Chantal McKenna

• Case management of young adults within NDIS funded School Leavers Employment Supports (SLES), responsible for the creation and development of programmes and engagement of assigned participants in a unique one-to-one service delivery model.
• Service provision applied through a Person-Centred and Strengths-Based methodology for an affirming and nuanced case management approach.
• Collaborating with participants to create service plans that represent their vision and self-identified goals for employment or education, underpinned further through life skill mentoring for greater independence to increase motivation and the resilience necessary to affect growth.
• Monitor participant progress including establishing communication with family and additional service providers for the holistic integration of the participants' needs within their available supports.
• Responsible for equipping participants with soft skills in preparation for entering a work or learning environment , locating suitable employment or other opportunities, coaching them through the process and assisting them as they progress within their chosen employment or educational setting.

On completion of a student placement in the organisation, the opportunity arose to continue in a casual, paid position as a disability support worker to assist people of varying barriers to access wider services for housing, medical or administrative needs or to assist them to engage in exercise and social interactions and providing opportunities for their improved health and wellbeing.

The second placement within the degree, included 200 hours within an NDIS disability vocational training program. Based in the St Kilda Road office, my duties primarily involved acting as a case worker, assisting clients to use a computer across a variety of platforms. Responsible for maintaining accurate and detailed case notes, tracking client progress, and recording any difficulties experienced by the client.

First student placement completing over 240 hours within council's Community Partnerships and Wellbeing division. Providing the opportunity to project manage a two-day, Community Mental Health First Aid training program as part of the council's Covid recovery strategy. Additionally assisting the department and other external organisations within the shire in a variety of wellbeing programs including the development of a local food system, Yarra Ranges Men's Shed, the Lilydale Community Information Service's (CIS) support office and Eastern Migrant Information Centre's two-day multicultural family fishing event, to name a few.

Responsible for the smooth running of a large showroom within this extraordinarily successful business. Managing rostering and assignment of duties, stock control, customer experience and the facilitation of the multiple daily workshops, high teas and tasting sessions, promotion and presentation of product lines and sales of over 250 chocolate products.

Responsible for overseeing all aspects of operations of this busy, 7 day/week lunch and dinner, 240 seat restaurant. Including recruitment, training, rostering and service delivery of all floor and bar staff as well as maintaining company standards of food production and customer satisfaction.

In this role I had accountability for the financial results of the venue including sales, organisation and delivery of functions and other special events planned throughout the year.