Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Karen La Fou (Gibbeson)

Lambton,NSW

Summary

Telehealth Counsellor and Masters of Professional Psychology student with a keen interest in trauma and psychosocial barriers to recovery. Experienced supporting clients who are distressed following workplace or motor vehicle accidents. Able to conduct intake interviews, perform screening measures, provide light counselling, psychoeducation, and complete referrals for therapy. Skilled at working with clients from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds that may be living in urban to remote locations. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive empathic attitude.

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience

Work History

Telehealth Counsellor

Navigator Group
07.2022 - Current
  • Provided confidential telephone based counselling support to people who have experienced physical injuries resulting from workplace or motor vehicle accidents. Managed caseload of 90 clients.
  • Assessed clients' ongoing needs over course of their recovery. Provided support and light counselling. Completed referrals for adjustment or trauma counselling if greater support needed.
  • Performed initial onboard and follow-up screening interviews, including structured and unstructured questions to assess psychosocial barriers to recovery.
  • Conducted screening surveys used for doctoral research and academic publication.
  • Supported culturally diverse client base. Clients located across Australia in city, regional and remote areas. Utilised interpreters to conduct interviews as required.
  • Completed work-based training in adjustment counselling, imaginal exposure therapy for trauma, EMDR, and suicide risk assessment and safety planning.
  • Participated in fortnightly supervision with in-house accredited clinical supervisors (Clinical Psychologists & Counsellors).
  • Participated in weekly group meetings, equivalent to 'clinical rounds' of specific cases. Rounds are conducted by Sports & Medicine physician, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Clinical Psychologist/Supervisors. Rounds have assisted team of psychologists/ counsellors to understand both the physical and psychosocial components contributing to recovery outcomes.
  • Determined clients' risk of self-harm or other dangerous behaviours. Assisted clients with safety planning.
  • Shared knowledge of Workers Compensation case management to assist colleagues with client conversations.

Volunteer - Itrack Program

Smith Family
04.2023 - 09.2023
  • Mentored high school student participating in Smith Family iTrack program. Provided career guidance over 6 months.
  • Participated in weekly 1 hour webchat with allocated student.

Case Management Specialist

EML
06.2021 - 04.2022
  • Case managed portfolio of workers compensation claims with incapacity for work greater than 7 days, including some in excess of 3 years. Mix of physical and psychological injuries, ranging from simple to complex.
  • Claim management aligned to employer. Managed employer engagement in claims process to promote positive return to work outcomes.
  • Engaged with injured workers and other stakeholders to assess both psychological and physical aspects impacting their recovery. Identified barriers and initiated strategies in collaboration with stakeholders to improve return to work outcomes. Supported employers with high levels of indigenous employment or involvement. Facilitated return to work strategies that met needs of their employees.
  • Completed intensive 3 month program of formal and on-the-job induction training. Training covered topics such as: knowledge of workers compensation legislation, medical classification of physical injuries, treatment modalities, psychosocial barriers to recovery, and strategies to manage return to work outcomes.

Senior Associate - Corporate Banking

National Australia Bank Ltd
09.2018 - 03.2020
  • Worked in support of Senior Corporate Banker to manage and deliver banking services to major property development clients in regional NSW.
  • Newly created role demanding excellence in service delivery and customer relationship management.
  • Responsible for analysis of complex financial statements and property development transactions.
  • Applied analytical and creative thinking skills to develop and contribute to company process improvements, ensuring customer service standards continued to be met.
  • Effectively managed tight deadlines and competing priorities to deliver exceptional service to priority clients.

Business Banker

NAB
04.2011 - 09.2018
  • Relationship managed portfolio of 300 Business Banking clients, predominantly in small to medium Business sector.
  • Worked with clients in both city and regional areas, with diverse cultural backgrounds.
  • Client-centred approach that focused on listening to customer values, goals, and concerns before offering guidance, explaining options and tailoring solutions to meet their needs.
  • Used organisational skills to manage competing deadlines and high volume workload in competitive market.
  • Provided guidance to clients experiencing financial hardship.

Business Banker

Westpac
12.2006 - 04.2011
  • Relationship management of Business Banking customers. Met with clients quarterly in their place of business to review operations and financial needs. Clientele included listed corporations, private multinational firms, and high net worth individuals.
  • Culturally and professional diverse client base across Inner City and Western Sydney. Adapted approach to facilitate rapport building and communication.
  • Completed financial analysis of complex lending transactions.

Various Roles in Business Banking

National Australia Bank Ltd
01.1997 - 11.2006
  • 0.5 yrs company Graduate Program
  • 5 yrs in Business Banker support role.
  • 1 yr as Business Banking Manager: Relationship management of portfolio of business customers
  • 1.5yrs as Business Development Manager: Sourced and prepared new to bank business lending opportunities. Completed analysis of complex lending transactions. Conducted regular presentations to referral partners.
  • 1.5 yr as Credit Manager: Evaluated complex lending transactions for major clients. Coached bankers to improve quality of submissions.

Education

Masters of Professional Psychology -

University of New England
Armidale, NSW
10.2024

Advanced Graduate Diploma - Psychology

University of Adelaide
Adelaide, SA
08.2023

Graduate Diploma - Psychology

University of New England
Armidale, NSW
10.2021

Graduate Diploma in Finance And Investment - Investment Management

Securities Institute of Australia
Sydney, NSW
03.2002

Bachelor of Commerce - Business Management

University of Newcastle
Newcastle, NSW
05.1997

Skills

  • Creative and critical thinker
  • Enjoys collaborating and working in teams
  • Self-Motivated
  • Strong relationship & client management skills
  • Experienced working with people from diverse backgrounds
  • Confident with analysis and interpretation of data
  • Flexible and adaptable

Timeline

Volunteer - Itrack Program

Smith Family
04.2023 - 09.2023

Telehealth Counsellor

Navigator Group
07.2022 - Current

Case Management Specialist

EML
06.2021 - 04.2022

Senior Associate - Corporate Banking

National Australia Bank Ltd
09.2018 - 03.2020

Business Banker

NAB
04.2011 - 09.2018

Business Banker

Westpac
12.2006 - 04.2011

Various Roles in Business Banking

National Australia Bank Ltd
01.1997 - 11.2006

Masters of Professional Psychology -

University of New England

Advanced Graduate Diploma - Psychology

University of Adelaide

Graduate Diploma - Psychology

University of New England

Graduate Diploma in Finance And Investment - Investment Management

Securities Institute of Australia

Bachelor of Commerce - Business Management

University of Newcastle

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Karen La Fou (Gibbeson)