Serena Forrester
Derby,Australia
Summary
Dynamic Aboriginal Care Coordinator with a proven track record at Kimberley Renal Service, excelling in client advocacy and health service coordination. Skilled in effective communication and cultural sensitivity, I empower clients to navigate complex health systems, ensuring their needs are met and fostering independence in their lives. Passionate about community engagement and support.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Aboriginal Care Coordinator (support worker)
Kimberley Renal Service
12.2017 - Current
- Advocate, social support, referrals for all renal patients (pre-dialysis) and current dialysis patients
- Liaise with KRS Aboriginal Care Coordinators as required to support renal clients and their families
- Assist clients to access health services, including medical appointments, PATS, social work, aged care and allied health
- Assist clients to access accommodation and provide ongoing support
- Every year travel to Perth to do welfare checks on all Kimberley Renal Patients before coming back to the Kimberley for a permanent spot
- Support clients to live independently, or at the hospital or in aged care facilities
- Assist clients with securing their income including Centrelink payments and assist clients to address financial difficulties
- Assist in identification of clients physical, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual needs
- Undertake health promotional activities to increase awareness and understanding of renal disease and its effect
- Provide education in regards to renal replacement therapy options available (assisting support to client with pre-dialysis nurse, chronic disease educator, renal gp, access coordinator, nephrologist doctor, renal team at Kimberley Renal Service and all ACC (Aboriginal Care Coordinator) from the Kimberley Region
- Educate primary health care providers in regards to renal disease its impact and effects
- Provide a link between Aboriginal and Non Aboriginal Clients and Renal Health Centre Staff
- Support and encourage the delivery of culturally sensitive health care and assist staff to increase their cultural understanding
- Facilitate communication between clients, their families, the community and Renal Health Staff with assisting client contact with family and community and assist clients to have home visits
- Liaise with community based service agencies (government and non government) on behalf of clients and their families
- Participated in multidisciplinary meetings
- Maintain appropriate records and provide relevant written and verbal reports
- All client contact (including family members) and service providers is noted in MMEX and all admin as required (ie scanning documents, faxing, emailing, updating KRS Support Services database, organising yarning circle with all clients, creating flyers, updating our whiteboard for client appointments to keep records)
Transitional Housing Support Worker
Centacare Kimberley
06.2017 - 11.2017
- Case noting all tenants enquiries, maintenance issues, statement of accounts, inspection reporting, intensive support work, advocacy, outreach, living skills, budgeting skills, financial review tips, scanning documents, assisting with filling out rent deduction forms, direct debit forms, Centrelink statements, applying for transitional housing, completing quarterly and monthly reports, rent calculations, providing support letters for housing, filing hard copies of documents and saving all scanned documents to clients files, all admin duties as required
Production Manager / Radio Presenter
Derby Media Aboriginal Corporation
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Create scripts for promo’s and adverts, record promo’s, adverts, CSA’s, record stories of history and culture, editing on adobe audition, broadcasting, interviews, training new staff, updating sponsorship information, sales rep and prepare daily traffic sheets, preparing contracts, usage of microsoft applications and general admin duties as required
Customer Service Officer
Onslow Caravan Park
09.2015 - 10.2015
- Serving customer enquiries, checking guest into their accommodation and onsite caravan bays
- Ticketing sales, cash handling, stock taking, reconciling daily transactions and admin duties
- Responsible of opening and closing of business, working on weekends with no supervision (managing the office)
Money Management Officer
Kimberley Money Management
02.2015 - 04.2015
- Assisting clients with budgeting, internet and phone banking, financial tips, tax, super roll overs, lost super, presenting how to save power workshops, database reporting of incoming clients, using power point presentation to present workshops
- Speaking to other companies on behalf of our clients and admin duties as required
Head Chef (Buffet)
Derby Sportsman Club
07.2014 - 08.2014
- Preparing a menu for Friday night which involves ordering the ingredients a week beforehand, preparing all meals before 6pm service time, checking dockets, ticking dockets off as the meal goes out, making sure my staff have the meals out on time looking presentable, general kitchen duties (washing, drying, stacking and putting all cutlery, plates, bowls, bay-marie trays and pots and pans away, sanitising benches, sweeping, mopping)
