Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Additional Information
Weblinks
Languages
Timeline
Generic

Prahlad Dahal

Social Worker
Cairns,Queensland

Summary

I am a Bhutanese-born Australian citizen who served refugees for 19 years overseas and continued 13 years of practice, training, and community development background in Australia. I have practiced in sectors of child protection, intensive family & community support, and homeless services. Additionally, my community leadership background in social work and my belief system in strength-based social work practice, come in handy in practice. I have applied for this job meaning I am serious and will give the job what it deserves. I am an active listener dedicated to working tirelessly as a “resourceful friend” by cultivating relationships, balancing professional values and ethics, confidentiality, and cultural values for all clients from their respective communities including Indigenous and CALD.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience

Work History

Associate Case Worker

The Salvation Army
06.2015 - Current
  • Despite having policy and framework such as Aboriginal Cultural Framework and Multicultural Charter, The First Nation Peoples Children and the CALD community children experience neglect, abuse and are more likely to suffer from depression, mental health and low esteem
  • There are instances of being vulnerable to physical, psychological and sexual abuse in state care, at work and living with non-Indigenous families
  • The children abilities to perform well at schools, completing homework’s and their wellbeing are impacted by poor housing, overcrowding, inadequate supervision, family and community issues
  • It is very difficult to unpack and address the hidden sense of homelessness of some young people by moving around a variety of homes of friends and families.
  • Worked fast to complete tasks and meet daily deadlines.
  • Followed instructions and procedures to complete assigned tasks.
  • Cleaned and straightened work areas to maximize productivity and safety.
  • Consistently met deadlines under pressure while maintaining high-quality work output in a stressful environment.
  • Improved team morale and service delivery through effective communication and active listening skills.
  • Established strong working relationships with clients through excellent communication skills, fostering long-term partnerships built on trust.
  • Kept work areas clean, organized, and safe to promote efficiency and team safety.
  • Learned all required tasks quickly to maximize performance.
  • Worked scheduled shifts and remained available to work during coworker absences, holidays, and busy periods.
  • Contributed to team success by completing jobs quickly and accurately.
  • Developed strong cooperative relationships with coworkers and managers.
  • Developed strong customer service and professional knowledge skills to enhance individual and team performance.
  • Addressed and resolved customer complaints politely and professionally.
  • Trained new team members by relaying information on company procedures and safety requirements.
  • Maintained an overall safe work environment with employee training programs and enforcement of safety procedures.
  • Collected, arranged, and input information into a database system.
  • Developed effective improvement plans in alignment with goals and specifications.

President

Cairns Bhutanese Community Inc.
04.2010 - 03.2023
  • In the capacity of Community leader, continuously worked together with people from diverse backgrounds to build a prosperous, fair, and harmonious society aligned with the principles of the Queensland Multicultural Charter
  • Engage youth, students, and women in planning, organizing and implementing community events and festivals generating a respectful and inclusive engagement between individuals, groups, Indigenous, and the diverse community
  • Organized cultural festivals participated by wider communities in Cairns including Indigenous People
  • Was a keynote speaker on “Retaining Identity” at the Australian Bhutanese Conference
  • Participated in Queensland Police Services cross-cultural meetings to develop culturally appropriate strategies
  • Provided support and feedback in developing culturally appropriate strategic plans to the Cairns Regional Council Multicultural Reference Group
  • Organized Cairns And Region Multicultural Association (CARMA) Multicultural festival providing an opportunity for multicultural communities to work collaboratively, respecting the uniqueness of each community group and building on each other strengths
  • Facilitated CALD Community Leadership training organized by Centacare Multicultural Services
  • Have been a Guest Speaker to Centrelink Staff Multicultural training as well as to Health staff sharing experience, and cultural and traditional beliefs about health and wellbeing
  • Changing the perspective of school students and community groups about refugees and migrants as a guest speaker in schools, TAFE, University, Wuchopperen on youth week and in NAIDOC week
  • Provided my support in organising multicultural festivals at Good Start Early learning child care center.
  • Prepared annual budget forecasts and monitored performance to meet organizational objectives.
  • Cultivated strong relationships with external partners to foster collaboration and maximize resources.
  • Established a culture of accountability by setting clear expectations and holding individuals responsible for results.
  • Monitored financial performance and implemented measures to enforce compliance with budgetary standards.
  • Inspired innovation by creating an environment that encouraged creative thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
  • Developed strong partnerships with cross-cultural teams for improved collaboration and efficiency.
  • Represented the organization at conferences and events.

Vice President

Cairns And Region Multicultural Association Inc.
02.2016 - 02.2018
  • Have been volunteering as an organizing team to organize Multicultural events representing Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities
  • The event had more than 14 cultural food stalls, service providers, and 35 plus cultural performances and was attended by more than 10000 people
  • Have successfully received local, state, and federal government grants to organize community events and submitted the acquittal
  • Organized Interstate Australian Bhutanese Soccer Championship which was participated by 12 boys and 4 girls’ teams
  • More than 450 people (players, officials, and community members) have been provided with logistics, boarding, and food arrangements under my leadership
  • The event had been successful in coordinating with Local and State governments, service providers, and soccer field management teams.

