BERNA KARADAG
North Roselands,Australia
Summary
Results-driven professional with a track record of developing strong and sustainable partnerships. Held senior leadership positions including assistant director on a national recruitment project and senior manager in service delivery. Utilise collaboration and negotiation skills to meet strategies within legislative frameworks and align with the Agency's Corporate Plan. Vision for an agency that values its people, grows together, and consistently delivers quality outcomes while keeping stakeholders connected and engaged. Passionate, committed, and resilient with a contemporary attitude towards people with disabilities, working towards achieving equitable outcomes. Executive-level leadership skills and extensive experience in people management, effectively managing numerous large offices and teams. Transferable skills for other roles. Strong association with HR has honed high-level outcome-based report writing abilities. Actively encourage contribution and effectively communicate expected outcomes, recognizing the positive benefits of diversity. Experienced with regional management, ensuring efficient operation and growth. Utilizes strategic planning and leadership skills to drive business success. Track record of enhancing team performance and implementing effective communication strategies.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Director
Services Australia
12.2024 - Current
- As Assistant Director I am responsible for leading a team of Program Support managers focused on delivering specific government services, overseeing operations within a designated area, managing policy implementation, and ensuring compliance with regulation.
- I research, plan, implement and evaluate project initiatives within the Language services division and deliver outcomes.
- I work under broad autonomy reporting directly to Senior Executives.
- I oversee and manage the use of service providers, including language service panel members.
- I manage the health of the interpreter panel.
- I oversee and monitor financial budgets.
- I lead strategic planning for longer term project initiatives and programs that may have an agency wide impact.
- Manage program inputs to achieve outcomes in an effective and efficient manner.
- Provide cross Government services.
EL2 Region Manager
Services Australia
01.2025 - 02.2025
- Delivered comprehensive reports on regional performance metrics, enabling senior management to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation and business strategy adjustments
- Fostered a collaborative working environment to encourage knowledge sharing, skill development, and continuous improvement across teams
- Leveraged expertise in market segmentation to effectively target different consumer groups within the region, maximizing sales potential across diverse demographics
- Spearheaded regional training programs to upskill team members, enhance overall performance, and prepare high-potential employees for future leadership roles within the organization
EL1 Service Centre Manager
Services Australia
09.2021 - 12.2024
- Managing and leading a team of leaders to take staff on a journey into the future of Services Australia
- High level discussions with HR, focusing on fair and transparent outcomes
- High level report writing and liaison with Rehabilitation providers
- High level discussions with National Manager for evidence-based outcomes in reference to HR outcomes, succession planning and operational procedures
- Providing clarity to Community events and acknowledging outcomes and achievements
- Playing a pivotal role in communicating the changing demand and workload to support the achievement of agency goals
- I have confidently presented messages in a clear, concise and articulate manner in forums for the development of leadership
- I hold the Community and People and HR Portfolio's
- I have provided support to and mentored many managers with HR report writing while negotiating difficult situations
- During these sessions I have identified learning opportunities and have empowered leaders by delegating tasks
EL2 Region Manager
Services Australia
09.2024 - 10.2024
- Delivered comprehensive reports on regional performance metrics, enabling senior management to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation and business strategy adjustments
- Fostered a collaborative working environment to encourage knowledge sharing, skill development, and continuous improvement across teams
- Leveraged expertise in market segmentation to effectively target different consumer groups within the region, maximizing sales potential across diverse demographics
- Spearheaded regional training programs to upskill team members, enhance overall performance, and prepare high-potential employees for future leadership roles within the organization
EL1 Assistant Director
Services Australia
12.2022 - 02.2023
- I took on a project in the Community Engagement team as Program Manager and was part of the Emergency response State based team
- I was the Emergency Management Coordinator and I worked closely with three National Managers to ensure coordinated assistance was provided to flood affected areas
- I negotiated with leaders across a diverse footprint organizing outreach to recovery centers and the Mobile Bus
- I was a leader providing guidance and awareness of flood affected areas to staff travelling to support stakeholders in those areas
- I also had management of Program Support Managers and Community engagement officers
EL1 Service Centre Manager
Services Australia
05.2019 - 09.2021
- Managing a high performing office
- Developing leadership with a succession plan and development strategy of leaders
- Taking lead of the Region leadership project for development purposes and evaluate and identify critical success factors to National Manager
- I nurtured internal and external relationships with a network of key people
- I anticipate and am responsive to internal and external client needs
