Kristy Gallagher
East Victoria Park,Australia
Summary
Senior Child Protection Worker with extensive experience in crisis intervention and multi-agency collaboration. Proven track record in child welfare services, focusing on family reunification and effective case management. Strong advocacy for children's rights and risk assessment skills, leading to successful outcomes in safeguarding at-risk youth. Expertise in coordinating multidisciplinary teams to ensure compliance with child protection policies.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Child Protection Worker – Centralised Triage Team
Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support
12.2024 - Current
- Initiated centralization of family violence matters, expediting District responses and reducing domestic violence officer workloads.
- Participated in multi-disciplinary meetings to review case progress and enhance service delivery.
- Conducted home visits to evaluate children's safety and well-being in at-risk situations.
- Developed safety plans for children facing potential abuse or neglect.
- Advised court personnel on findings from investigations regarding child protection issues.
- Monitored compliance with court orders in child protection cases, including visitation schedules.
- Collaborated with community partners to ensure effective multi-agency service delivery.
- Maintained accurate documentation of interactions within client case files according to agency policies.
Trainee Firefighter
Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Forrestfeild , WA
08.2024 - 12.2024
- Executed rigorous training in fire suppression, rescue operations, and emergency response per DFES standards.
Enhanced capability in safety protocols and collaborative problem-solving approaches.
Showcased ability to make swift decisions in high-pressure environments.
Established a solid foundation of knowledge for safeguarding lives during emergencies.
Recruit
Western Australia Police Force
03.2024 - 06.2024
- A recruit in the academy for Western Australian Police Force learning the values and basics of policing to provide services to the community in maintaining public order; the protection of life and property; the prevention, detection and prosecution of crime; and the rendering of assistance to those in need.
Family Safety Coordinator
Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support
Midland, WA
11.2023 - 02.2024
- Managed and coordinated wraparound services in Midland District to minimize risks for victims and perpetrators of violence.
- Briefed District Leadership Group on critical area issues, proposing effective solutions and program development.
- Cultivated partnerships with nonprofit agencies to enhance community support for victims.
- Conducted periodic reviews of job hazard analyses, recommending necessary changes to improve safety protocols.
Senior Family Domestic Violence Officer Midland District
Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support
Midland, WA
01.2021 - 02.2024
- Collaborated with police and community response teams to enhance victim safety.
- Advocated for domestic violence victims by providing informed guidance and support.
- Mentored colleagues on effective domestic violence strategies and case management practices.
- Conducted in-depth assessments of family dynamics affected by domestic violence incidents.
- Supervised staff in executing daily responsibilities and ensuring compliance with protocols.
- Liaised with agencies to drive positive outcomes for children at risk, participating in interagency meetings.
- Facilitated stakeholder meetings to align on strategic initiatives and enhance program effectiveness.
- Directed crisis management efforts to address issues swiftly and maintain service integrity.
Online Learning Advisor: Graduate Diploma in Domestic Violence
Queensland University of Technology
04.2021 - 04.2023
- Support and guide students through their learning journey. As a subject matter expert in the area of domestic violence, I facilitated the student’s learning and awarded a teaching award in recognition of my work.
- Providing an exceptional student experience through the delivery of academic content developed by our partner academics and our learning design team.
- Facilitating learning activities that engage and support student learning.
- Undertaking assessment tasks (including moderation, marking, and feedback) as well as processing and submitting results according to set timelines.
Acting Team Leader Intensive Family Support West Kimberley
Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support
West Kimberley
02.2020 - 01.2021
- My current role is Acting Team Leader for Intensive Family Support Team, West Kimberley. In this role, I am managing child protection and support staff to wrap supports around families where risk has been identified. In this role, I am ensuring that workload management is balanced between the team and individual capabilities; supervising staff and upskilling, them in areas identified as needing further development.
- Supervision of staff including performance management
- Co-chairing Young Person at Risk forums
- Ensuring prioritises for the team and workload management is equally distributed
- Training and mentoring of staff in their personal and professional development
- Making complex assessments in matters of child protection and briefing staff in regards to interventions for children at risk of harm.
