Lara Viljoen
Joondalup,Australia
Summary
Enthusiastic and hardworking professional with proven experience in disability supports and service coordination, customer service, supervision, administration, fitness, and pathology/phlebotomy. A dedicated team player with a compassionate, caring nature, consistently striving for excellence and inspiring others. Currently pursuing studies in Psychology at Edith Cowan University.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
APS4 Access Assessor
NDIA
05.2025 - Current
- Assess applicant’s evidence of impairments/disability to determine eligibility for the NDIS.
- Review evidence from health professionals and other stakeholders and make informed access decisions.
- Communicate decision outcomes to prospective participants via phone and in letters.
- Consult stakeholders to gather further information necessary to make decisions.
- Seek technical support from QDO’s to inform decisions.
- Complete Streaming tasks prior to making access decisions.
- Complete pre-planning tasks for access met decisions.
- Have a thorough understanding of the Current NDIS Legislation.
- Handle phone calls of a sensitive/distressing nature when communicating access not met decisions.
- Provide operational and administrative support.
- Reviewing and assessing information to make access eligibility reassessment decisions in accordance with policy legislation.
- Researching and reviewing decisions with regard to routine and moderately complex cases with the assistance of staff at higher classification level.
- Responding to phone and email enquiries about access and eligibility, providing thorough information and effective support to internal and external stakeholders.
- Managing incoming correspondence.
- Undertaking a range of data entry and high quality record keeping.
- Advising participants in relation to the outcome of their access decision, their rights and their obligations.
- Supporting Team Leaders to implement improvement strategies to address local quality issues, and deliver on branch goals and strategic objectives.
Local Area Coordinator
APM Communities
01.2025 - 05.2025
- Assisting people with permanent and significant disabilities in applying for NDIS support.
- Collaborating with participants to develop goals.
- Connecting people with disabilities to support within the local community.
- Supporting participants in navigating and optimising their engagement with the NDIS.
- Improving community knowledge of the NDIS and creating new opportunities to connect participants to services and support.
- Meeting identified contractual KPI’s.
Psychosocial Support and NDIS Plan Coordination
Wholisticare Supports- Sole Trader/Independent Business
10.2023 - 12.2024
- Provide individualised psycho-social support services to people requiring support who experience serious and persistent mental illness, and who may have coexisting disabilities and/or complex unmet needs.
- Provide informal counselling with a compassionate, person-centred approach.
- Supported clients in engaging in activities out in the community.
- Supported clients with C-PTSD and severe neurological disorder-related mental illness.
- Maintain client case notes and records.
- Maintain compliance of NDIS requirements.
- Coordinated with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of plans.
Psychosocial Support Worker
COPE Center of Psychological Enrichment
03.2023 - 10.2023
- Provided individualised psycho-social support services to people requiring support who experience serious and persistent mental illness, and who may have coexisting disabilities and/or complex unmet needs.
- Provided informal counselling with a compassionate, person-centred approach.
- Supported clients in engaging in activities out in the community.
- Supported clients who have experienced mass trauma and drug-related issues.
- Maintained client case notes and records.
- Maintained compliance of NDIS requirements.
Laboratory Assistant
PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA
05.2018 - 03.2023
- Processed patient specimens according to priority.
- Specimen Reception - Received, sorted, separated, aliquoted, and distributed laboratory samples for testing, including packaging samples for other laboratories.
- Received supplies from external sources and distributed them to the appropriate sections throughout the laboratory, as required.
- Undertook relevant clerical work as required.
- Administration - Entered data and accessed results using the laboratory computer system, including registration and telephone inquiries from hospital doctors.
- Maintained energy and enthusiasm in a fast-paced environment.
- Quickly learned new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
Phlebotomist
Queensland Prince Charles Hospital
04.2017 - 12.2017
- Completed proper sanitation and cleaning of equipment and work areas between patients.
- Drew blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods for both inpatients and outpatients, including neonates.
- Labelled transfer tubes and followed exact directions for handling and storing specimens for transport.
- Used personal protective equipment correctly to protect coworkers and patients.
- Stocked phlebotomy cart or carrier with appropriate supplies.
Phlebotomist
Queensland
05.2014 - 01.2016
- Completed proper sanitation and cleaning of equipment and work areas between patients.
- Drew blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods from inpatients and outpatients.
- Labelled transfer tubes and followed exact directions for handling and storing specimens for transport.
- Used personal protective equipment correctly to protect coworkers and patients.
- Stocked phlebotomy cart or carrier with appropriate supplies.
Technical Laboratory Assistant
PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA
02.2011 - 02.2012
- Phlebotomy- Outpatients/Inpatients- Ward rounds including psychiatric patients.
- Competent using needle and syringe, vacutainer & butterfly needle.
- Neonates- heel prick collection.
- Laboratory- Assist with setting up of equipment and the conduct of various routine tests including Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Pregnancy Test, Infectious Mononucleous Screen, Troponin T.
- Set up and operate automated equipment including LH 500 Vitros & Cobas H232.
