Michelle Harkness
Marion,SA
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Child Wellbeing Practitioner
Department Of Human Services
09.2020 - Current
- Strengthening communication and understanding between child protection, education and health systems in a timely and effective manner to meet the needs of children and their families.
- Demonstrating effective case practice and case management, providing high quality and effective service delivery to respond to the needs of children and their families in a timely manner and in a supportive diversionary role.
- Promoting and developing partnerships with government and non-government support services, to identify and implement responses to mitigate child protection risk (including domestic and family violence) for vulnerable children and their families.
- Creating opportunities to work in collaboration with other services to effectively link vulnerable children and families to relevant services.
- Identifying risk and assessing the needs of vulnerable children and families, planning and delivering focussed intervention to safeguard children and young people within their families and communities to promote positive outcomes.
Youth and Family Counsellor
City Of Port Adelaide Enfield
02.2005 - 09.2020
- Assess, review and provide support to young people and their families with complex needs.
- Provide one-on-one counselling services to young people who are experiencing difficulties such as mental health, family violence, homelessness and education.
- Develop and facilitate programs that address issues relevant to young people within the school setting
- Work collaboratively with school staff and various organisations to monitor educational and emotional well being of students.
Youth Justice Coordinator- 3 Month Secondment
Courts Administration Authority Of South Australia
05.2015 - 08.2015
- Managing, facilitating and undertaking all facets of family conferences.
- Working and supporting victims of crime within the criminal justice system.
- Managing difficult individuals and groups of people in conflict situations and facilitating a resolution in a formal setting.
- Pre conference case assessment, information gathering and analysis to prepare for the family conference including analysis of all social and criminal aspects of the file.
Education
Bachelor of Social Work -
Charles Darwin University
Casuarina, NT01.2019
Bachelor of Applied Science-Disability Studies -
Flinders University
Adelaide, SA01.2009
Skills
- High level communication skills in building and maintaining effective partnerships within Department of Education sites to promote joint planning and support to improve the outcomes of students
- Take action and provide services that are inclusive of Aboriginal people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds as well as engaging in learning about other cultures to better establish relationships and improve services
- Proven ability in understanding and evaluating the factors that contribute to client/family risk using knowledge of the models of engagement and networks of support/ services to develop action plans to reduce or eliminate the risks
- Proven ability to build relationships with education sites to enhance client services
- High knowledge of child protection legislation, polices and procedures, impact of trauma and the service opportunities available from other agencies
Referees
Rebecca Coe
Child Wellbeing Supervisor
Department of Human Services
Ph: 0410 541 572
Susi Beinke
Education Director Support Leader
Department of Education
Ph: 0460 318 522
Karla Huffa
Teaching and Learning Coordinator
Findon High School
Ph: 0410 484 243
Timeline
Child Wellbeing Practitioner
Department Of Human Services
09.2020 - Current
Youth Justice Coordinator- 3 Month Secondment
Courts Administration Authority Of South Australia
05.2015 - 08.2015
Youth and Family Counsellor
City Of Port Adelaide Enfield
02.2005 - 09.2020
Bachelor of Social Work -
Charles Darwin University
Bachelor of Applied Science-Disability Studies -
Flinders University
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