Kirsten Lyon
Townsville,QLD
Summary
Adept at fostering team cohesion and driving performance improvement, I excel in risk assessment and effective communication. At Services Australia, I spearheaded initiatives enhancing support for highly vulnerable individuals, leveraging my decisive decision-making and strengths-focused approach for impactful outcomes. My expertise also encompasses comprehensive training in family and domestic violence risk assessments.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Social Work Support Manager
Services Australia
Townsville, Queensland
11.2008 - Current
- Provided professional training and support to team members relating to Family and Domestic Violence Risk Assessments and Suicide Risk Assessments.
- Coordinated and developed a team conducting suicide risk assessment and intervention within child support.
- Provided debriefing and wellbeing support.
- Handled escalated calls from customers requiring additional assistance or specialized knowledge.
- Fostered a positive and inclusive team culture for a team of eight social workers.
- Facilitated discussions on customer issues and practice reflection in regular team meetings.
- Reviewed employee performance and provided ongoing feedback and coaching to drive performance improvement.
- Worked within complex legislation, completing assessments for payments, referrals for community support, and advocacy both internal and external.
- Engage in disaster work, including support bereaved families or families with missing loved ones.
Team Leader
Anglicare Family Support Service
Werribee, Victoria
01.2008 - 11.2008
- Provided professional supervision to a multi-disciplinary team working with vulnerable families.
- Coordinated activities involving birth parents in conjunction with in-home support counselors.
- Organized workshops for parents on topics related to child development and parenting techniques.
- Co-ordinated a Youth support program
- Assessed family needs and developed service plans to meet those needs.
- Identified appropriate community resources and provided referrals for services.
- Worked with community resources to engage youth in pro-social activities and help families access services.
- Developed action plans for families with identified risks or concerns, and participated in multi-disciplinary team meetings.
Team Leader
Townsville Youth Justice Service
Townsville, Queensland
03.2004 - 12.2007
- Provided coaching and feedback on employee performance, encouraging professional development.
- Maintained a positive work environment that promoted collaboration between team members.
- Authorized Pre-Sentence Court Reports and case management plans.
- Provided professional supervision to a team of youth justice workers.
- Engaged in regional servicing, providing court support to young offenders, and their families.
- Worked collaboratively with community services to obtain the best outcomes for families and young offenders.
Education
Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work
James Cook University
QLD04-2001
Skills
- Decisive Decision-making
- Team building
- I possess excellent risk assessment skills
- I work effectively with complex and highly vulnerable individuals
- I have excellent communication and writing skills
- I use a human-centered, strengths-focused perspective to achieve positive outcomes
- I use a trauma informed approach in all my interventions
Accomplishments
- Excellence in Team Work - Special mention for the Child Support Risk Assessment team.
- Special recognition for disaster work completed during the Victorian Bushfires, Cyclone Yasi and Townsville Floods.
- Special recognition for providing assistance to families in relation to the Bali bombings anniversary, DFAT repatriation of Australians stranded due to COVID-19, repatriation of Australians stranded in Israel and Palestine.
Timeline
Social Work Support Manager
Services Australia
11.2008 - Current
Team Leader
Anglicare Family Support Service
01.2008 - 11.2008
Team Leader
Townsville Youth Justice Service
03.2004 - 12.2007
Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work
James Cook University
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