Cynthia Mutavdzic
Townsville, Queensland,Queensland
Summary
A strong advocate for family wellbeing and passionate about supporting children and families in our community to achieve better outcome.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Child and Family Consultant ASC
Act For Kids
10.2016 - Current
- Collaborate with Child Safety to assist with the completion of Child Safety's investigation Child Protection concerns are referred to ASC.
- Provide families an alternative child protection intervention pathway with strong focus on family lead decision making and child focused practice framework.
- Managing complex cases presenting with multiple complex concerns such as drug & alcohol, domestic and family violence, mental health and poverty etc.
- Meet with families on frequent basis to understand the challenges they are facing. Complete comprehensive assessments to identify families' needs and linking families to support services.
- Participate in multidisciplinary SCAN meeting, Practice panel and acted as 'critical friends' for consultation purposes when complex cases arises.
- Provide Psychoeducation to increase parenting capacity. Empowered parents by teaching them skills for managing stressors within the home environment effectively.
- Use protective behaviour training with children and local school to increase awareness around sexual abuse harm.
- Utilise assorted social work tools such as strength cards, Time-lines, Geno-grams to gain deeper understanding of client's background information and future desires.
- Utilized motivational interviewing techniques to help clients recognize personal barriers to change and identify actionable steps towards improvement.
- Contributed to the development of agency-wide policies and procedures, ensuring quality services for all clients.
- Provide comprehensive closure report to clients and Child Safety.
- Support new and less experienced practitioners.
- Provide guidance to students on placement.
- Maintained detailed records of client interactions, ensuring accurate documentation of services provided and outcomes achieved.
- Provided support to families in crisis, assisting them in navigating through challenging situations and promoting healthy relationships.
- Implemented evidence-based practices in working with families, ensuring interventions were effective and appropriate for individual circumstances.
- Established trust with clients by maintaining open lines of communication and providing empathetic guidance throughout the consultation process.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices within the field of family consultation.
- Collaborated with school personnel, parents and mental health providers to maintain comprehensive and integrated approach to student services.
- Facilitated family meetings to ensure communication and collaboration between family members.
- Developed strong rapport with clients, fostering a supportive environment where families felt comfortable discussing sensitive issues openly.
- Advocated on behalf of clients when interacting with external agencies such as schools or social services organizations.
- Conducted thorough evaluations of family environments, identifying areas for improvement and potential risks to child development.
- Promoted family unity by mediating conflicts between members while addressing underlying issues contributing to discord.
- Assisted families in navigating the social services system, including accessing resources and connecting with other family support services.
- Documented data and completed accurate updates to case records.
Sexual Abuse & Counselling Intervnetion Therapist
Act For Kids
08.2023 - 03.2024
- Assessed clients (parents, children & young people) mental health, personal and family needs using assorted questionnaires, screening tools and family assessment scale to adequately measure and develop treatment plans to work towards a set goals.
- Liaised with Child Safety Officer in accordance to Child Safety Department's Court Order to formulate a therapeutic plan to meet children and young persons' needs.
- Worked closely with children and young people through rapport building and therapeutic practices.
- Compiled detailed client histories using intake forms, interviews and assessments to build complete picture for determining optimal therapeutic approaches.
- Regularly participate in clinical reviews.
- Promoted self-care practices among colleagues by organizing wellness events.
- Regularly attend workshops to develop higher level therapeutic skills.
Specialist Disability Support in School Therapist
Act For Kids
10.2022 - 12.2022
- Worked with local schools to support student who experienced trauma and had difficulties in integrating and maintaining in mainstream schooling.
- Be the conduit between parents and schools to facilitate communication and foster strong relationships to encourage student attendance.
- Provided individual therapy session to improve student's emotional wellbeing.
Clinical Social Worker
Queensland Health
02.2016 - 08.2016
- Worked collaboratively with wider allied health team to enhance patient's recovery and capacity building.
