Tara Lees
Brunswick
Summary
Experienced Social Worker with a demonstrated history of working in domestic and family violence practice, health & hospital and not-for-profit settings. Skilled in case leadership, management, counselling and advocacy.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
First Response Counsellor
Telstra Health
11.2023 - Current
- Applying clinical assessment and therapeutic expertise to meet the needs of people reaching out for support through the national 1800RESPECT service to reduce domestic, family, and sexual violence.
Sessional Tutor
Monash University, Caulfield
01.2023 - 10.2023
- Facilitating tutorials for 2nd year Monash social work students in Social Policy in the Australian Welfare State.
Operations Manager
Desert Blue Connect
01.2020 - 01.2023
- Leadership, driving strategic direction and planning services across various human service programs
- Management and supervision for staff across four programs: domestic violence support team, women’s refuge, adult and child sexual assault counselling teams and men’s counselling and behaviour change programs
- Student supervision Exploring funding opportunities and writing grants
- Writing policies, procedures, proposals to enable continuous service improvement
- Report writing to meet funding KPIs and managing contract obligations
- Chairing of the Midwest Family Violence Alliance bi-monthly meeting
- Developing relationships with stakeholders throughout the Geraldton and Midwest community.
Program Manager
Aboriginal Family Legal Services
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Service planning and development
- Conducting reflective supervision with two social workers/case managers in regional WA in the domestic and family violence field
- Case management for complex family violence victim-survivors
- Developing research proposals / grant applications
- Developing policies, procedures, and service manuals
- Writing reports to meet funding KPIs
- Attending stakeholder meetings and fostering relationships with other service providers.
Sessional Tutor
Curtin University
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Facilitated tutorials for 2nd and 3rd year social work students in a Social Work with Older People unit (semester 2) in 2017
- Facilitated tutorials for 1st and 2nd year health science and social work students studying Interpersonal Skills in Health Sciences and Lifespan, Resilience and Risk units in 2019.
Social Worker
Silver Chain Group – Hospice Care
01.2014 - 01.2019
- Provided community-based social work services to palliative and terminally ill patients (adults and children) and their families alongside the medical team
- Advance care planning Multi-disciplinary team-based collaboration for patient psycho-social care Bereavement counselling with grieving individuals and families
- Case management Social work student supervision Networking and liaison with various health stakeholders Utilising cross-cultural communication skills with people from First Nations and CALD backgrounds
- Contributing to quality improvement for social work services in palliative care
Social Worker
Osborne Park Hospital
01.2013 - 12.2014
- Discharge planning, aged care assessments (ACAT), psycho-social assessments, family meetings, adjustment counselling, participation in multi-disciplinary team meetings
Sessional Lecturer - Social Policy
Edith Cowan University
01.2013 - 10.2013
- Formulation and preparation of lecture material relating to contemporary social policy issues
- Lecturing in social policy and facilitating tutorials with undergraduate (2nd and 3rd year) social policy students.
Social Worker
Aegis Transitional Care Program
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Social work assistance to older people (dementia specific and older adult mental health) and their families in the provision of psycho-social assessment, discharge planning, counselling (grief and loss) and overall support
- Advocating for the older person and their family Case management Conducting family meetings to facilitate discharge planning.
Social Worker
St. John of God Murdoch Community Hospice
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Social work interventions - psycho-social assessments, counselling, and support around adjustment to illness and end of life, advance care planning, advocacy, and information
- Consultation and support to medical/allied health professionals Facilitation of family meetings, documentation
Clinical Social Worker, Level P2
Royal Darwin Hospital
01.2007 - 01.2011
- Social work services to patients and families - crisis intervention, trauma / grief and loss counselling, advocacy, and practical assistance
- Experience in medical wards, children, and maternity wards, orthopedic, short stay unit, and emergency departments
- Cross-disciplinary collaboration (allied health and medical practitioners).
Community Welfare Worker, Level P1 (Out of Home Care Team)
Family and Children’s Services
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Assessment and monitoring the progress and care of children (age groups 3 to 17 years)
- Case planning, provision of support and assistance to children, their caregivers, and families
- Advocacy and referral for clients to access relevant services
- Report writing - progress notes, case plans, case reviews, court reports, foster carer assessments, memorandums, referrals, letters, and submissions for funds
- Liaison with foster caregivers, families, other government, and community agencies.
Social Worker, Level P1
Department of Social Security/Centrelink
01.1997 - 01.1999
- Provided social work services in the context of an income support agency for young people at risk of homelessness, women experiencing domestic/family violence; parents at the time of separation; people experiencing social isolation due to mental illness, disability, substance abuse or illiteracy.
Education
Bachelor of Social Work (first class honours) -
Curtin University
Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training (TAA40104) -
TNQ Institute
01.2010
Skills
- Leadership and strategic planning
- Collaborative and empathetic communication
- Leading counselling and advocacy teams
- Organisational development and grant writing
- Clinical skills: Supervision for social workers and counsellors
- Grief and loss counselling
- Strengths-based counselling
- Working systemically with families
- Group facilitation
- Excellent understanding of social justice principles and competent in advocacy
Affiliations
Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Short Courses
- Australian Institute of Management, WA, 2021-22, Think On Your Feet: Clear speaking is clear thinking
- Australian Institute of Management, WA, 2021-22, Leadership Development: Leading Others
- Stara Learning and Development, WA, 2021-22, Intermediate Supervision Skills
Current Study
Monash University, commenced 2023, Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work)
References
- Russell Pratt, Chief Executive Officer, Desert Blue Connect, RussellP@desertblueconnect.org.au, 08 9964 2742
- Corina Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Family Legal Services, cmartin@afls.org.au, 08 9355 1502
Timeline
First Response Counsellor
Telstra Health
11.2023 - Current
Sessional Tutor
Monash University, Caulfield
01.2023 - 10.2023
Operations Manager
Desert Blue Connect
01.2020 - 01.2023
Program Manager
Aboriginal Family Legal Services
01.2019 - 01.2020
Sessional Tutor
Curtin University
01.2017 - 01.2019
Social Worker
Silver Chain Group – Hospice Care
01.2014 - 01.2019
Social Worker
Osborne Park Hospital
01.2013 - 12.2014
Sessional Lecturer - Social Policy
Edith Cowan University
01.2013 - 10.2013
Social Worker
Aegis Transitional Care Program
01.2012 - 01.2013
Social Worker
St. John of God Murdoch Community Hospice
01.2011 - 01.2012
Clinical Social Worker, Level P2
Royal Darwin Hospital
01.2007 - 01.2011
Community Welfare Worker, Level P1 (Out of Home Care Team)
Family and Children’s Services
01.2004 - 01.2007
Social Worker, Level P1
Department of Social Security/Centrelink
01.1997 - 01.1999
Bachelor of Social Work (first class honours) -
Curtin University
Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training (TAA40104) -
TNQ Institute
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