

    Self employed, contracting cases for CHS.Reviewer for Child Death Inquiries for CCYPHave conducted Abuse in Care investigations for DHSHave conducted workplace reviews for corporate and welfare sector agencies

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  Department of Human Services, Victoria, Australia

  • Eastern Metropolitan Region

  • DHS: Senior HR Consultant, Employee Relations

    • Jan 2007 - Nov 2013
    • Eastern Metropolitan Region

    • Advise on and support DHS discipline policy and processes• Manages external investigators employed to conduct reviews• Assists with termination of employment (including annulment during probation & abandonment of employment)• Advises on underperformance and performance improvement plans• Provides advice on code of conduct• Supports resolution of workplace conflict • Management and development of the EXIT/ENTRY interview portfolioIn January 2008 DHS/EMR implemented a pilot project to conduct EXIT interviews with staff leaving the department. Further to this in September 2008 Entry Interviews with staff new to EMR were introduced. These interviews were to assist Human Resources to gain a thorough understanding about what employee’s value in their workplace, in order to initiate positive workplace changes.The information gathered during the EXIT and ENTRY interviews are to be collated and securely stored in a non identified manner. From this information a report will be prepared identifying trends and issues and forwarded to the Regional Executive and the HR Planning Group for discussion.

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  DHS - Disability Client Services

  • Team Leader Child and Family Team

    • May 2005 - Jan 2007

    Following a restructure within DCS to an ages and stages model the Child and Family Team was introduced. It was my role as Team leader to develop this team and offer expertise on management of cases where either there was a child with an intellectual disability, or where one or both parents have an intellectual disability.• Support staff development to gain and further develop expertise• Develop strong links with the Specialist Services program• Develop and maintain strong links with other program areas, specifically Child Protection • Identify appropriate community services resources to assist in supporting our client base• Develop team skills appropriate to the service needs and identify appropriate developmental opportunities for the team• Support staff

  • Team Leader-Long Term Case Management Team

    • Aug 2003 - May 2006

    • Coordinate and oversee the provision of long-term case management services to clients• Effectively manage and develop a team of staff to meet the needs of the client group, whilst pro-actively responding to emerging client issues.• Demonstrate leadership in the implementation of all relevant legislation and guidelines.• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with all internal and external key stakeholders.• Actively contribute to the day-to-day operation and overall planning and development of the DCS program.• Provide and maintain a healthy and safe working environment for staff.• Participate in the development and implementation of health and safety regimes.• Contribute to the effectiveness of the work environment by enacting the Departments organisational values.

  • Advanced Case Manager

    • Apr 2002 - Aug 2003

    • Assess client needs and undertake effective development, implementation and review of individual client case plans• Possess a thorough working knowledge of all relevant legislation.• Build relationships with service providers (internal and external) to facilitate provision of service, referrals and establish clear pathways for people with disabilities in accessing a range of generic and specialist disability services.• Develop and maintain positive professional relationships with clients and their carers.• Be an active member of the DCS team.• Possess effective and efficient organisational and administrative skills.

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  DHS - Early Intervention Services, Specialist Children's Services

  • Eastern Metropolitan Region

  • Acting Manager

    • Dec 2004 - Feb 2005
    • Eastern Metropolitan Region

    Secondment period 22 December 2004 – 7 February 2005The Manager of Early Intervention Services (EIS), Specialist Children’s Services (SCS) is responsible for the delivery of EI services: providing support to families with children aged 0-6 yrs with a developmental delay/disability. Also to provide access to services designed to promote the health and wellbeing of clients and to enable children to develop to their full potential.The Manager has key responsibilities for:• Leading internal service delivery teams and funded agency partnerships, • Program development and analysis • Developing, implementing and reviewing new initiatives• Developing performance indicators/measures/service specifications/targets. • Reporting on performance against standards and targets• Managing the relationships with relevant areas of the department, other Departments and agencies in the community, delivering services to children and families.

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  DHS - Child Protection

  • Eastern Metropolitan Region

  • Child Protection Practitioner

    • Feb 1996 - Apr 2002
    • Eastern Metropolitan Region

    Employed as permanent CAFW 3 (senior caseworker), with consistent experience acting in the CAFW 4 team leader roleCase management experiences in children’s long term, adolescent response and intake teams.• Developed skills in crisis driven response within policy guidelines.• Risk assessment skills within response and intake, and according to the VRF guidelines.• Provision of reports to Melbourne Children’s Court and the Melbourne County Court.• Referral to appropriate community agencies and professionals, reflecting client needs.• Ongoing relationship with client and families to facilitate reunification of the family unit, wherever practicable and in the child’s best interest.

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  Parents of Missing Children - auspiced to CRISIS LINE

  • Melbourne, Australia

  • Project Officer

    • Aug 1993 - Feb 1996
    • Melbourne, Australia

    • Responsible for resourcing, and provision of specific training modules for CRISIS LINE counsellors.• Responsible for the development and facilitation of training sessions for CRISIS LINE counsellors on issues sch as non resolvable grief, debriefing and missing persons issues.• Provision of case follow-up, counselling, ongoing client support and identifying and facilitating appropriate referrals for the client base.• Responsible for program administration and accountability to funding bodies.• Member of organising committee for Missing Persons Week.• Attain sponsorship for Parents of Missing Person programs, and for Missing Persons Week.

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  Parents of Missing Children (POMC)

  • Surrey Hills

  • Manager

    • Feb 1990 - Aug 1993
    • Surrey Hills

    • Resource and provide administrative support to Committee of Management.• Responsible for administration and sustained funding for agency.• Developed volunteer training and support program.• Recruit, train and support volunteer base in the provision of a 24-hour telephone crisis line for parents who have missing children and families who have a missing family member.• Manage the volunteer counselling staff base of 15-20 staff.• Participant of organising committee for Missing Persons Week.• Founding member of the Victorian Missing Persons Committee.• Executive officer, National Missing Persons Committee, Canberra• Attend bi-annual meetings at National Missing Persons Centre, Canberra• Network with appropriate agencies, Funding bodes and Government Ministers.• Supervise social work students from Latrobe University.

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  Mental Health Authority

  • Inner East Regional Team based at St Gabriel's

  • Welfare Worker

    • Sep 1976 - Mar 1979
    • Inner East Regional Team based at St Gabriel's

    • Member of multidisciplinary team.• Liaison between Team Social worker and families of intellectually disabled children and young people residing within the Eastern Metropolitan Region.• Coordinate school holiday programs, utilising the facilities at Onemda.• Resource and facilitate activity/independent living skills support groups for intellectually and physically disabled young adults/adults residing in community supported accommodation.• Instigate and convene a social group for young adults, known as the Kewarra Club.• Review supported accommodation hostels within the EMR.

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  Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

  • Marine Laboratory Technician: Hobson's Bay and Western Port Bay projects

    • Jun 1972 - Jan 1974

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  A&J Jones and Associates

  • Architectural Draftsperson

    • Jan 1971 - Jun 1972