Cheryl Buttigieg
Summary
Experienced Financial Counselling Team Leader and Manager with over 25 years of experience overseeing staff to deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, integrated, and person-centred services for optimal client outcomes. Dedicated to promoting social justice by actively addressing societal inequalities and systemic issues that contribute to disadvantage among vulnerable populations. Collaborative approach to diversity, working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds to address systemic problems related to poverty, debt, and financial disparities. Skilled in trauma-informed practices when assisting clients impacted by family violence, mental health challenges, and social vulnerabilities. Adherence to industry standards, ethical codes, and professional guidelines while navigating legislative and policy frameworks such as MARAM for Family Violence and Child Safety. Strong communication and advocacy skills, effectively engaging with financial service providers, clients, community groups, and stakeholders. Specializing in supporting individuals facing discrimination or systemic barriers in areas such as family violence, problem gambling, and mental health. Recognizes the importance of intersectionality in understanding each person's unique identity and experiences.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
Work History
Team Leader / Manager Integrated Financial Counselling
Good Shepherd Australia & New Zealand
01.2020 - Current
- Delivered excellent leadership and management of Financial Counselling & Capability Teams across the organization in the Family Violence Financial Independence hub, corporate programs and government funding contracts.
- A gifted leader offering supervision and mentoring to financial counsellors, achieving and ensuring delivery of high quality, trauma informed, integrated and person-centred services to achieve best outcomes for clients.
- Successfully accomplished a national family violence financial counselling team in the Financial Independence Hub to support participants who have experienced family violence and economic abuse in their financial recovery journey.
- Secured an increase in financial counselling staff and funding over a 3 year period with a significant increase from two to six staff
- Pivotal in securing a total of over $1 million in forgiven debt, which is testament to the negotiations with creditors.
- Commendably managed the family violence specialist financial counselling team to support over 1,000 participants annually, who had been refused a service from other providers due to their high income and asset levels.
- Collaborated with upper-level management team to secure a funding submission and partnership, attracting funds for a newly established financial well-being program in QLD employing up to 30 new staff
- Supported the growth of the organization services through business development opportunities and stakeholder partnerships working within Family Violence and Recovery Platforms.
- Gamblers Help – Connect Health & Community
Trainer / Assessor VET programs / Student Placement coordinator
RMIT, Ican Learn & Victoria Universities
01.2015 - 01.2021
- An exceptional VET (Vocational Education and Training) teacher and assessor responsible for delivering and assessing the delivery of Financial Counselling Diploma as an industry expert
- Fostered industry readiness for student placements program designed to provide students with a comprehensive support system, including mentoring and guidance, during their transition into the financial counselling field
- Lifeline
Senior Financial Counsellor
Monash Health Cranbourne Centre
01.2011 - 01.2017
- Dedicated Senior Financial Counsellor providing excellent leadership to 4 financial counsellors assisting services users living in the Southeast suburbs of Melbourne with significant mortgage stress issues and family violence presentations.
- Capacity to comprehend and address the unique financial challenges individuals face, leveraging their expertise to provide tailored advice and support.
- Pivotal in the establishment of an intake service in partnership with a funding organization, to effectively manage service users, demand for service and access to the service with an exceptional service delivery model
- Consistently meet the required funding targets and KPI's at 100% each month, offering necessary support to staff with data input to continuously meet monthly targets.
- Represented agency and financial counselling team in management and stakeholder meetings sharing successes, issues and trends and wins.
Family Violence Financial Counsellor
Family Mediation Centre
01.2007 - 01.2010
- An accomplished Family Violence Financial Counsellor offering confidential and professional support women who have experienced family violence and economic abuse focusing on long term recovery and wishing to initiate financial separation.
- Utilized trauma-informed practice and principles when working with individuals having an understanding of the gendered nature of family violence.
- Work in collaboration with family mediators focusing on a multi-disciplinary approach to resolving financial settlement issues.
- Created and implemented financial counselling programs to raise awareness of financial issues and financial literacy.
Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service
01.2000 - 01.2007
- Collaborated with a local water company and their hardship offering financial counselling support to vulnerable customers experiencing financial hardship.
- Engaged in financial counselling assisting individuals and families struggling with debt and financial hardship by providing advice, support, and advocacy.
- Developed and delivered an industry hardship training package which generated income for the agency.
- Central Bayside Community Health; Nepean Rehabilitation Hospital; Peninsula Private Hospital
Residential Youth Support worker
Department of Community Services
01.1989 - 01.1991
- An effective Residential Youth Support Worker providing care, supervision, and support to young people in a residential facility.
- Fostering a safe, nurturing environment, assisting with daily living, promoting independence, and supporting the young person's social, emotional, and developmental needs.
Data Entry
ANZ Banking group
01.1985 - 01.1990
- A skilled banking data entry clerk involved accurately and efficiently entering financial and customer data into the bank's systems.
- A strong attention to detail, as well as the ability to work accurately and quickly, retrieving, verifying, and updating data, as well as maintaining records.
Education
TAFE SA
SASkills
- Consistently meets deadlines
- Effective communicator
- Self-assured
- Attentive listener
- Strong attention to detail
- Proficient in technology
- Client-focused approach
- Collaborative teamwork skills
- Effective leadership
- Leadership abilities
- Analytical problem-solving
- Effective time management
- Effective conflict resolution
- Effective team collaboration
- Efficient task management
Timeline
Team Leader / Manager Integrated Financial Counselling
Good Shepherd Australia & New Zealand
01.2020 - Current
Trainer / Assessor VET programs / Student Placement coordinator
RMIT, Ican Learn & Victoria Universities
01.2015 - 01.2021
Senior Financial Counsellor
Monash Health Cranbourne Centre
01.2011 - 01.2017
Family Violence Financial Counsellor
Family Mediation Centre
01.2007 - 01.2010
Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service
01.2000 - 01.2007
Residential Youth Support worker
Department of Community Services
01.1989 - 01.1991
Data Entry
ANZ Banking group
01.1985 - 01.1990
TAFE SA
Similar Profiles
Kathryn Amy BrookesKathryn Amy Brookes
Good Money Store Manager at Good Shepherd Australia New ZealandGood Money Store Manager at Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand
Danielle AldersonDanielle Alderson
Fundraising Volunteer at The Good Shepherd Foundation/Phuket Has Been Good To UsFundraising Volunteer at The Good Shepherd Foundation/Phuket Has Been Good To Us
Shanterica HowardShanterica Howard
LPN at Good Shepherd RehabilitationLPN at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation
Pin Pin SchunkPin Pin Schunk
Integrated Product Team (IPT) Leader / Manager at Spirit AeroSystemsIntegrated Product Team (IPT) Leader / Manager at Spirit AeroSystems
Meron KebedeMeron Kebede
System Manager (Integrated Management System Team Leader) at MAEREG AGRO INDUSTRY PLCSystem Manager (Integrated Management System Team Leader) at MAEREG AGRO INDUSTRY PLC