- Liaising with internal and external agencies to achieve desired outcomes for children through interagency meetings, Multi-Case Management Meetings and attend local council/shire youth development strategies.
Senior Child Protection Worker
CIT
07.2018 - 01.2020
- As a Senior Child Protection Worker, at CIT, I facilitated training and mentor new and other members of the team in child protection concerns particularly the issues that majority of families are facing such as domestic violence, neglect and substance abuse.
- I was appointed Senior Child Protection Worker at CIT. During this period, I was appointed tasks of a complex nature, supervised a social work student and provided support and mentored other colleagues with their work. Working in collaboration with other agencies such as Family Support Networks, Police and schools to ensure that information is shared accordingly and a strong working relationship is built.
- Responding to concerns regarding the safety and wellbeing of children in accordance with provisions of the Children and Community Service Act 2004.
- Responding to high-risk neglect cases, including children who present with physical injuries or illnesses, failure to thrive and/or lack of adequate supervisions must be assessed immediately. Prioritising children less than 2yrs of age due to their vulnerabilities. Assess the information and decide the response.
- Respond to mandatory reports, Four Fours (Family Court) and Funeral Assistance.
- Engage with Government and Non-Government Agencies when concerns have been reported and referrals and required to support the family during crisis.
- Consult with the Aboriginal Practice Leader if the family identify as being Aboriginal.
- Where there are concerns for the child/ren and where they are age and developmentally appropriate, interviews are conducted during the investigation and assessment.
- Inform at least one parent of the allegations and outcome of the investigation and assessment.
- All outcomes to be recorded clearly identify any unacceptable risk of future harm and a rational for the assessment of the parents ability and willingness to protect children.
Acting Team Leader Child Safety Team West Kimberley
Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support
West Kimberley
01.2020 - 01.2020
- I was appointed to an acting Team Leader Role in Child Safety Team where I was managing a team within the District to respond to concerns regarding the safety and wellbeing of children and applying the provisions of the Children and Community Services Act 2004. This also included convening and chairing the Child at Risk Forum with external agencies to have successful outcomes for children at risk. Manage the team resources through assigning tasks and ensuring equitable division of workload within the team.
Child Protection Worker
Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support
11.2016 - 07.2018
- Currently, a member of Centralised Intake team, it is my role to respond to concerns raised in relation to the safety and well-being of children. This involves assessment and analytical skills to determine whether the concern is a child protection issue or whether there is no role for the Department. On occasions, it includes engaging with clients through unannounced visits, meetings to discuss concerns and develop safety plans so that children are safe in their home.
- Joondalup District I was initially a member of Intake and Assessment Team 2 and then moved to intensive Family Support conducting the following;
- Assisting identified families and their children with relevant agencies and community resources to ensure appropriate supports are in place.
- Write case plans and other agreements, goal setting, signs of safety meetings involving families and agencies that are working with the family.
- Coordination of specialist assessments (e.g. - specialist health, alcohol or drugs, domestic violence, and disability interventions).
- Ensure safety plans are monitored.
- Work with families in severe crisis such as domestic violence, neglect, drug and alcohol or substance abuse, poor or inappropriate housing for the needs of the family and low attendance at school.
- Work with individuals with social, personal, cognitive impairment caused by mental health issues, or disability or disabling emotional stress.
- Working with families with high level of resistance, fear or misunderstanding/s about the system.
- Working in a presence of inter-generational parenting difficulties and lack of effective parent role models within the family’s immediate support and social structures.
- Working with a child/ren that maybe experiencing conflict within their family and that support is necessary to maintain the viability of continued care by parents or child to be returned to the parent/s care.
- Working with children who are involved with substance abuse.
- Working with families and children who do not have access to other extended family support.
- Work with families on offering intensity support. Conduct home visits on a weekly basis until the safety plan is reviewed. Support is provided for the family for up to a period of nine months.
Youth Mentor
Communicare Inc.
09.2016 - 11.2016
- Case manage individuals aged from 15-21 in the Transition to Work Program. This involved helping youth who receive Centrelink payments to gain suitable long-term employment in the community. Many of these individuals did not finish school and had a criminal background which made them unsuitable for positions. My role was to upskill these people and get them work ready for upcoming roles in various employment industries.