- Prepare and make blood films.
- Alert scientists to abnormal results.
- Quality control of instrumentation.
- Administration- Enter data and access results using computer system, including registration of patient request forms and telephone enquiries.
- Specimen Reception- Receive, sort, separate, aliquot and distribute laboratory samples for testing, including packaging of samples for other laboratories.
- Receive supplies from external sources and distribute them to appropriate sections throughout laboratory as required.
- Undertake relevant clerical work as required.
Gym Instructor
Aqualife Centre Gym
07.2009 - 09.2009
- Fitness appraisal/reappraisal for new and existing clients.
- Constructing and instructing client specific fitness programs.
- Supervision & maintenance of gym and equipment.
- Member enquiries- in person and over phone.
First Assistant/ Human Resources Manager
McDonalds Australia Ltd
08.2005 - 08.2009
- Floor management all areas including kitchen, counter, drive thru, McCafe.
- Staff scheduling, training, development and supervision.
- Professional development of management team.
- Quality control & stock inventory.
- Profit/loss/labour cost control and management.
- Organized and led staff orientation programs and training.
- Motivated employees through special events, incentive programs and constructive feedback.
- Facilitated orientation & on-the-job training for new hires, bolstering employee job position knowledge and skillset.
- Implemented performance review and motivational strategies.
- Evaluated training program success and presented strategic improvement recommendations to upper management.
- Briefed new hires on essential job information, such as company policies, employment benefits and job duties.
- Worked with managers to achieve compliance with organizational policies, providing clarifying information and recommending necessary changes.
- Streamlined HR efficiencies, coordinated new hire orientations and provided training for over 100 new employees.
- Managed opening and closing procedures and recommended changes to enhance efficiency of daily activities.
- Supervised and evaluated staff, enabling them to improve skills, achieve daily objectives and attain advancement.
- Rotated merchandise and displays to feature new products and promotions.
- Provided weekly work schedules to employees to accommodate business demands and vacation requests.
- Conducted weekly staff meetings to motivate staff members, address concerns and questions, plan improvements, and evaluate progress toward goals.
Pastry Shop Supervisor
Miss Maud Swedish Pastry Shop
02.2004 - 10.2004
- Customer service.
- Staff supervision.
- Stock control and ordering.
- Book keeping/ banking.
Assistant Manager
McDonalds Australia Ltd
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Customer service.
- Staff supervision all areas including kitchen, counter, drive thru.
- Monitored cash intake and deposit records, increasing accuracy and reducing discrepancies.
- Set and enforced policies focused on increasing team productivity and strengthening operational efficiency.
Education
Graduate Diploma - Psychology
Edith Cowan University
Perth, WA10.2025
Graduate Certificate - Psychology
Edith Cowan University
10.2024
Diploma - Counselling
Australian Institute of Family Counselling
11.2021
Certificate 3 & 4 - Health And Physical Fitness
Australian Institute of Fitness
07.2009
Skills
- Pathology Laboratory Operation
- File Organisation and Maintenance
- Laboratory Information Systems
- Contributing Team Player
- Team Collaboration
- Customer Service
- Staff Supervision
- Recruiting and Interviewing
- Data Entry Documentation
- Administrative Procedures
- Staff education and training
- Scheduling
- Administrative support
- Psycho-social support
- NDIS Coordination
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Data Entry
- Detail orientation
- Organizational Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Self Motivation
- Understanding of medical terms
- Professionalism
- Active Listening
- Adaptability
- Case Management
- Time Management
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Interpersonal Communication
- Excellent Communication
- Teamwork skills
- Written Communication
KEYQUALITIES
- Enthusiastic
- Friendly
- Hardworking
- Team player
- Empathic
- Caring
Timeline
APS4 Access Assessor
NDIA
05.2025 - Current
Local Area Coordinator
APM Communities
01.2025 - 05.2025
Psychosocial Support and NDIS Plan Coordination
Wholisticare Supports- Sole Trader/Independent Business
10.2023 - 12.2024
Psychosocial Support Worker
COPE Center of Psychological Enrichment
03.2023 - 10.2023
Laboratory Assistant
PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA
05.2018 - 03.2023
Phlebotomist
Queensland Prince Charles Hospital
04.2017 - 12.2017
Phlebotomist
Queensland
05.2014 - 01.2016
Technical Laboratory Assistant
PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA
02.2011 - 02.2012
Gym Instructor
Aqualife Centre Gym
07.2009 - 09.2009
First Assistant/ Human Resources Manager
McDonalds Australia Ltd
08.2005 - 08.2009
Pastry Shop Supervisor
Miss Maud Swedish Pastry Shop
02.2004 - 10.2004
Assistant Manager
McDonalds Australia Ltd
01.2001 - 01.2004
Graduate Certificate - Psychology
Edith Cowan University
Diploma - Counselling
Australian Institute of Family Counselling
Certificate 3 & 4 - Health And Physical Fitness
Australian Institute of Fitness
Graduate Diploma - Psychology
Edith Cowan University
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