Production Manager Assistance
Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media
02.2013 - 05.2013
- Capturing and editing footage using Final Cut Pro software, exporting quick time movies, compressing and using the DVD Studio Pro
- Travelled to remote communities to visit the other broadcasters and film makers, to see their projects and help them with editing
- Filmed Jimmy Little Foundation, Eating Healthy Food Good Tucker Campaign
- Usage of server and maintenance of files
- Operating the camera and sound equipment to create short films, news and information and or video clips creating promo’s using Adobe Audition, all aspects of radio broadcasting
Kitchen-hand / Part Time Cook
Kabayji Booroo Hostel
11.2012 - 02.2013
- All aspects of kitchen-hand duties
- For the part time cook position, I prepared all meals 2hours prior to each session (breakfast, lunch, dinner) scheduling advise, stocking of weekly food supplies, arranging fridge and freezer, completing weekly shopping, hygiene health and occupational, procedures for fire emergency evacuation drills
Administration / Cleaning
Derby Stock Supplies
10.2012 - 11.2012
- All aspects of admin, serving customers, sorting out manifest, cleaning of office, tea area and toilets
Service Cashier
Home Hardware (Derby Building Supplies)
07.2012 - 09.2012
- Servicing customers as well as helping with their enquiries, pricing and stocking of shelves, re-arranging shelving, building products ie: furniture, wheelbarrows, bbq’s, chainsaws, blowers, etc, setting out displays and other duties as directed
Production Manager Assistance
Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media
07.2011 - 02.2012
- Capturing and editing footage using Final Cut Pro software, exporting quick time movies, compressing and using the DVD Studio Pro
- Usage of server and maintenance of files
- Operating the camera and sound equipment to create short films, news and information and or video clips creating promo’s using Adobe Audition, all aspects of radio broadcasting
Financial Counsellor Assistance
Ngunga Women's Resource Centre
04.2011 - 07.2011
- Organizing budgeting workshops, creating flyers, faxing, telephoning, filing, client statistic data base entry, arranging clients extensions on their horizon power bills, making sure clients bring in their WA Nils forms (info) before their appointment, assisting my Financial Officer with her clients information on HUGS Grant and WA Nils, following up on clients appointments
- Collecting information on centrelink rent assistance and clients entitlements and consumer rights, and all other duties as directed
Radio Presenter / Executive Sales Consultant /Production Assistance
Derby Media Aboriginal Corporation
01.2010 - 03.2011
- 3 hour on air programme, researching artist information and their music, news, entertainment, topic of the week
- Updating 6dbys newsletter and organising events i.e.; radio-athon, radio auction, quiz nights, 6dby birthday, outside broadcasting, float parade and live recording workshops, in- charge of sponsorship, sales and creating ads in productions with usage of Adobe Audition
- Usage of and setting up local artist music to record live music in our new music recording studio with the experience of using Pro Tools
- All aspects of admin duties
Housing Administration Officer
Emama Nguda Aboriginal Housing
09.2009 - 11.2009
- All aspects of admin duties i.e
- Answering phones, faxing, ordering supplies, sending purchase orders and reconciling tax invoices and remittance advise, entering clients data information on housing, field trips to the communities to update tenant housing, creating job orders and updating on IHMS, entering tenants wage incomes IHMS, downloading Centrepay and CDEP wage deductions
Radio Presenter
Larrakia Radio
Night Cliff, NT
08.2009 - 09.2009
- 3 hour on air presentation for the morning show
- Updating the traffic sheets for the daily sponsored ads and creating new community billboard promos
- All aspects of administration duties
Tourism Officer
Derby Visitor Centre
01.2005 - 01.2007
- Serving customer enquiries with booking of tours, accommodation, flights, greyhound bus, local bus services, giving information about Derby and the Kimberley Region, what to do whilst their stay, what’s available, information on the conditions of our road, and arranging itineraries
- Ticketing sales, cash handling, stock taking and admin duties
- Responsible of opening and closing of business
Receptionist, Kitchen hand & Breakfast Cook
Kimberley Diamond Company
01.2001 - 01.2002
- All aspects of reception duties including answering phone calls, faxing, photocopying, distribution of incoming out-going mail, operation of UHF radio’s and organizing travel Itinerates
- All aspects of Kitchen hand duties, Preparing and cooking all breakfast food for the morning, preparing sandwich bar for the lunches, refilling of food and products in the wet mess, cleaning, washing and replacing linen in all dongas and VIP rooms, restocking all supplies in the beer garden and serving of drinks
