Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Hobbies and Interests
Certification
References
Timeline
Generic

Christine Downing

Point Cook,VIC

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Recovery Coach and Support Worker

NDIS
10.2024 - 01.2025
  • In my role as a Recovery Coach and support worker at NDIS, I have developed individualized recovery plans tailored to the specific needs of each client.
  • My goal has been to empower clients to set and achieve their personal recovery goals, fostering independence and enhancing their quality of life.
  • By collaborating closely with clients, their families, and other service providers, I have ensured a holistic approach to support, facilitating access to appropriate resources and services.
  • My responsibilities also included monitoring progress, providing ongoing support, and adjusting plans as necessary to meet evolving needs.
  • Through this role, I have gained invaluable insights into the complexities of psychosocial disabilities, and the importance of person-centered care.
  • Understanding the individual NDIS plans and Funding.
  • Referrals to other services, including non-profit organizations.
  • Liaising and advocating on behalf of the consumer via the Local Area Coordinator to access consumers' funding.
  • Attended weekly staff meetings to discuss current cases and collaborate on new ideas and initiatives.
  • Supported clients through challenging times by offering emotional guidance and empathy.

Initial Assessor and Planner

Unison Housing
04.2018 - 08.2024
  • Delivered housing assistance to individuals, couples, and families experiencing homelessness or at risk.
  • Conducted assessments with dignity and respect to empower consumer choices.
  • Managed SAFY program for youth aged 17 to 24 facing homelessness since 2009.
  • Facilitated weekly stakeholder meetings with Melbourne City Mission, Wombat Housing, and others.
  • Allocated youth assessments to appropriate services while advocating for refuge vacancies.
  • Established strong relationships with supported accommodation providers to enhance placements.
  • Performed family violence and risk assessments in accordance with relevant laws and ethical standards.
  • Created comprehensive reports summarizing assessment outcomes for stakeholder review.
  • Researched best practices in assessment methods used by other organizations.
  • Ensured compliance with applicable laws, regulations, standards, guidelines and ethical principles governing assessments.
  • Created reports summarizing assessment results for review by stakeholders.

Case Management Services

Vincentcare Victoria
01.2012 - 01.2018
  • Facilitated housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness and complex challenges.
  • Supported clients in developing case plans to achieve long-term and short-term objectives.
  • Established collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, enhancing service delivery.
  • Coordinated with various organizations including Salvation Army, Women’s Housing, and DHHS.
  • Promoted workplace productivity by fostering effective teamwork.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to meet organizational goals.
  • Organized and prioritized tasks to efficiently address service objectives.
  • Provided guidance to colleagues, reinforcing a supportive work environment.

Women’s Early Intervention Program

VincentCare
01.2012 - 01.2018
  • Assisting women who are single, without partners or children, to support them in maintaining housing or finding housing.
  • The client may have also been experiencing substance misuse, family violence, or struggling financially.
  • I have been able to gain knowledge of the experiences that women face, and to empower them to achieve their goals.
  • Updated and maintained databases with current information.
  • Provided excellent service and attention to customers when face-to-face or through phone conversations.
  • Approached clients and engaged in conversation through use of effective interpersonal and people skills.

Facility Liaison Officer

VincentCare
01.2012 - 01.2015
  • Assisting clients to set goals and prioritise those goals.
  • Referring clients to other programs, services and advocating for clients.
  • Investigating available resources.
  • Completing administration with attention to detail.
  • Answering enquires relating to services provided by Ozanam House, associated programs and services.
  • Writing factual progress notes and critical incident reports that met legislation requirements.
  • Writing Rickman Reports.
  • Knowledge of other community resources and networks.
  • Awareness of duty of care and confidentiality processes.
  • Managing critical incidents.
  • Undertaking initial intake and assessment.
  • Providing customer service support to clients, staff, programs, services and exterior organisations.
  • Dealing with challenging behaviour and defusing potentially volatile situations.
  • Addressing potentially conflict situations.
  • Ability to work well under pressure in a busy environment.
  • Answering telephone and counter enquires.
  • Filing confidential information, articles and publications.
  • Engaging with residents and assisting them to manage their day-to-day support needs.
  • This includes issues with relation to crisis management and congregate daily living.
  • Monitoring meal services.
  • Participating in shift handover.
  • Acting as point of contact for OH&S issues as a facility representative.
  • Acting as first aider as a facility representative.
  • Liaising with maintenance contractors when on site.
  • Maintaining Visitor Register for OH&S purposes.
  • Entering service fees into Access in-house database.
  • Creating a learning environment considering culture sensitivity.
  • Collecting service fees from residents.
  • Solving issues regarding service fees arrears for both residents and staff.
  • Liaising with other organisations regarding payment of service fees for residents.
  • Liaising with Centrelink regarding benefit payments for residents.
  • Calculating and providing residents with refunds when leaving Ozanam House.
  • Liaising with Case Managers regarding clients.
  • Working within a team environment and autonomously.
  • Writing and formatting manual on different cultures.
  • Assessing client needs and identifying suitable support structures.

Support Worker

Wyngate Care
06.1998 - 06.2004
  • Assisted and supported women with a physical disability.
  • This included assisting with personal care, and menu planning.
  • As well as recreational activities, such as swimming, to assist with the disability.
  • Helped clients develop independent living skills, such as budgeting, cooking and cleaning.
  • Assisted clients with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, and grooming.
  • Organised leisure activities for clients in the community.
  • Supported clients to access education, training or employment opportunities.
  • Provided advocacy services for service users during meetings with external agencies or professionals.
  • Liaised effectively between other professionals involved in a client's care, such as doctors, nurses, social workers and family members.
  • Monitored client wellbeing and reported any changes or concerns to relevant staff members.

Education

Diploma of Community Services - Family And Community Services

Victoria University
Footscray, VIC
03-2013

Skills

  • Case management
  • Crisis intervention
  • Stakeholder collaboration
  • Risk assessment
  • Psychosocial support
  • Individualised planning
  • Goal setting
  • Report writing
  • Conflict resolution
  • Team collaboration
  • Customer service
  • Advocacy skills
  • Interpersonal communication
  • Referral networking
  • Substance abuse
  • Boundary setting
  • Client advocacy
  • Resource advocacy
  • Behavioral modification
  • Empathy development
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Emotional support

Hobbies and Interests

  • Spending quality time with family and friends
  • Mediation
  • Yoga
  • Walking/Exercise
  • Travelling
  • Spiritualism
  • Art/Music
  • People/Culture/Language

Certification

Current Certificates

- Diploma of Community Services, Victoria University

- NDIS screening Check

- NDIS Quality, Safety and You Certificate

- Protecting Children – Mandatory reporting and other obligation for early childhood Sector

- Working with Children Check - Current Police Check

- Full Victorian Drivers license

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Recovery Coach and Support Worker

NDIS
10.2024 - 01.2025

Initial Assessor and Planner

Unison Housing
04.2018 - 08.2024

Case Management Services

Vincentcare Victoria
01.2012 - 01.2018

Women’s Early Intervention Program

VincentCare
01.2012 - 01.2018

Facility Liaison Officer

VincentCare
01.2012 - 01.2015

Support Worker

Wyngate Care
06.1998 - 06.2004

Diploma of Community Services - Family And Community Services

Victoria University

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Christine Downing