Alison Bird
Glenmore Park ,NSW
Summary
Strong relational leader who is able to use independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact outcomes. Dedicated professional skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations and challenges. Collaborative leader with a dedication to partnering with coworkers to promote an engaged, empowered, high performing work culture. Documented strengths in building and maintaining relationships with diverse range of stakeholders. Dependable and successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Program Manager, Family Preservation
Wesley Mission
02.2016 - Current
- Management of program manager team and intake team;
- Operational management of service delivery teams with staff situated across multiple sites in Western Sydney & Nepean Blue Mountains;
- Leadership of large teams to provide collaborative child centred and family focused service to children and families to prevent issues escalating;
- Professional development of practice teams;
- Ensure delivery of program with continuous fidelity;
- Contribution to the ongoing development and evaluation of FP; Practice champion for best practice in targeted service provision;
- Leader in contribution to positive workplace culture;
- Support Wesley Mission in providing a total service to the community.
Acting Operations Manager
Escaping Violence Program & Parents Next
11.2023 - 03.2024
- Supervised operations staff and supported compliance with company policies and procedures.
- Empowered employees to take ownership of their responsibilities, leading to increased accountability and improved performance outcomes.
- Conducted regular supervision with Program Managers, identifying areas of strength and areas of improvement.
- Creating and leading a positive team culture in line with Wesley Mission Vision and Values
- Worked collaboratively with Lead Agency, Uniting VicTas to ensure service delivery was in line with national expectations.
- Developed and maintained relationships with external vendors and suppliers.
- Enhanced client satisfaction by establishing clear communication channels and addressing concerns promptly.
- Implemented process improvement to optimize procedures for higher efficiency.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Established positive and effective communication among unit staff and organization leadership, reducing miscommunications, and missed deadlines.
- Achieved higher employee retention rates by fostering a positive work environment and providing opportunities for professional growth.
Practice Specialist, Brighter Futures and Youth Hope
Wesley Mission
10.2014 - 02.2016
- Management of child protection reporting;
- Review of critical incidents; review of quality issues in continuous improvement process;
- Advice and consultation to Leadership team in relation to practice issues;
- Needs mapping and management of training calendar;
- Training of staff in relation to SDM tools and other practice issues;
- Contribution to Operational decision making;
- Coaching and mentoring of staff;
- Quarterly reporting to FaMS on Brighter Futures Program; project management.
Prenatal Child Protection Caseworker
Community Services
01.2014 - 10.2014
- Prenatal caseworker – safety and risk assessment within organisational framework;
- File reviews;
- Case planning with non-voluntary clients to increase safety prior to birth;
- Referral and advocacy to other agencies to address safety and risk issues;
- Removal/assumption of child/ren at time of birth as required and preparation of initial court documents;
- Provision of parenting supports;
- Participant in bi-monthly Nepean Hospital Social Work meeting; networking with other agencies to strengthen collaborative working relationships with joint clients.
Strengthening Families Caseworker
Community Services
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Strengthening Families Caseworker – duties include safety and risk assessment within organisational framework;
- Case management with non-voluntary clients to keep children safe within the home;
- Participation in the crisis response roster; removal of children of children from the home when required; preparation of initial court documents;
- Preparation of strengths and needs assessments and family action plans;
- Referral and advocacy for children and their families;
- Provision of parenting support
- Monitored case progress for timely completion and compliance with applicable regulations.
- Other duties included acting in Manager Casework position whilst substantive occupant was on leave.
Early Intervention Caseworker
Community Services
01.2006 - 01.2012
- Early Intervention Caseworker – duties include assessment of families for eligibility and suitability for services; provision of early intervention support services through home visiting; long term case management; referral and advocacy for families; provision of parenting support; delivery of group programs; interagency liaison
- Other duties included acting in Manager Casework position whilst substantive occupant was on leave.
Child Protection Caseworker
Community Services
04.2003 - 01.2006
- Child Protection Caseworker – duties included removal of children;
- Performance of ongoing casework duties through out court process;
- Preparation of court documents for lodgement with the Children's Court of New South Wales;
- Attending court and giving evidence on behalf of the Director General;
- Liaison with various stakeholders of Community Services including non government agencies, foster carers and other Government departments;
- Intake officer role which required short term case management skills and in depth knowledge of local support services for purposes of referral
- Other duties included acting in Manager Casework position whilst substantive occupant was on leave
Police Officer/Federal Agent
Australian Federal Police
05.1998 - 04.2003
- Intelligence Officer – duties included management of informants; collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of information and intelligence, family law duties
- Drug Investigator – member of multi-agency taskforce targeting high level drug importations comprising Federal and State Government agencies including New South Wales Police, Australian Customs Service, New South Wales Crime Commission and National Crime Authority
- Duties included criminal casework and surveillance duties
- General Investigator – duties included criminal casework; family law court duties; execution of family law court recovery orders and airport investigations at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.
