CATHY SPENCE
Wollongong,NSW
Summary
Compassionate and dedicated social worker committed to empowering individuals and families through empathetic, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approaches. Skilled in building strong interpersonal relationships, applying critical thinking to complex situations, and advocating effectively for clients’ rights and needs. Recent experience in child protection has strengthened my ability to support vulnerable children and families through challenging circumstances, promoting safety, and positive outcomes.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Child Protection Caseworker
Department of Communities and Justice
Coniston, NSW
04.2024 - Current
- Provided individualized case management services, including assessments, planning, referrals, monitoring, and advocacy for at-risk children.
- Assisted families in identifying resources needed to improve their lives.
- Monitored court hearings related to child protection cases and submitted reports accordingly.
- Actively participated in weekly team meetings with supervisors and colleagues regarding caseload updates and best practices.
- Provided support and assistance to children and families in need of protection from abuse, neglect or exploitation.
- Conducted home visits to assess the safety of children and their living environment.
- Employed strengths-based, dignity driven and trauma-informed care to build trust and rapport with clients experiencing active crisis
- Developed and implemented safety plans to ensure the safety of children in care.
Social Work Placement (Rural)
Sacred Heart Parish School
Broken Hill, NSW
09.2023 - 12.2023
- Individual and groupwork intervention with children aged 7-12 years old with an emphasis on rapport building and child-centred practice
- Tailored sessions to account for diverse learning styles and neurodiversity while incorporating narrative and play therapy approaches
- Successfully designed and facilitated groupwork sessions addressing social-emotional wellbeing
- Prioritised communications with relevant stakeholders including parents/carers, teachers, and support staff
- Interdisciplinary collaboration experience working alongside an Occupational Therapy student
- Timely, concise documentation with strengths-based approach.
- Developed professional practice framework including theories such as Child-Centred Practice, Ecological Systems Theory, and Developmental Psychology
Assistant Educator (Out of Hours School Care)
Anglicare Australia
Franklin, ACT
04.2021 - 09.2023
- Active supervision of school children aged 6-12 years old to facilitate a safe and nurturing environment
- Maintained accurate records of attendance, student behavior, and other relevant information.
- Relationship building with children with complex backgrounds and utilized trauma-informed care
- Led age-appropriate activities that encourage physical, emotional, intellectual and social development
- Communicated with parents/guardians about daily activities, behaviors and upcoming events.
Social Work Placement
Cancer Counselling Service (ACT Health)
Canberra, ACT
03.2020 - 06.2020
- Conducted biopsychosocial assessments over the phone to assess presenting needs, risk and service eligibility
- Managed intake process and Cancer Counselling Service inbox
- Created referrals for clients with extensive knowledge of referral pathways
- Participated in weekly triaging meetings and risk assessment
- Managed client confidentiality via online and hardcopy storage of information
- Conducted and presented a data mining project to assess client engagement and priority groups
- Co-authored academic article and attended research workshops
- Shadow visits with Oncology social workers
Education
Bachelor of Social Work -
Australian Catholic University
Canberra, ACT05-2024
Year 12 Certificate -
Gungahlin College
Canberra, ACT01-2018
Skills
- Relationship building with clients and stakeholders
- Critical thinking
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Client Documentation
- Time Management
- Case management
- Child and youth-centered practice
- Court report writing
- Safety planning
- Interviewing techniques
Professional Development and Training
- Caseworker Development Program - Department of Communities and Justice (2024)
- Child Wellbeing and Child Protection Training - NSW Government (2023)
- In Safe Hands - ACT Child Protection Training (2023)
- Mental Health First Aid (2023)
- First Nations DV Alert Training (2023)
- Accredited DRUMBEAT Facilitator (2023)
Certification
- NSW Working With Children Check
- NSW Full Driver's License
- Provide First Aid and CPR (Australia Wide First Aid)
References
- References available upon request
Timeline
Child Protection Caseworker
Department of Communities and Justice
04.2024 - Current
Social Work Placement (Rural)
Sacred Heart Parish School
09.2023 - 12.2023
Assistant Educator (Out of Hours School Care)
Anglicare Australia
04.2021 - 09.2023
Social Work Placement
Cancer Counselling Service (ACT Health)
03.2020 - 06.2020
Bachelor of Social Work -
Australian Catholic University
Year 12 Certificate -
Gungahlin College
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