Rachel Merrigan

My role as a Community Mental Health Practitioner has allowed me to further develop my knowledge of human behaviour, psychology and mental health conditions. I am responsible for the facilitation of rehabilitative programs from those suffering from acute mental health and alcohol and drug related illness. I effectively communicate with people diagnosed with a diverse array of conditions and work to develop and implement case plans that will support individuals well-being. I am required to keep up to date and comprehensive documentation in line with the mental health legislation, whilst also ensuring individuals are safely supported. Risk management and assessment are key duties of my role and I consistently strive for positive outcomes for individuals.

In my role as a Wurrekangek Practitioner (Aboriginal Family Preservation and Reunification Response Team) with BDAC, I was responsible for case management and supporting families with logistical, emotional and social needs within a culturally sensitive framework. My role involved working collaboratively with families and stakeholders to assess risks and set goals that would positively impact their lives. The needs and goals of families varied significantly and ranged from complex mental health difficulties, AOD support, family violence assistance, navigating Child Protection involvement and referrals to medical, financial and housing assistance. My role was to help guide families to identify goals and develop plans to ensure they were receiving support to achieve positive outcomes.

SECONDMENT:

As a Case Officer I applied Case Management practice to reduce the risk of recidivism by engaging clients with programs and services that addressed their offending behaviours. I maintained contact with up to 120 low and high risk offenders to ensure they were complying with the conditions of their orders and monitored any disengagement and absence from services. I communicated with stakeholders in order to work collaboratively towards better outcomes for the offenders and the community.

• As a Prison Officer I worked in a large team to maintain security and good order of the prison. I thoroughly conducted compliance, wrote reports, responded to incidents, ensured operational security needs were met, conducted risk assessments and developed meaningful and goal-orientated case plans with prisoners. I worked with prisoners in lockdown units and open accommodation and was able to adapt my communication style to suit people from a variety of different backgrounds. I had to assess dangers and critically think in fast-paced and challenging situations. I conducted routine patrols, searches, and dealt with agitated and escalated prisoners which assisted in the development of my conflict management skills. My interpersonal and communication skills were my most utilised attributes in this role. I was also conscious of having a pro-active and positive attitude in order to set a good example for prisoners. I regularly completed refreshers to remain familiar with legislation that was currently applicable to the role including the DCI's and Corrections Act.

As a Youth Worker at Safe Places for Children I was responsible for the day to day co-ordination of young people’s activities and was there to ensure their wellbeing. I also worked in a team in conjunction with stakeholders such as DHHS and Victoria Police in order to achieve longer term goals and behaviour rehabilitation for young people. I received training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and work based on a trauma informed approach, both of which have helped me effectively manage complex and challenging behaviour. Working in this environment enabled me to learn how to respond to high stress incidents and gave me the tools required to de-escalate conflict, manage mental health crises, and provide tailored care.

As an Aftermarket Manager for MotorOne I was stationed at a high-volume car dealership in Melbourne's inner south east. My role was to assess customer needs and provide tailored aftermarket solutions for their newly purchased cars.
This required a high level of communication skills as an integral part of my job was talking. I presented a range of products and services and explained the purpose and benefits of them to customers.

This has given me strong sales and negotiation skills and in my 15 months of doing this I achieved over $250,000 in sales profit.

I was also responsible for maintaining detailed data relating to profits, sales trends and projections, and reporting this information to the dealership and MotorOne.This has enabled me to develop strong public speaking skills as I was required to present my findings in front of groups of executives.

My time as a Disability Support Aide was immensely rewarding. I worked alongside students with a range of special needs, including physical and cognitive disabilities, and specific learning and/or behavioural disorders. I was responsible for helping one of the students get to and from the city to school (in Lavers Hill) every week, and ensuring that she was safe and comfortable.

Working with the staff and students taught me many valuable skills, such as setting and following workday routines; ensuring clear and explicit communication; setting goals and implementing steps to ensure their outcomes; building strong relationships with all students and other staff members; using initiative and taking responsibility for myself and others.