Sandie Mitchell

In line with the Children and Families Reform and West Division Out of Home Care Priorities assume responsibility and project manage key projects:

• Present regular status reports to executive leadership, providing insights into progress made toward achieving key milestones.
• Assistance and advice to West Division Areas to support oversight of strategies and initiatives to achieve divisional goals.
• Developed comprehensive project plans, identifying risks and mitigation strategies for timely completion.
• Nurtured strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, building trust and credibility to facilitate smooth collaboration on shared goals.
• Monitored contracts and service level agreements to identify potential risks.
• Improved stakeholder communication by establishing regular update meetings and clear reporting channels, resulting in increased trust and partnership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist the Performance Quality and Compliance Manager to facilitate and support the (internal) West Division Independent Monitoring Review against the Human Services Standards to ensure the department achieves compliance of the Standards by April 2018.
• Scope: Disability services, Child Protection, Placement Coordination Unit, Targeted Care Packages, Quality of Care Coordination, Client Support and Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative.
• Engage and provide project management support in the procurement process to engage an independent auditor to undertake the review of DHHS service delivery against the Human Services Standards
• Prepare Areas and Branches with effective systems and processes to prepare for the review of West Division service delivery against the HS Standards.
• Develop and maintain proactive relationships with West Division Executive Group, Area and Branch Managers, Area and Branch staff and External stakeholders.
• Monitored project progress, identified risks and implemented corrective measures to acquire success.
• Coordinated cross-functional teams to determine timely delivery and compliance of project requirements.
• Maintained schedules to meet key milestones at every project phase.
• Directed changes to project scope and cost and implemented appropriate change management processes to keep project on track.
• Presented regular status reports to executive leadership, providing insights into progress made toward achieving key milestones.
• Established effective communication channels with stakeholders to ensure transparency and alignment of expectations.
• Adapted quickly to unexpected challenges or obstacles encountered during project execution, devising creative solutions without compromising objectives.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with other divisions to implement consistent systems and processes across the state.
• Develop and implement West Division TCP Operations & Guidelines to enable a consistent approach across areas and stakeholders.
• Make decisions that establish precedence in the development of the Targeted Care Package program in the division.
• Provide leadership and guidance to Child Protection and Community Service Organisations through effective negotiation and influence to improve the outcomes of children in out of home care.
• Coordinate and drive Targeted Care Packages activity including planning, supporting proposal development, assessing proposals and making recommendation to the Director Client Outcomes and Service Improvement for approval
• Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
• Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
• Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
• Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
• Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
• Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
• Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
• Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.

• Roles and Responsibilities:
• Provide high level advice on distribution of growth or new funding in line with divisional plan
• Analyse divisional data and area intelligence regarding service demand capacity and gaps to develop evidence base business case that informs reform, service development and growth initiatives.
• Provide effective leadership and people management ensuring shared understanding of roles and responsibilities; mentoring and proactive support to other team members where required; undertaking higher duties as required.
• Manage procurement processes for the allocation of funding in line with Government purchasing requirements
• Manage and implement strategic projects in line with government policy including the West Division Carer Advisory Group.
• Delivered high-quality results on time and within budget by diligently monitoring progress against established objectives.
• Developed comprehensive project plans, ensuring timely completion of milestones and deliverables.
• Strengthened stakeholder relationships by maintaining open lines of communication and providing regular progress updates.
• Established clear performance metrics for tracking project success, enabling informed decision-making throughout the process.
• Optimized project performance with thorough risk assessments and proactive mitigation strategies.
• Cultivated strong partnerships with external vendors, streamlining negotiations for more favorable terms on contracts and services.
• Kept senior management well-informed by preparing and presenting project status reports.
• Developed and monitored project schedules, budgets and objectives for successful completion.
• Developed and deepened relationships with key stakeholders.
• Identified and resolved project issues and mitigated risks, reducing challenges and improving project results.
• Partnered with project team members to identify and quickly address problems.

