Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Sylvia Szabo

Katoomba ,NSW

Summary

With my extensive lived experience in alcohol and other drugs, mental health, and homelessness, I am uniquely positioned to support individuals on their recovery journeys.

Having successfully navigated the challenges of addiction, the legal system and mental health personally, I bring a deep understanding of the complexities involved in these experiences. My journey over my lifetime has instilled in me a strong sense of empathy and a commitment to helping others find their paths to recovery. I believe that my story can inspire hope and resilience in those I work with.

Currently undertaking a cert 4 in mental health, I am gaining experience about working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, learning to offer support and guidance through active listening, motivational interviewing, and practical assistance. My ability to connect on a personal level fosters trust and encourages open communication, essential for effective peer support.

I am passionate about advocating for individuals affected by substance use and mental health issues, and I am committed to promoting harm reduction and recovery-oriented practices. My goal is to empower clients by providing them with the tools and support they need to reclaim their lives.

I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to Lives Lived Well and collaborate with a dedicated team that shares my commitment to recovery and well-being. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my experience can benefit your organization.

Overview

38
38
years of professional experience

Work History

Volunteer/retail Sales

Car Protection Op shop
Katoomba
01.2024 - Current
  • Work independently by myself in store
  • Handle cash and electronic sales
  • Daily operations of the organisation
  • Pricing and sorting stock
  • Interaction with customers
  • Collaborated with other volunteers to create a positive work environment.
  • Followed directions from supervisors and completed tasks within appropriate timeframe.
  • Offered support and assistance to community members.
  • Maintain accurate records

Consumer Advisory Committee

Lives Lived Well
Katoomba
01.2024 - Current
  • Attended monthly meetings to discuss and review and online platform
  • Participated in discussions about ways to enhance website
  • Collaborate with committee to make recommendations for website improvements
  • Provided input regarding website functionality

Volunteer

Kunsang Yeshe Buddhist Centre
Katoomba
04.2023 - 08.2024
  • Educated people about buddhism
  • Provided assistance to staff in the daily operations of the organization.
  • Organized and maintained records of sales and donations.
  • Assisted with fundraising efforts, including event planning and flier distribution
  • Created and distributed marketing materials for upcoming events.

Racehorse Trainer

Self employed
Orange
02.2011 - 05.2014
  • Developed and implemented daily training regimens for racehorses.
  • Assessed horse health and fitness levels to determine individualized training plans.
  • Maintained detailed records of performance, diet, exercise, medical treatments, and other information related to each horse.
  • Spoke to horse owners, informing them about their horses progress, and problems encountered and how these issues are to be rectified
  • Made decisions about suitable distances and races to place horses and which jockey to pair them with
  • Educated and trained an apprentice jockey
  • Day to day interactions with my staff, allocation of jobs and duties.
  • Transportation of horses to race destinations and preparation on racedays
  • Provided guidance and support to jockeys regarding riding techniques in order to optimize the horse's performance.
  • Created a positive environment by providing encouragement and reinforcement of appropriate behavior from both the horses and riders.
  • Scheduled veterinary care as needed for preventative maintenance or injury treatment.
  • Collaborated with owners on decisions about entering horses into races based on readiness level and potential winnings.
  • Managed stable staff including hiring and firing personnel as well as assigning duties within the barn area.
  • Administered medications such as antibiotics or vitamins according to veterinarian instructions when necessary.
  • Enforced safety protocols while handling horses in order to minimize risks of injury or accidents occurring in the barn area or trackside areas.
  • Coordinated with farriers about hoof care needs for each horse which included trimming hooves regularly as well as shoeing them if necessary.

Strapper/trackwork Rider

Darryl Macabe racing stables
Orange
11.2003 - 09.2010
  • Exercised racehorses to trainers instructions
  • Trained young horses how to behave as a racehorse, work next to other horses, jump out of barriers.
  • Helped with general care of horses, feeding, grooming, rugging, accompanying them to races

Strapper/Trackwork Rider

Don Oakley racing stables
Orange
10.1999 - 05.2001
  • Exercised horses as to trainers instructions
  • Picked up on any lameness or health conditions
  • Groomed and cared for horses

Assistant in Nursing

Anita Villa nursing home
Katoomba
05.1997 - 03.2000
  • Assisted patients with activities of daily living such as bathing, grooming, and dressing.
  • Reported changes in patient condition to registered nurse or physician.
  • Turned and repositioned bedridden patients on a regular schedule to prevent bedsores.
  • Observed patients for any changes in their physical or mental condition.
  • Served meals to patients in their rooms and assisted with feeding when needed.
  • Facilitated activities of daily living, personal hygiene management, feeding and ambulation.
  • Assisted residents with bathing and dressing to promote personal hygiene.

Bar Attendant

Evening Star Hotel
Surry Hills
05.1990 - 12.1995
  • Maintained a clean and orderly work area
  • Operated cash registers and handled money transactions accurately.
  • Prepared mixed drinks, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Ensured that all alcoholic beverages were served responsibly
  • Stocked shelves
  • Engaged with customers to build relationships; creating a positive atmosphere for guests and co-workers alike.
  • Adhered to safety policies regarding serving alcohol responsibly by monitoring guest consumption levels.