Autonomous Haulage Controller
Caterpillar Australia
04.2014 - 09.2016
- Lead by example and safely follow all procedures and policies.
- Complete all the checks to ensure software system is correct and achieving optimal compliance for production and blending.
- Provide direction and support to all HV Mining Operators.
- Work in collaboration with mining supervisors to coordinate and execute daily plans to minimise production loss.
- Raise and escalate issues to supervisors for unforeseen issues that may prevent daily planning from being achieved.
- Look for ways to continually improve configuration and performance.
- Assist in training, supporting and mentoring controllers, mining personnel and other users of the software.
Airport Relief Supervisor / Coordinator
Fortescue Metals Group
02.2012 - 04.2014
- Supervised up to 20 staff on any given day to ensure they performed their duties in accordance with procedure and to the highest possible standards.
- Delivered training to relief staff on a variety of procedures and processes.
- Followed procedure in the reporting of issues relating to safety, personnel, and plant and equipment.
- Managed numerous crucial administrative tasks in line with regulations.
Aircraft Controller/ Drug & Alcohol Counsellor / Systems Operator
Royal Australian Navy
03.2004 - 01.2012
- As an aircraft controller in the Navy, I was a subject matter expert in relation to aircraft tactics and dynamics in war and peacetime operations for the Defence Force.
- This included managing an operations room in the ‘quiet hours,’ training and mentoring of staff in combat systems operations.
- Supporting staff whilst on deployment.
- Conducting various duties such as ‘shore patrol’ when overseas and providing disciplinary action to those who were considered to have breached policies.
- As a drug and alcohol counsellor I assisted Navy personnel that presented with prescribed or elicit substance abuse and alcohol abuse with support and guidance in overcoming addictions. Through various programs internal to the Navy it involved conducting weekly outreach programs that identified the risks of alcohol and drug abuse to individuals and families.
- My primary role was an aircraft controller, which comprised of being the subject matter expert for aircraft safety and flying operations. This included leading a team in tactical operations encompassing natural disasters and chemical hazards.
- Provided the team with training and mentoring in areas relating to systems usage and safety procedures.
- Maintained an ‘open door’ policy and facilitated transparent ongoing communications within the team, which served to maintain trust and respect.
Education
Graduate Diploma - Domestic Violence
Queensland University of Technology
04.2023
Bachelor - Psychology (Criminology and Justice)
Edith Cowan University
01.2014
Graduate Certificate - Human Resources
01.2014
Certificate 3 and 4 - Fitness
01.2007
Skills
- Planning and management of District Activities
- Supervising and supporting team members
- Managing team resources and workload distribution
- Convening and chairing planning forums
- Quality assurance and improvement functions
- Child protection
- Risk assessment
- Safety planning
- Multi-agency collaboration
- Crisis intervention
- Case management
- Court documentation
- Client advocacy
- Team leadership
- Conflict resolution
- Effective communication
- Training and mentoring
- Data analysis
- Community outreach
- Policy compliance
- Behavioral analysis
- Family engagement
- Self-care strategies
- Child welfare laws
- Interviewing techniques
- Multidisciplinary collaboration
- Child assessment
- Court testimony
- Social media monitoring
- Child development
- Creativity and innovation
- Oral communication
- Professional boundaries
- Training and facilitation
- Family support
- Teamwork and cooperation
- Goal setting and achievement
- Child advocacy
- Needs assessment
- Data collection and analysis
- Child Protective Services
- Behavior modification
- Disabilities Support
- Active listening
- Prepare reports
- Dedicated support
- Child welfare services
- Problem-solving
- Analytical thinking
- Interpersonal communication
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Multitasking Abilities
- Maintain case files
- Child welfare advocate
- Reliability
- Goal setting
- Substance abuse counseling
- Behavioral assessment
- Supervise workers
- Trauma-informed care
- Excellent communication
- Multicultural awareness
- Interpersonal skills
- Experience with at-risk youth
- Therapeutic techniques
- Decision-making
- Foster care youth
- Disadvantaged youth programs
- Client interviewing
- Domestic violence intervention
- Multitasking capacity
- Case history compilation
