Caitlin Suthers
Brisbane,Australia
Summary
Dynamic team leader with extensive experience at 54 Reasons - Save the Children, skilled in crisis intervention and recovery support. Adept at making informed decisions in high-pressure environments, ensuring safety for vulnerable populations. My passion lies in working with women and children, and I am deeply committed to prioritizing the well-being and empowerment of victim-survivors, while maintaining a focus on holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Team Leader - DFV Refuge
54 Reasons - Save the Children
Brisbane, QLD
06.2022 - Current
- Performed as the team leader for two DFV refuges, managing a team of eight.
- Provided effective leadership to a team of practitioners, including the provision of direct supervision, coaching, development, capability building, and performance management at stages of the employee lifecycles, with a focus on developing strong, sustainable teams.
- Ensured timely and accurate monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on programmatic inputs, deliverables, and outcomes.
- Built stakeholder partnerships by liaising and consulting with local communities, professionals and service providers.
- Identified, managed, and monitored risks to program/service delivery, quality, staff well-being, and child safeguarding.
- Provided advocacy within the broader service system on behalf of children, parents, and/or caregivers.
Family Support Specialist - DFV Refuge
54 Reasons - Save the Children
, QLD
03.2022 - 06.2022
- Worked within a refuge supporting women and children escaping domestic and family violence.
- Facilitated the provision of safe accommodation to women and children escaping domestic and family violence.
- Conducted thorough risk and needs assessments within a trauma-informed case management framework.
- Worked with families to source appropriate, safe, and sustainable accommodation free from violence, and/or connecting families with services to meet their needs.
ReNew Co-Facilitator/ Safer Families Intake
Brisbane Domestic Violence Service
08.2021 - 03.2022
- Worked across two programs of Safer Families Initiatives: Child and Youth Program, and ReNew Program.
- Co-facilitated psycho-educational group within ReNew program, designed for 12-17- year-old males using violence against female protective caregivers to increase safety for mothers, female care givers and siblings in home
- Presented workshops across sectors, both online and in-person, to inform about programs and upskill practitioners in areas of adolescent-to-parent violence and children and youth affected by domestic and family violence.
- Demonstrated senior leadership to the team through case consultation, debrief, and support.
Fixed Intake Officer/Crisis Case Manager
Brisbane Domestic Violence Service
07.2020 - 08.2021
- Coordinated the intake team as the lead worker, triaging and assessing DFV referrals of over 100 at a time.
- Provided case management support to women in the form of safety planning, crisis response, and case coordination.
- Played a role in representing women sitting on the High Risk Team, consisting of multi-agency representatives, with the purpose of advocating for effective responses, communicating the women's voice, and working towards perpetrator accountability.
- Attended networking events and conferences to better form relationships with stakeholders, and further strengthen legislation.
Safer Lives Mobile Service Worker
Brisbane Domestic Violence Service
04.2020 - 07.2020
- Worked within Safer Lives Mobile Team to provide crisis support for women and children accessing emergency accommodation
- Responded to referrals from DV Connect, QLD Police and other stakeholders for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence
- Provided outreach support to women and children in motel waiting for refuge placement and / or in co-response with QPS and QLD Health
- Completed administration and data collections for reporting and updating client management systems
Recovery Support Worker
Richmond Fellowship QLD
Brisbane, QLD
07.2019 - 04.2020
- Worked within the Hospital 2 Home (H2H) team to deliver evidence-based and recovery-oriented support to people at risk of homelessness, discharged from acute mental health wards, and/or supported by community mental health services.
- Held a caseload of clients with varied, complex needs, and provided evidence-based, recovery-oriented support.
- Developed professional working relationships with stakeholders, including clinical professionals at The Prince Charles Hospital, and community health practitioners, to achieve the best possible outcome for clients.
Education
Bachelor of Social Work -
Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane, QLD08.2020
Skills
- Supervision and mentorship – experience in leading and supporting a team of social workers, including emerging practitioners
- Communication Skills – Strong verbal and written communication skills, including facilitating difficult conversations
- Crisis Intervention – Skilled in identifying risks and assessing safety for clients accessing services
- Decision making – the ability to make informed, timely decisions in complex, high-pressure situations
- Trauma-Informed Support: Strong insight into the impact of trauma on individuals
- Advocacy – Experience advocating for clients and vulnerable communities with external agencies, and within the wider sector
Accomplishments
- Presented on 'Safety Planning with Children' at the 2024 National STOP DV Conference in Adelaide
- Promoted by 54 Reasons to manage a secondary DFV refuge and performed to high standards in this role, remaining adaptive and responsive to the two teams.
- Facilitated a successful student placement program for students wishing to complete their placement with 54 Reasons
- Delivered regional training to Queensland Health to increase understanding and awareness of domestic and family violence to health professionals
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Team Leader - DFV Refuge
54 Reasons - Save the Children
06.2022 - Current
Family Support Specialist - DFV Refuge
54 Reasons - Save the Children
03.2022 - 06.2022
ReNew Co-Facilitator/ Safer Families Intake
Brisbane Domestic Violence Service
08.2021 - 03.2022
Fixed Intake Officer/Crisis Case Manager
Brisbane Domestic Violence Service
07.2020 - 08.2021
Safer Lives Mobile Service Worker
Brisbane Domestic Violence Service
04.2020 - 07.2020
Recovery Support Worker
Richmond Fellowship QLD
07.2019 - 04.2020
Bachelor of Social Work -
Queensland University of Technology
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