- Developed and implemented detailed pre-discharge plans for clients soon to be reintegrated into community.
- Participated in patient death review in collaboration with medical team to bereaved family members.
- Increased client satisfaction by engaged in client advocacy.
- Reduced hospital readmissions by implementing effective discharge planning and connecting clients to appropriate community resources.
- Contributed to the development of program policies and procedures through active participation in staff meetings and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
- Maintained detailed records of patient progress, documentation of services and case notes.
- Developed partnerships with community organizations to expand services and referrals.
- Worked with medical teams, patients and families to implement effective treatment plans.
- Assisted patients in accessing housing, financial assistance and other community resources.
- Provided patient and family education on available resources and self-care strategies.
- Conducted in-home visits to provide supportive services.
- Provided crisis intervention services to individuals facing medical, emotional and mental health challenges in hospital setting.
- Participated in interdisciplinary care conferences to discuss patient care plans and referrals.
- Coordinated patient discharge planning and follow-up care.
- Participated in clinical supervision to maintain professional development.
Clinical Social Worker
Queensland Health
07.2011 - 09.2012
- Improved patient well-being by conducting comprehensive Psychosocial assessments to better understand patient and carers' needs.
- Supported carer by utilise grief and loss counselling when they're caring for seriously ill family members / friends.
- Co-ordinated and facilitated family meetings between hospital medical team, patient and their families to enhance patient care outcome.
- Facilitated discharge planning.
- Assisted with patient travel include co-ordinate patient travel to and from areas outside of Townsville.
- Participate in regular multidisciplinary meeting provided Psychosocial information to the wider medical team.
- Participated in regular oncology clinic to assist patients gain clear understanding of medical diagnosis, making choices via different medical treatments and provide emotional support when adverser medical outcome presents.
- Refer patients to local community services for ongoing support.
Senior Social Worker Child Protection
Child Youth And Family Services
05.2004 - 05.2009
- Assessed and ensured children and young peoples' safety and wellbeing were met by working closely and engaging families to discuss Child Protection concerns.
- Conducted regular interviews with children and young people to gain their perspectives and hear their voices.
- Advocated for children and young people's rights and support them to live a safe, healthy and happy childhood.
- Took part in Family Group Conference to understand families' wishes, hopes and dreams for their child / young person follow by formulating a plan with the goal to achieve best outcomes.
- Worked collaboratively with government / non-government services to ensure families receive wrap around services.
- Filed applications to Courts for various Court Orders to ensure children/ young peoples' safety and wellbeing. Completed periodic Court reports to report and monitor children / young persons' progress in foster care.
- De-escalated crisis situation and utilised emergency services when required.
- Completed brief mental health assessment when young person presented with suicidal ideation.
- Worked collaboratively with Acute Mental Health team to ensure client and the public's safety were met.
Education
Master of Advanced Social Work - Social Work
University of Melbourne
Melbourne, VIC12.2021
Postgraduate Diploma in Social And Community Work - Social Work
University of Otago
Otago Dunedin 05.2007
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
The University of Auckland
Auckalnd New Zealand 09.2002
Skills
Trauma Informed practice frame work
Compassionate and empathetic
Strong work ethic
Autonomy
Languages
eng
Full Professional
Chinese (Mandarin)
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Sexual Abuse & Counselling Intervnetion Therapist
Act For Kids
08.2023 - 03.2024
Specialist Disability Support in School Therapist
Act For Kids
10.2022 - 12.2022
Child and Family Consultant ASC
Act For Kids
10.2016 - Current
Clinical Social Worker
Queensland Health
02.2016 - 08.2016
Clinical Social Worker
Queensland Health
07.2011 - 09.2012
Senior Social Worker Child Protection
Child Youth And Family Services
05.2004 - 05.2009
Master of Advanced Social Work - Social Work
University of Melbourne
Postgraduate Diploma in Social And Community Work - Social Work
University of Otago
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
The University of Auckland
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