References
- Jacqui Davies jacqui.davies@communities.wa.gov.au
- Caitlin Le Roux, Caitlin.leroux@communities.wa.gov.au
- Lydia Boyd, sales@myfisho.com
Employment Profile
- Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support, Senior Child Protection Worker – Centralised Triage Team, 11/2016, 02/2024, True, Centralising family violence matters for the state, Reviewing matters with other services, Managing child protection matters
- Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support, Family Safety Coordinator, Managing and coordinating wrap-around services, Briefing District Leadership Group, Developing programs and building relationships with agencies
- Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support, Senior Family Domestic Violence Officer Midland District, Collaborating with Police and domestic violence services, Informing and advocating for victims, Making complex assessments in child protection
- Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support, Acting Team Leader Intensive Family Support West Kimberley, 02/24/2020, 01/2021, Managing child protection and support staff, Supervising staff and workload management
- Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support, Acting Team Leader Child Safety Team West Kimberley, 01/03/2020, 01/24/2020, Managing a team responding to child safety concerns, Chairing Child at Risk Forum
- Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support, Senior Child Protection Worker, 07/2018, 01/2020, Facilitating training and mentoring in child protection, Responding to high-risk neglect cases
- Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support, Child Protection Worker, 11/2016, 07/2018, Responding to concerns regarding child safety, Engaging with clients and developing safety plans
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Trainee Firefighter, 08/2024, 12/2024, Training in fire suppression and emergency response
- Western Australia Police Force, Recruit, 03/2024, 06/2024, Learning the basics of policing
- Queensland University of Technology, Online Learning Advisor: Graduate Diploma in Domestic Violence, 04/2021, 04/2023, Supporting students in their learning journey, Facilitating learning activities
- Communicare Inc., Youth Mentor, 09/2016, 11/2016, Case managing individuals in the Transition to Work Program
- Caterpillar Australia, Autonomous Haulage Controller, 04/2014, 09/2016, Leading and supporting HV Mining Operators
- Fortescue Metals Group, Airport Relief Supervisor / Coordinator, 02/2012, 04/2014, Supervising staff and ensuring compliance with procedures
- Royal Australian Navy, Aircraft Controller/ Drug & Alcohol Counsellor / Systems Operator, 03/2004, 01/2012, Managing operations room and training staff, Counselling Navy personnel on substance abuse
Professional Development
- CPFS Orientation Programs
- School Mentor Volunteer Program
- Workplace Assessor and Trainer
- Public Safety
- Senior First Aid Certificate
Affiliations
- App development - Won a pitch night for a prototype for a domestic violence app
- powerlifting - Deadlift 150kg
Timeline
Senior Child Protection Worker – Centralised Triage Team
Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support
12.2024 - Current
Trainee Firefighter
Department of Fire and Emergency Services
08.2024 - 12.2024
Recruit
Western Australia Police Force
03.2024 - 06.2024
Family Safety Coordinator
Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support
11.2023 - 02.2024
Online Learning Advisor: Graduate Diploma in Domestic Violence
Queensland University of Technology
04.2021 - 04.2023
Senior Family Domestic Violence Officer Midland District
Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support
01.2021 - 02.2024
Acting Team Leader Intensive Family Support West Kimberley
Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support
02.2020 - 01.2021
Acting Team Leader Child Safety Team West Kimberley
Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support
01.2020 - 01.2020
Senior Child Protection Worker
CIT
07.2018 - 01.2020
Child Protection Worker
Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support
11.2016 - 07.2018
Youth Mentor
Communicare Inc.
09.2016 - 11.2016
Autonomous Haulage Controller
Caterpillar Australia
04.2014 - 09.2016
Airport Relief Supervisor / Coordinator
Fortescue Metals Group
02.2012 - 04.2014
Aircraft Controller/ Drug & Alcohol Counsellor / Systems Operator
Royal Australian Navy
03.2004 - 01.2012
Graduate Diploma - Domestic Violence
Queensland University of Technology
Bachelor - Psychology (Criminology and Justice)
Edith Cowan University
Graduate Certificate - Human Resources
Certificate 3 and 4 - Fitness
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