Education
Working with Voluntary Clients, Engaging with Families, Brighter Futures Training
Community Services, Learning and Development Branch, Bidura
Transition to Management Training
Community Services, Learning and Development Branch, Bidura
Parents As Teachers Practitioner training
Community Services, Learning and Development Branch, Bidura
Keep Them Safe Training
TAFE NSW
Three Choices and Emotion Coaching Practitioner training
Parentshop – Dunmore Lang College, Macquarie University
North Ryde, NSWKeeping Baby in Mind: Enhancing Reflective Parenting in Early Intervention
Australian Association for Mental Health, NSW Branch
Introduction to Keeping Children and Families in Mind
COPMI, NSW Health
Penrith, NSWTuning into Kids Practitioner training
Mindful, University of Melbourne
Melbourne, VICStructured Decision Making (SDM) Training
Family and Community Services, Learning and Development Branch, Bidura
Motivational Interviewing Workshop
Family And Community Services, Learning And Development Branch, Bidura
Practice Leadership Workshop
Office of the Senior Practitioner
Ashfield, NSWWorking with Men who use Violence workshop
Office of the Senior Practitioner
Ashfield, NSWLiving Our Values
Wesley Mission, Head Office
Child Protection Dynamics
Wesley Mission
Blacktown, NSWChild Trauma Conference Delegate
Australian Childhood Foundation
Melbourne, VICGroup Supervision Training
Wesley Mission
Blacktown, NSWFacilitating Group Supervision Training
Wesley Mission
Blacktown, NSWLeading Practice Workshop
Wesley Mission
Blacktown, NSW7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Wesley Mission
Blacktown, NSWGraduate Diploma of Developmental Trauma -
Wesley Mission
Blacktown, NSWEngaging Children Workshop
Wesley Mission
Blacktown, NSWWithout Question - Mindful Leadership
Wesley Mission
Blacktown, NSWThe Neuroscience of Leadership
Wesley Mission
Blacktown, NSWMotivational Interviews
Wesley Mission
Blacktown, NSWManaging Difficult Conversations
Wesley Mission
Dundas, NSWWhat's Up With My Mob
Wesley Mission
Dundas, NSWLateral Violence
Wesley Mission
Dundas, NSWMental Health First Aid
Wesley Mission
Blacktown, NSWWorking with Aboriginal People Leadership
Wesley Mission
Blacktown, NSWManaging Toxic Employees
SACS Consulting
OCG Child Safe Organisation Training
Wesley Mission
Safeguarding Children and Young People Category A
Wesley Mission
Caseworker Development Course -
Community Services, Learning and Development Branch, Bidura
12.2004
Diploma in Policing -
Charles Sturt University
Sydney, NSW12.1999
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Queensland
St Lucia, Qld12.1997
Bachelor of Arts - Double Major in Psychology
Macquarie University
North Ryde, NSW12.1994
Skills
- Effective leader
- Leadership and team building
- Problem Resolution
- Operations Management
- Team Player
- Staff Management
- Relationship Building
- Staff Supervision
- Customer Relationship Management
- Verbal and written communication
- Staff Motivation
- Process Improvements
- Strategic Planning
- Performance Improvement
- Staffing
- Recruitment
Timeline
Acting Operations Manager
Escaping Violence Program & Parents Next
11.2023 - 03.2024
Senior Program Manager, Family Preservation
Wesley Mission
02.2016 - Current
Practice Specialist, Brighter Futures and Youth Hope
Wesley Mission
10.2014 - 02.2016
Prenatal Child Protection Caseworker
Community Services
01.2014 - 10.2014
Strengthening Families Caseworker
Community Services
01.2012 - 01.2014
Early Intervention Caseworker
Community Services
01.2006 - 01.2012
Child Protection Caseworker
Community Services
04.2003 - 01.2006
Police Officer/Federal Agent
Australian Federal Police
05.1998 - 04.2003
Working with Voluntary Clients, Engaging with Families, Brighter Futures Training
Community Services, Learning and Development Branch, Bidura
Transition to Management Training
Community Services, Learning and Development Branch, Bidura
Parents As Teachers Practitioner training
Community Services, Learning and Development Branch, Bidura
Keep Them Safe Training
TAFE NSW
Three Choices and Emotion Coaching Practitioner training
Parentshop – Dunmore Lang College, Macquarie University
Keeping Baby in Mind: Enhancing Reflective Parenting in Early Intervention
Australian Association for Mental Health, NSW Branch
Introduction to Keeping Children and Families in Mind
COPMI, NSW Health
Tuning into Kids Practitioner training
Mindful, University of Melbourne
Structured Decision Making (SDM) Training
Family and Community Services, Learning and Development Branch, Bidura
Motivational Interviewing Workshop
Family And Community Services, Learning And Development Branch, Bidura
Practice Leadership Workshop
Office of the Senior Practitioner
Working with Men who use Violence workshop
Office of the Senior Practitioner
Living Our Values
Wesley Mission, Head Office
Child Protection Dynamics
Wesley Mission
Child Trauma Conference Delegate
Australian Childhood Foundation
Group Supervision Training
Wesley Mission
Facilitating Group Supervision Training
Wesley Mission
Leading Practice Workshop
Wesley Mission
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Wesley Mission
Graduate Diploma of Developmental Trauma -
Wesley Mission
Engaging Children Workshop
Wesley Mission
Without Question - Mindful Leadership
Wesley Mission
The Neuroscience of Leadership
Wesley Mission
Motivational Interviews
Wesley Mission
Managing Difficult Conversations
Wesley Mission
What's Up With My Mob
Wesley Mission
Lateral Violence
Wesley Mission
Mental Health First Aid
Wesley Mission
Working with Aboriginal People Leadership
Wesley Mission
Managing Toxic Employees
SACS Consulting
OCG Child Safe Organisation Training
Wesley Mission
Safeguarding Children and Young People Category A
Wesley Mission
Caseworker Development Course -
Community Services, Learning and Development Branch, Bidura
Diploma in Policing -
Charles Sturt University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Queensland
Bachelor of Arts - Double Major in Psychology
Macquarie University
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