- Pastoral care of specialists on site
- Successfully broadbanded 9 staff from the APS3 to the APS4 level
APS6 Service Centre Manager
Services Australia
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Ensuring the management of a Services Australia office
- Developing APS5 leaders to ensure office KPI's were met
- Playing a pivotal role in communicating change demand
- Reporting to the Region Manager and providing evidence based outcomes
- Managing a high performing office in a changing urban footprint
- Providing a business case for an additional team leader to join the leadership team
APS6 Service Centre Manager
Centrelink & Medicare
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Ensuring the management of a co-located Centrelink and Medicare Services Australia office
- Developing APS5 leaders to ensure office KPI's were met
- Playing a pivotal role in communicating change demand
- Reporting to the Region Manager and providing evidence based outcomes
- Managing a high performing office in a challenging environment with heavy Medicare work demand
APS5 Service Centre Manager
Medicare
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Ensuring the daily operations of a Medicare office were met in a very high traffic location
- Playing a pivotal role in communicating change demand
- Reporting to the Region Manager and providing evidence based outcomes
- Providing a business case to the Region Manager for the off site allocation of Medicare enrolments to ensure that demand was met with outcomes
APS5 Multicultural Service Officer
Services Australia
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Delivering presentations to external community stakeholders
- Liaising with community stakeholders to achieve mutual outcomes for our customers
- Working strategically in line with the Corporate Plan to provide evidence based outcomes to the most vulnerable
- Working in collaboration with Disability Service Providers to provide service to our mutual stakeholders
APS5 Project Officer
Services Australia
01.2008 - 01.2009
- Roles within the Community Engagement team
- Community engagement liaison officer
- Multicultural Services officer
- Indigenous Services officer
- Worked as project officer within Multicultural Services Branch
APS5 Executive Assistant to National Manager
Services Australia
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Providing Executive Assistance support to the National Manager
- Organising meeting invites and agendas
- Ensuring the smooth running of Zone meetings
- Playing a pivotal role with the National Manager and leadership while organising meetings
APS4 Service Officer
Centrelink
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Serving the community in a very fast paced and high volume office
- Ensuring I was participating in training and delivering correct outcomes to the community
- Playing a pivotal role in the office and engaging with all stakeholders
- Processing Centrelink work while ensuring that the allocated work was completed in a timely manner
- Working in a large office environment and adhering to schedules
- Utilising resources and tools available to process claims
Education
Diploma of Government -
Services Australia
01.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Division of Sociology, Cultural Studies, Media and Philosophy
Macquarie University
01.2003
Higher School Certificate -
Footscray Girls Secondary College
01.1991
Skills
- Collaboration
- Negotiation
- Leadership
- Report Writing
- People Management
- Community Engagement
Accomplishments
- 2021, Received an award- 'Inspirational Leadership' for demonstrating positive and inspiring leadership qualities through open and transparent engagement with staff.
- 2023, Nominated for the Inspirational Leadership Award.
- Developed the Mature Age Staff Knowledge web form to gather information of staff retirement numbers, and how best to keep them engaged while sharing their knowledge.
Languages
Turkish
Inspirational Leadership
As an inspirational leader I promoted and ensured staff felt valued and their efforts didn't go unnoticed. I had a team of 35 staff and supported a third of them to complete and present their broad-banding work books for consideration for an APS4 role.
To ensure their work books were of standard I also coached team leaders to strategically support the team resulting in successful APS4 promotions.
Timeline
EL2 Region Manager
Services Australia
01.2025 - 02.2025
Assistant Director
Services Australia
12.2024 - Current
EL2 Region Manager
Services Australia
09.2024 - 10.2024
EL1 Assistant Director
Services Australia
12.2022 - 02.2023
EL1 Service Centre Manager
Services Australia
09.2021 - 12.2024
EL1 Service Centre Manager
Services Australia
05.2019 - 09.2021
APS6 Service Centre Manager
Services Australia
01.2016 - 01.2019
APS6 Service Centre Manager
Centrelink & Medicare
01.2015 - 01.2016
APS5 Service Centre Manager
Medicare
01.2014 - 01.2015
APS5 Multicultural Service Officer
Services Australia
01.2009 - 01.2011
APS5 Project Officer
Services Australia
01.2008 - 01.2009
APS5 Executive Assistant to National Manager
Services Australia
01.2007 - 01.2008
APS4 Service Officer
Centrelink
01.2006 - 01.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Division of Sociology, Cultural Studies, Media and Philosophy
Macquarie University
Higher School Certificate -
Footscray Girls Secondary College
Diploma of Government -
Services Australia
Similar Profiles
JOHN NGUYENJOHN NGUYEN
Services Officer at Services AustraliaServices Officer at Services Australia
Zhiming (James) CHENZhiming (James) CHEN
Change and Release Manager (Acting) at Services AustraliaChange and Release Manager (Acting) at Services Australia
Rhys GarlandRhys Garland
Service Officer at Services AustraliaService Officer at Services Australia
Nicholas LalorNicholas Lalor
Senior Onboarding Officer at Services AustraliaSenior Onboarding Officer at Services Australia
Michaela BurgoMichaela Burgo
Barista and Waitress at Quatre CafeBarista and Waitress at Quatre Cafe