Case Manager, Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Life Without Barriers
08.2013 - 05.2015
  • The Sunday Morning Herald July 2024 stated NSW Child Protection failure as “horrifying”, based on the NSW Ombudsman’s report
  • The NSW government's approaches to addressing children exposed to abuse and neglect by the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children
  • The Joint Child Protection Response Program (JCPRP) comprising of NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), the NSW Police Force (NSWPF), and the NSW health
  • Caseworker resources and tools are being developed to provide practical guidance to respond to children's abuse and neglect
  • The NSW Practice Framework incorporates culture, systemic structure, language, and informed approaches to address the issues.
  • Maintained accurate documentation on all cases, ensuring compliance with regulations and confidentiality requirements.
  • Conducted thorough assessments of clients'' situations, identifying issues, goals, and necessary interventions.
  • Monitored ongoing cases closely, adjusting case management strategies as needed based on evolving circumstances or new information.
  • Educated clients on available programs, benefits, and services, empowering them to make informed decisions about their care needs.
  • Enhanced communication between clients and providers through consistent follow-ups and progress updates.
  • Achieved positive client outcomes by developing and implementing comprehensive case management plans.
  • Advocated for client rights when interacting with external agencies or institutions, ensuring fair treatment at all times.
  • Provided crisis intervention support for clients experiencing emergencies, using appropriate techniques to de-escalate situations safely.
  • Contributed to team discussions and case conferences actively, sharing insights and expertise with colleagues to optimize client support strategies.
  • Coordinated services with other agencies, community-based organizations, and healthcare professionals to provide useful benefits to clients.
  • Developed and implemented comprehensive case management plans to address client needs and goals.
  • Improved client satisfaction by efficiently addressing concerns or grievances promptly.
  • Assisted clients in navigating housing, legal services, and public benefits to gain access to valuable resources.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to address client needs and formulate tailored support strategies.
  • Assisted clients in setting achievable goals while providing ongoing encouragement and support throughout the process of reaching those objectives.
  • Coordinated essential services for clients, resulting in improved overall well-being and self-sufficiency.
  • Monitored clients' progress and tracked client services to provide crisis interventions.
  • Fostered open lines of communication with clients'' families and support networks, involving them in the case management process as appropriate.
  • Participated in regular professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices within the field of case management.
  • Partnered with physicians, social workers, activity therapists, nutritionists, and case managers to develop and implement individualized care plans and documented patient interactions and interventions in electronic charting systems.
  • Facilitated individual and group sessions to promote positive behavior change for clients.
  • Strengthened relationships with community organizations to increase access to supportive resources for clients in need.
  • Facilitated workshops on life skills, contributing to improved self-sufficiency of clients.
  • Negotiated with landlords and housing agencies to secure stable housing for clients, significantly reducing homelessness.
  • Participated in community events to promote services and engage with public.

Bi-cultural Worker

Centacare Multicultural Services
05.2010 - 07.2013
  • Collected personal data for assessment and intake of homeless people and uploaded the required documents
  • Written case notes and briefed the organization’s policy and procedures
  • Provided administrative support by ensuring clients' safety and guided them to achieve their goals completing tasks within the timeframes
  • Perform case management of clients and collaborate with stakeholders such as Mental health, the Department of Housing, Access housing, Medical professionals, Lawyers, and Real Estate agents to address the needs of the clients
  • Provide case management to clients from diverse background, working as a team and by networking, to address their issues in a supported accommodation service.

Education

Master - Social Work (Professional)

James Cook University
Cairns, QLD
03.2013

Skills

  • Ability to work in a stressful situation
  • Coordination with different stakeholders
  • Protecting client's interest and confidentiality
  • Respecting organization's values and policies

Accomplishments

· Recipient of the 2014 Cairns Regional Council Cultural Diversity Award – Outstanding Volunteer / Individual.

· Co-writer of two book chapters concerning the spirituality, coping, and resilience of the Lohtshampa (Bhutanese Community) during their refugee journey from Bhutan to Nepal to Australia.

· Recipient of the 2012 TropEco Awards, James Cook University (JCU) “Highly Commended Community Award” for developing sustainable partnerships and engagement between JCU and the local community.

· My presentation on “Spiritual homelessness of the CALD community” was received as a unique presentation and a plan of original thought, great community-mindedness, and dedication.

· As President of the Cairns Bhutanese Community, organized the International Human Rights Day 2010 Theater performance “Unheard Journey of Bhutanese from Bhutan to Nepal to Australia”.

