Skilled practitioner with strong focus on achieving results and fostering team collaboration. Known for reliability and adaptability to changing needs. Expertise in children and family care, case management, and clinical assessments. Strong communication and problem-solving skills valued in high-pressure environments.
Chairing Case Conferences, attending ACT Childrens Court.
Undertaking 507 Abuse in Care Appraisals
Risk Assessment of Child Concern Reports
Delivering Training/Mentoring Staff/Quality Assurance of documents
Management of Case Transfers to ACT Together
Representative at Carer Liaison Panel (reviewing permanency/foster care assessments)
Assistant Director, Innovative Pilot Projects (IPP) & Strategic Policy Team
09.2024 - 02.2025
Responsibilities include:
Panel Member: 2024-25 Women’s Safety Grants
DFSVO Project Lead – DFSVO and NGO Contract Registry
Member of DFSVO Standard Operating Procedure Working Team
Review of Reporting Documents in regard to IPP Projects
Stakeholder Management
Preparation of Ministerial Briefs and Packages/Sector Communique/Annual Hearing Brief/Correspondence
Secondment
Team Leader, Children, Youth and Families – HP4
02.2014 - 07.2019
Responsibilities include:
Providing supervision to a team of up to seven Case Managers
Oversight of compliance requirements
Quality assurance of written work such as family assessments, risk assessments, court documents
Oversight of risk assessment for children at risk
Managing the investigation of children at risk within a statutory framework
Chairing case conferences, meeting with internal and external stakeholders, team meetings
Preparation of briefs, ministerial correspondence
Managing complaints
Child, Youth and Family Services Program
09.2013 - 02.2014
Relationship Management with internal and external stakeholders.
Contract management and related financial management.
Prepare and co-ordinate ministerial and parliamentary documents.
Senior Policy and Project Officer (contract) – SOGC
09.2012 - 09.2013
Responsibilities include:
Preparation of high level correspondence for senior management.
Provide secretariat responsibilities for the Solving Workplace Issues Together Team and Working Group Team.
Quality Assurance responsibilities for the Child, Youth and Family Services Program.
Responding to daily needs as priorities emerge.
Social Worker, Adoptions & Permanent Care Unit – HP3
08.2011 - 09.2012
Responsibilities include:
Assessment of:
Permanent Care Applicants
Enduring Parental Responsibility Orders or Adoption Order
Kinship Care Assessments
Casework responsibilities for families caring for a child/ren in permanent care which includes providing briefs, holding Review of Arrangement Meetings, maintaining the legal file and the departmental database, liaising with birth-family and permanent carers.
Providing information to interested parties regarding adoption and permanent care.
Policy Officer (contract) – APS6
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
02.2011 - 07.2011
Influence and provide advice to senior stakeholders to help shape policy and project decisions.
Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Contract management and related financial management.
Prepare and co-ordinate ministerial and parliamentary documents.
Support delivery of the Building Capacity Building Bridges Project (funded $2.2 million) and the Common Approach to Assessment Referral and Support Project (funded $1.1 million).
Departmental representation at senior level meetings.
Senior Adoption Caseworker
01.2002 - 01.2011
Responsibilities include:
Acting up as the Manager Casework.
Providing supervision to Caseworkers.
Allocating casework/tasks.
Representation at management meetings.
Providing practice direction.
Facilitating the overall operation of the Local Adoption Program and the Special Placements Program.
Co-ordinate care for children in the local and special placements program.
Recruitment and assessment of applicants for the Special Placements Program.
Ensure all stages of the adoption process are case managed such as exchange of information, counselling, compliance and ensure timeframes are adhered to for all stakeholders.
Representation at various adoption and social work forums.
Preparing reports, court affidavits, submissions and correspondence.
Project Officer
01.1995 - 01.1996
Responsibilities include:
Conducting telephone interviews and developing case studies.
In person interviews of selected case studies.
Design of survey questionnaire
Data analysis and report writing for ‘Training and Productivity’ research project.
Prior to 2002, Social Work experience in Health, Mental Health, Working with Refugees.
Education
Master of Social Work -
University of Hawaii
USA
06-1995
Bachelor of Social Work -
University of Hawaii
USA
06-1994
Skills
Critical and Analytical Thinker
Analytical investigation skills
Stakeholder relationship management
Clear written communication
Results-oriented problem solving
Timeline
Senior Practitioner – HP4
Children, Youth and Families Office
03.2025 - Current
Assistant Director, Innovative Pilot Projects (IPP) & Strategic Policy Team
09.2024 - 02.2025
Team Leader, Children, Youth and Families – HP4
02.2014 - 07.2019
Child, Youth and Family Services Program
09.2013 - 02.2014
Senior Policy and Project Officer (contract) – SOGC
09.2012 - 09.2013
Social Worker, Adoptions & Permanent Care Unit – HP3
08.2011 - 09.2012
Policy Officer (contract) – APS6
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Family Group Decision Making Specialist at Northampton County Children, Youth and FamiliesFamily Group Decision Making Specialist at Northampton County Children, Youth and Families