Strapper/ Rider

John Nichols racing stables
Kensington
10.1989 - 10.1992
  • Rode and exercised horses to trainers instructions
  • Assisted in making feeds for horses
  • Medicated horses, treated any wounds or injuries and attended to any veterinary needs
  • Travelled to races with horses, including transporting 3 on an aircraft from Sydney to Melbourne

Trackwork Rider

Bart Cummings racing stables
Kensington
01.1987 - 02.1989
  • Groomed and saddled horses
  • Rode horses on racetrack to specified instructions
  • Assisted in feeding and medicating horses
  • Travelled with horses and groomed them on race days
  • Assisted with any veterinary and farrier needs

Education

Certificate 3 Community Services

Wentworth Falls TAFE
Wentworth Falls
06-2024

Safe Storytelling - Peer Support

NUAA
01-2024

Bachelor of Equine Management - Management

University of Sydney
Orange, NSW
01-2002

Bachelor of Science - Biology

Macquarie University
01-1995

Bachelor of Arts - Arts

University of Sydney
01-1992

Certificate 4 Mental Health Peer Support

Wentworth Falls TAFE
Wentworth Falls

Skills

  • Peer Support: I have a lifetime of lived experience in addiction I'm now in continued recovery, with a strong commitment to helping others on their recovery journey I can help clients along a path that I myself have travelled, through addiction, homelessness, mental health problems, and involvement with the judicial system
  • Understanding of Recovery Process: Ive experience in SMART recovery, harm reduction, and relapse prevention strategies, encouraging open dialogue and shared experiences However, I realise the importance of setting strong boundaries, protecting both myself and the client
  • Empathy and Compassion: Through experience and self awareness, I am able to provide non-judgmental support to individuals from diverse backgrounds with substance use disorders and mental health issues
  • Crisis Intervention: I am able to provide emotional support during challenging situations, and to assist with problem solving I've been in many personal situations where people have benefited from my help I have the ability for facilitating a positive environment for emotional wellbeing
  • Communication and Active Listening: My personality is such that I am skilled at building trust and fostering open conversations in a peer-to-peer situation Through the use of exemplary communication skills I can participate in motivational interviewing, focusing on a clients strengths and positive attributes to encourage commitment to change
  • Team Collaboration: I'm currently learning how to work within multidisciplinary teams
  • Advocacy and Empowerment: l place focus on empowering individuals to take control of their recovery process and access community resources By collaboration with the clients, barriers can be identified, and a positive promotion of their rights and strengths can lead to self advocacy
  • Lived Experience: Shared personal recovery experiences enable rapport building, inspiring hope and demonstrating that change is possible and that life can improve
  • Building Life Skills: Using excellent interpersonal skills I have the ability to offer guidance on building life skills, such as managing triggers, maintaining sobriety, and rebuilding relationships,
  • SMART Recovery: I've had regular participation in SMART recovery groups I found I was able to help individuals gain insight into their unique situations and offer assistance and support Through drawing on my personal recovery and extensive lived experience I was able to show understanding and empathy, validating their experiences, helping them gain insight and contributing towards their wellbeing
  • I believe I can work autonomously, I am self driven and like to achieve goals that I set myself I also have a very easy going nature and find it easy to mix and work with people, so I believe I can easily work collaboratively with a team of people
  • I understand the process of cognitive behaviour therapy and the positive impact that the application of these principles have I believe in person centred care and working from a strengths based approach, allowing the client to develop self determination, inner strength and power, helping them positively change their lives
  • I realise that through person centred care, people need assistance to find answers My role is to help them on this journey, not to fix them or to take the journey on myself

Timeline

Volunteer/retail Sales

Car Protection Op shop
01.2024 - Current

Consumer Advisory Committee

Lives Lived Well
01.2024 - Current

Volunteer

Kunsang Yeshe Buddhist Centre
04.2023 - 08.2024

Racehorse Trainer

Self employed
02.2011 - 05.2014

Strapper/trackwork Rider

Darryl Macabe racing stables
11.2003 - 09.2010

Strapper/Trackwork Rider

Don Oakley racing stables
10.1999 - 05.2001

Assistant in Nursing

Anita Villa nursing home
05.1997 - 03.2000

Bar Attendant

Evening Star Hotel
05.1990 - 12.1995

Strapper/ Rider

John Nichols racing stables
10.1989 - 10.1992

Trackwork Rider

Bart Cummings racing stables
01.1987 - 02.1989

Certificate 3 Community Services

Wentworth Falls TAFE

Safe Storytelling - Peer Support

NUAA

Bachelor of Equine Management - Management

University of Sydney

Bachelor of Science - Biology

Macquarie University

Bachelor of Arts - Arts

University of Sydney

Certificate 4 Mental Health Peer Support

Wentworth Falls TAFE
Sylvia Szabo