Emma Heeley (Findlater)

• Manage complex case plans for children in statutory care, applying trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches.
• Facilitate reflective and culturally safe conversations with families, services, and stakeholders to achieve sustainable outcomes.
• Prepare detailed reports and business cases, ensuring decisions are evidence-based.
• Experienced in the transition to a new digital case management system that required on the go problem solving to maintain service delivery.
• Coach and mentor colleagues in engaging Aboriginal families; regularly accompanied them to meetings and interviews, modelling culturally safe approaches and stepping in where appropriate to ensure cultural integrity, while building colleagues’ confidence and capability,

• Contributed to development of webinars, articles, and practical resources translating legislative/policy changes into accessible guidance.
• Provided consultancy to regional and remote services on governance, compliance, and quality improvement under the NQF/NQS.
• Partnered with leaders to diagnose challenges, strengthen governance systems, and embed sustainable improvement.
• Collaborated via Microsoft Teams and OneNote to co-author resources and deliver accessible professional learning.

• Represented the Aboriginal community perspective in redesigning maternity care.
• Ensured cultural safety informed planning and delivery; contributed to implementation of the MAPS program (2024).
• Advocated for community voice in health decision-making, influencing system-level change.

• Reviewed policies, practices, and documentation to identify compliance/quality gaps.
• Worked with the Director and the Department of Education to develop a targeted action plan, addressing immediate concerns and supporting long-term improvement.

• Led practice across council-run services in line with the NQF/NQS, mentoring educators and embedding reflective practice.
• Designed and implemented inclusion-focused projects improving engagement for children and families experiencing disadvantage.
• Strengthened compliance and service quality through program evaluation and targeted support.

Caseworker

• Managed complex case planning for family preservation, guardianship, and restoration.
• Facilitated cultural planning with Aboriginal families and communities, ensuring decisions were culturally safe.
• Collaborated with colleagues and external stakeholders, providing guidance to strengthen culturally responsive practice.

Family Finding Project – Permanency Support Program

• Developed and led a permanency planning project, coordinating across multiple teams and applying project management principles to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children.
• Coached colleagues in both DCJ and external services on embedding culturally safe approaches in engagement, planning, and decision-making.

• Early Childhood Educator / Inclusion Support — Cherry Blossom Early Learning Centre (traineeships), CONNECT Family and Community Services
• Disability Support Worker / Lifestyle Educator — Greystanes Disability Services (educator) and Wentworth Falls Preschool (inclusion support)