MARIA THERESA TALAEAI
Blacktown,NSW
Summary
Dynamic student wellbeing and community services professional with over 15 years of experience leveraging psychology-informed practices in educational and human services environments. Expertise in supporting children, young people, and families through strengths-based and trauma-informed methodologies, including intake and assessment, goal planning, behavior engagement strategies, group facilitation, supervised contact, risk screening, and safeguarding responses. Strong capabilities in reflective practice, ethical decision-making, maintaining professional boundaries, and ensuring confidentiality while collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary and interagency contexts such as schools, DCJ, health, and community services. Actively pursuing credit for recognized prior learning toward a Diploma of Psychology to further enhance competencies in core psychological support.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Student Support Officer
Department of Education
NSW
01.2021 - Current
- Support student wellbeing through early intervention, engagement strategies and coordinated supports.
- Build rapport with students and families using active listening and strengths-based communication.
- Assist with targeted planning and referrals, including warm links to internal and external supports.
- Contribute to coordinated responses with wellbeing and counselling staff and follow escalation pathways.
- Maintain confidential documentation aligned with policy, privacy and safety requirements.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
Acting Service Delivery Manager
Junaya Family Development Services
Blacktown, NSW
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Supported oversight of service delivery quality, risk management and continuous improvement.
- Guided consistent practice standards and documentation quality, supporting outcomes and reporting.
- Led a cross-functional team of 9 to enhance service delivery and client satisfaction.
- Streamlined operational processes, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced service response times.
- Streamlined operational processes, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced service response times.
Group Facilitator
Junaya Family Development Services
Blacktown, NSW
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Facilitated structured group programs (Participants 12 - 150) supporting youth wellbeing, respectful relationships and family capacity building.
- Supported safe group processes, engagement and feedback to inform program improvement.
- Facilitated group discussions to promote family development and community engagement.
- Developed training materials to enhance participant understanding and skill acquisition.
Team Leader
Junaya Family Development Services
Blacktown, NSW
2018 - 01.2019
- Provided supervision and reflective practice to strengthen staff capability in ethical, safe and outcomes-focused casework.
- Supported risk assessment and incident response; promoted safe outreach practice and professional boundaries.
- Strengthened interagency collaboration and coordinated family support responses.
- Led team initiatives to enhance service delivery and client engagement.
- Mentored 6 full-time caseworkers, 2 part-time admin workers and 3 student placements, fostering professional development and improving team performance.
Youth and Family Caseworker
Junaya Family Development Services
Blacktown, NSW
01.2014 - 2017
- 21Completed intake, psychosocial assessment and goal planning with children, young people and families.
- Delivered outreach and practical supports a; strengthened coping strategies, routines and family functioning.
- Collaborated with over 12 schools and local agencies through case conferences and coordinated planning.
- Maintained detailed case notes, consent and information-sharing records aligned with ethical requirements.
- Identified and escalated safeguarding concerns in line with policy and required processes.
- Coordinated resources and referrals to support family development goals effectively.
- Facilitated client assessments to identify needs and develop tailored service plans.
Youth and Family Case Manager
Mission Australia
Wetherill Park & Bankstown, NSW
02.2011 - 12.2013
- Provided case management and advocacy for young people and families experiencing complex psychosocial stressors.
- Conducted intake, assessment and goal setting; supported engagement with education, health, housing and community supports.
- Coordinated interagency responses and maintained accurate documentation and reporting.
- Coordinated comprehensive case management services for Youth in crisis.
- Developed individualised support plans addressing diverse family needs and challenges for up to 14 young people in the residential home.
Casual Supervised Contact Worker
Anglicare
NSW
01.2010 - 01.2020
- Supervised child–family contact sessions in line with court orders and child-focused practice standards.
- Observed interactions, documented objectively and escalated safety concerns through appropriate channels.
- Maintained boundaries and used de-escalation strategies to ensure safe, structured sessions.
Education
Bachelor of Arts -
University of Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand05-2009
Skills
- Student wellbeing support; engagement and Attendance Strategies
- Psychosocial intake, screening, observation and needs assessment
- Goal-based planning and review; strengths-based support
- Behaviour support strategies, de-escalation and emotion regulation supports
- Group facilitation, psychoeducation-style delivery and program engagement
- Communication: rapport building, motivational engagement, family support
- Risk identification and escalation: child safety, critical incidents, safety planning
- Ethical practice: confidentiality, consent, recordkeeping, boundaries
- Cultural safety and inclusive practice
- Reporting, case notes, outcome tracking and evaluation
- Collaboration with the counselling and wider wellbeing team and external providers
- Teamwork and collaboration
Certification
- Youth Mental Health First Aid Facilitator, Mental Health First Aid
- Teen Mental Health First Aid Facilitator, Mental Health First Aid
- Love Bites, National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect - NAPCAN (Junior and Senior)
- Rock and Water, Rock & Water institute of Australia
- Strength and SHINE
Interventions Plus programs
- RAGE (Re-navigating Anger and Guilty Emotions)
- Feeling Fantastic (Junior and Senior)
- CHILLAX
- Managing the Bull
- Rules in Relationships
- The DARE (Develop awareness & rebuild experiences)
- MAAD (Managing Anger & Adolescents Differently)
- Accidentally counselling
- Psychological First Aid
- Case Management Foundation course
- Study without stress
Parenting Programs (Licensed/Accredited Facilitator)
- 1-2-3 Magic & Emotion Coaching
- Triple P – Positive Parenting Program
- Circle of Security parenting program
- Tuning in to Kids
- Tuning in to Teens
Languages
Samoan
Professional Working
Timeline
Student Support Officer
Department of Education
01.2021 - Current
Acting Service Delivery Manager
Junaya Family Development Services
01.2020 - 01.2021
Group Facilitator
Junaya Family Development Services
01.2018 - 01.2019
Youth and Family Caseworker
Junaya Family Development Services
01.2014 - 2017
Youth and Family Case Manager
Mission Australia
02.2011 - 12.2013
Casual Supervised Contact Worker
Anglicare
01.2010 - 01.2020
Team Leader
Junaya Family Development Services
2018 - 01.2019
Bachelor of Arts -
University of Auckland
STUDY GOAL
Applying for credit/Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) toward a Diploma of Psychology.