Additional Information

Despite having policy and framework such as Aboriginal Cultural Framework and Multicultural Charter, The First Nation Peoples Children and the CALD community children experience neglect, abuse and are more likely to suffer from depression, mental health and low esteem. There are instances of being vulnerable to physical, psychological and sexual abuse in state care, at work and living with non-Indigenous families. The children abilities to perform well at schools, completing homework's and their wellbeing are impacted by poor housing, overcrowding, inadequate supervision, family and community issues. It is very difficult to unpack and address the hidden sense of homelessness of some young people by moving around a variety of homes of friends and families., Collected personal data for assessment and intake of homeless people and uploaded the required documents. Written case notes and briefed the organization's policy and procedures. Provided administrative support by ensuring clients safety and guided them to achieve their goals completing tasks within the timeframes. Performed case management of clients and collaborated with stakeholders such as Mental health, Department of Housing, Access housing, Medical professionals, Lawyers, Real Estate agents to address the needs of the clients. Provided case management to clients from diverse background, working as a team and by networking, to address their issues in a supported accommodation service., The Sunday Morning Herald July 2024 stated NSW Child Protection failure as 'horrifying', based on the NSW Ombudsman's report. The NSW government approaches to address children exposed to abuse and neglect by the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children. The Joint Child Protection Response Program (JCPRP) comprising of NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) and NSW health. A Caseworker resources and tools is being developed to provide practical guidance to respond children abuse and neglect. The NSW Practice Framework incorporates culture, systemic structure, language, and informed approaches to address the issues., At the capacity of Community leader, continuously worked together with people from diverse backgrounds to build a prosperous, fair and harmonious society aligned with the principles of the Queensland Multicultural Charter. Engaged youth, students and women in planning, organizing and implementing community events and festivals generating a respectful and inclusive engagement between individuals, groups, Indigenous and the diverse community. Organized cultural festivals participated by wider communities in Cairns including Indigenous People. Keynote speaker on 'Retaining Identity' at Australian Bhutanese Conference. Participated in Queensland Police Services cross-cultural meetings to develop culturally appropriate strategies. Provided support and feedback in developing culturally appropriate strategic plans to Cairns Regional Council Multicultural Reference Group. Organized Cairns And Region Multicultural Association (CARMA) Multicultural festival providing an opportunity to multicultural communities to work collaboratively, respecting the uniqueness of each community group and building on each other strengths. Facilitated CALD Community Leadership training organized by Centacare Multicultural Services. Guest Speaker to Centrelink Staff Multicultural training as well as to Health staff sharing experience, cultural and traditional beliefs about health and wellbeing. Changing perspective of school students and community groups about refugees and migrants as a guest speaker in schools, TAFE, University, Wuchopperen on youth week and in NAIDOC week. Provided support in organizing multicultural festivals at Good start Early learning child care centre., Volunteering as an organizing team to organize Multicultural event representing Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities. The event had more than 14 cultural food stall, service providers, 35 plus cultural performances and attended by more than 10000 people. Successfully received local, state and federal government grants to organize community events and submitted the acquittal. Organized Interstate Australian Bhutanese Soccer Championship which was participated by 12 boys and 4 girls' teams. More than 450 people (players, officials and community members) had been provided with logistic, boarding and food arrangements under leadership. The event had been successful coordinating with Local and State governments, service providers and soccer field management teams., Feel strong enough to bring new dynamics to the Settlement Service International (SSI Group) team if selected and provided the opportunity to serve. Enjoy working in a structured system following the policies and procedures of the organization. Firmly believe that the policies and procedures are adopted to protect the workers, beneficiaries and stakeholders. Witnessed colleagues facing the consequences of breaching the policies and procedures of the workplace. Also believe asking questions is a strength to understand better and build a team of confidence with appropriate knowledge. Can communicate in 3 Languages (English, Nepali and Hindi). Written 2 chapters in a book (The Lhotsampa People of Bhutan - Resilience and Survival) and published articles in academia.

Weblinks

  • Https://books.google.com.au/books?id=YuYdCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT12&lpg=PT12&dq=prahlad+dahal&source=bl&ots=3YUOmmDrmx&sig=ACfU3U3aWDwvL6uqPTBdoI5nxMXlUwEC2g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjh-Zrti_rgAhUJfX0KHZNJDHAQ6AEwDHoECAAQAQ
  • Https://www.facebook.com/prahlad.dahal.9
  • Https://www.facebook.com/CairnsRegionalCouncil/photos/congratulations-to-the-winners-of-the-inaugural-cairns-cultural-diversity-awards/798912676797007/
  • Http://www.bhutannewsnetwork.com/2014/09/a-cairns-bhutanese-recognised-with-award/
  • Https://www.academia.edu/24082829/The_Newly_Emerging_Communities_in_Australia_The_Bhutanese_Refugees

Languages

Hindi
Professional Working
Nepali
Professional Working

Timeline

Vice President

Cairns And Region Multicultural Association Inc.
02.2016 - 02.2018

Associate Case Worker

The Salvation Army
06.2015 - Current

Case Manager, Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Life Without Barriers
08.2013 - 05.2015

Bi-cultural Worker

Centacare Multicultural Services
05.2010 - 07.2013

President

Cairns Bhutanese Community Inc.
04.2010 - 03.2023

Master - Social Work (Professional)

James Cook University

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