Receptionist (in different areas)
Derby Regional Hospital
01.1999 - 01.2000
- Faxing, Typing, collecting mail, worked in areas of Records Management, PATS Department, Stores, Front counter appointments area, handling the switchboard in the receptionist area
Administrative Trainee
Kimberley College of TAFE
01.2001
- All admin requirements e.g
- Faxing, answering phones, emailing, photocopying, binding, designing tables and forms, laminating, labelling, customizing, invoicing other business, ordering supplies, making sure certain documents are in on time, filing, mailing, organize morning tea and special staff occasions, banking, petty cash (morning tea money), enrolments, advertising, archiving and other duties as directed
Assistant Health Worker
Community Health
- Going around to mothers homes & weighing, scaling and testing sugar levels of babies aged 0 – 5 years old
- Other duties as directed
Travel Agent Assistance
Traveland
- Booking customers flight details, answering phones, online bookings, receiving new prices/discounts, advertising, filing & sorting out brochures, compiling & typing out letters, banking, mailing, itinerary changes and other duties as directed
Education
HSC Year 12 -
Derby District High School
Derby01.2000
Skills
- Administration
- Case management
- Client advocacy
- Team collaboration
- Client relationship management
- Active listening
- Problem resolution
- Effective communication
- Documentation management
- Customer relationship management
- Cultural competency
- Health service coordination
- Community outreach
- Report writing
- Clear communication
- Data entry
- Cultural sensitivity
- Multitasking and organization
- Verbal and written communication
- Patient advocacy
- Goal setting
- Organizational standards
- Time management
- Documentation
- Patient education
- Problem-solving
- Public speaking
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Self motivation
- Multitasking Abilities
- Customer Service
- Sales
- Sponsorship
- Advertisements
- Media
- Occupational Health and Hygiene
- Event Planning
- Organizational Skills
- Budget Management
- Fundraising
- Public Speaking
- Community Engagement
References
- Leonie Cobbo, Integrated Service Manager, Derby Renal Health Centre, 91933500, 0457 162 792
- Jessica French, Pre-Dialysis Nurse, Kimberley Renal Service, 0459 809 014 or 0439 901 813
- Deb Irwin, NPAH Support Worker, Centacare Kimberley, 0405 566 820
- Bill Hart, Derby Media Aboriginal Corporation, 0428 911 869
- Neil Turner, Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media, 08 9195 5538, 0416 596 098
Certification
- Certificate in Handy Hygiene, 10/28/19
- Certificate in PEPA (palliative care), 2018
- Cultural Awareness Certificate, 2020
- Certificate in 4WD Training
- Certificate IV in Screen & Media
- Certificate II in Creative Industries (Media)
- Responsible Serving of Alcohol Certificate
- Certificate III in Tourism
- Certificate II in Business Office Administration
- Attempted Certificate III in Business
- Aussie Host Certificate
- Woolworths Certificate in I CARE Program
- Application Skills Workshop - Screen West
- Job Search Skills - Derby/West Kimberley Skillshare
- Basic Office Skills and Customer Relations
- Traineeship Certificate/Kimberley College of TAFE
- Basic life support course/First Aid
- St John Ambulance Apply First Aid Certificate
Personal Information
Date of Birth: 10/25/83
Nee
Buckle
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Aboriginal Care Coordinator (support worker)
Kimberley Renal Service
12.2017 - Current
Transitional Housing Support Worker
Centacare Kimberley
06.2017 - 11.2017
Customer Service Officer
Onslow Caravan Park
09.2015 - 10.2015
Money Management Officer
Kimberley Money Management
02.2015 - 04.2015
Production Manager / Radio Presenter
Derby Media Aboriginal Corporation
01.2015 - 01.2017
Head Chef (Buffet)
Derby Sportsman Club
07.2014 - 08.2014
Production Manager Assistance
Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media
02.2013 - 05.2013
Kitchen-hand / Part Time Cook
Kabayji Booroo Hostel
11.2012 - 02.2013
Administration / Cleaning
Derby Stock Supplies
10.2012 - 11.2012
Service Cashier
Home Hardware (Derby Building Supplies)
07.2012 - 09.2012
Production Manager Assistance
Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media
07.2011 - 02.2012
Financial Counsellor Assistance
Ngunga Women's Resource Centre
04.2011 - 07.2011
Radio Presenter / Executive Sales Consultant /Production Assistance
Derby Media Aboriginal Corporation
01.2010 - 03.2011
Housing Administration Officer
Emama Nguda Aboriginal Housing
09.2009 - 11.2009
Radio Presenter
Larrakia Radio
08.2009 - 09.2009
Tourism Officer
Derby Visitor Centre
01.2005 - 01.2007
Receptionist, Kitchen hand & Breakfast Cook
Kimberley Diamond Company
01.2001 - 01.2002
Administrative Trainee
Kimberley College of TAFE
01.2001
Receptionist (in different areas)
Derby Regional Hospital
01.1999 - 01.2000
Assistant Health Worker
Community Health
Travel Agent Assistance
Traveland
HSC Year 12 -
Derby District High School
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