• Responsibilities:
• Project manage procurement processes for the allocation of funding in line with Government purchasing requirements
• Strengthen Aboriginal Organizations: Provide high level advice on policy, standards and objectives for new Aboriginal children, youth and families initiatives.
• Develop and implement the Aboriginal Child Specialist Advice Support Service (ACSASS)– in collaboration with the Aboriginal Children and Families Unit (AC&F).
• Coordinate the development and implementation of the Children Youth and Families Act (2005) s18 Pilot Project, in the NWMR.
• Develop and implement NWMR response to the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle – ‘Koori Placement and Support Project’ to ensure all Aboriginal children placed with mainstream agencies in the NWMR remain linked to their families and community.
• Coordinate development and implementation of the NWMR Children Youth and Families Act (2005) s18 Pilot Project with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
• Strengthen implementation of Aboriginal initiatives including Leaving Care; Therapeutic Home-Based Care, Kinship care; Family Decision Making – Cultural Support Plan model
• Monitor the NWMR Child Protection Placement and Support external budget and actively participate in planning and development processes.
• Championed knowledge-sharing initiatives aimed at improving overall team expertise while simultaneously reducing skills gaps.
• Achieved timely delivery of critical milestones by proactively addressing potential roadblocks and risks.
• Ensured regulatory compliance across all program activities by staying up-to-date on industry standards and best practices.
• Led cross-functional teams in the successful completion of high-priority projects, driving maximum efficiency and results.
• Cultivated strong relationships with key stakeholders to ensure successful program execution and alignment with organizational goals.

• Roles and Responsibilities:
• Project manage initial phase of ‘Strengthening Aboriginal Organizations’ project and build a case to demonstrate the need to strengthen and build the capacity of the Aboriginal service system across the state and prepare a briefing for the Minister.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and actively participate in the AC&F Unit priorities as required.
• Coordinate statewide networks including the Statewide Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations Network, the Aboriginal Family Decision Making – Cultural Support Plan Network, CYFA (2005) s18 Working Group, and the Aboriginal Child Specialist Advice Support Service (ACSASS) program liaison
• Negotiated with external partners to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes relating to policy objectives.
• Developed user-friendly resources including briefs reports that translated complex information into actionable insights tailored for various audiences.

• Responsibilities:
• Negotiate service agreements and contracts within the DHS funded sector
• Monitoring program budgets
• Liaison with key stakeholders to ensure system effectiveness for children and young people living in out-of-home care or at risk of removal from the care of their families, and service system development.
• Maintained an open line of communication with clients, ensuring satisfaction and addressing any concerns promptly.
• Developed strong working relationships with external partners, strengthening collaboration on joint initiatives.

• SMA provided independent consultancy and project management services including:
• Consultancy for new small business management training providers
• SMA was a Representative of Department of Employment Workplace Relations and Small Business (DEWRSB) on regional Consultative Committees (ACC) for the assessment New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) businesses these included: Holmesglen TAFE, Northern Metropolitan TAFE, Boxhill Business Enterprise Centre (BEC), RMIT BEC, and Ballarat BEC.

• Initiated by the Victorian Women’s Trust, Business Matrix is Australia’s first women-focused business incubator. Business Matrix provides business premises, assistance and support to small businesses to encourage growth. Business Matrix has been recognized as a highly innovative model for the successful encouragement and development of small businesses.

• WEC a division of the Victorian Women’s Trust provided Small Business Management Services to women throughout Victoria. Courses were conducted in metropolitan Melbourne and rural and remote areas in conjunction with Business Enterprise Centers.
• From 1995 to 1999 as Acting Manager of WEC I played a key role in the establishment and consequent merger of Business Matrix Ltd and Women’s Enterprise Connection.

• Supported Accommodation Assistance Program
• Responsibilities include the support, development and coordination of youth housing services across the Gippsland Region. Develop, resource and support individual committees of management across different areas of the Region
• Liaise with Local, State and Federal Government Departments and participate in policy and program development as well as regional planning processes.
• Develop and monitor program budgets