Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
o In 2012, I received the ‘National Emergency Medal’ (Queen’s Medal) in recognition for services pro
Generic

Valerie Dempsey

Mount Isa,QLD

Summary

I have extensive experience working in child protection and family support sectors in mainstream and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation in Mount Isa and the Lower Gulf and Central Queensland.

I am adept at leading culturally safe family support services and have proven ability to foster community engagement and build trust with families, ensuring tailored support. Skilled in case management and mentoring, driving positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families through strategic program development and implementation.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience

Work History

Operations Manager - Family Wellbeing Service

Gidgee Healing
02.2018 - Current
  • Leadership and oversight of the Family and Wellbeing Service across Gidgee Healing’s footprint.
  • Effectively manage and coordinate the service delivery model of case managed family support services and its staff.
  • Assist program staff to provide comprehensive support service to children, young people, and their families with the aim to achieve outcomes of the program objectives.
  • Support the running of the Family Wellbeing Service (FWS), to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to access practical services and supports to build knowledge, strength, and capacity of their families and to provide the necessary environment to optimise the trajectory of health and wellbeing of all members of the family unit.
  • To ensure, delivery of support is in a manner which endorses meaningful engagement of the person in all decision making, with a bias toward building individual capability to participate in and lead the coordination of their own supports.
  • In accordance with Gidgee Healing’s strategic plan, develop key strategies to ensure that the Family Wellbeing Service meets the changing needs of the community, and delivers quality health care services.
  • Operationalise these strategies using best practice methodology and procedures in accordance with quality and accreditation standards.
  • General day-to-day coordination of the program including, managing service delivery, and implementing strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families’ access and engagement in the FWS.

Family Intervention Worker - FIS

Centacare North Queensland
11.2016 - 01.2018
  • Work extensively with families and provide educative and practical services to families referred to the FIS program to identify needs and strengths and develop goals, which will address emotional, and practical concerns related to identified needs of the family.
  • Assist families to link with other support services and resources in their communities.
  • Support and implementation of prevention and early intervention processes with families who are at risk of having their children removed by Child Safety Services or families whose children are returning to their care.
  • Carry out all case management and planning of the role.
  • Attend and participate in regular case discussions with FIS and Child Safety staff in regard to cases.

Child Protection Worker-Recognised Entity Program

Central Queensland Indigenous Development
11.2015 - 08.2016
  • Provide RE consultations to the Regional Intake Service (RIS) when ‘Intakes’ are received in regard to Australian Indigenous children and young people. RE Consultations and assessments occur by email or telephone with RIS staff.
  • Accompany Child Safety staff when they are conducting I and A interviews with Australian Indigenous families and provide advice and support to families about the received concerns and assess the need of protection for the children.
  • Source and locate kinship carers for children and young people.
  • Have input into Cultural Plans and assist in developing genealogies.
  • Participate in regular case discussions and planning with RE and Child Safety staff.
  • Attend and participate in meetings relevant to Australian Indigenous children and young people including, Placement and Stakeholder meetings, Standards of Care meetings and interviews (with carers), EVOLVE, SCAN and Family Group Meetings.
  • Attend Children’s Court; Court Ordered Conferences and Practice Panel Meetings and provide the RE’s views and recommendations in regard to the department’s applications for child protection orders.
  • Complete all written communication including, emails, reports, case notes and carry out regular client file audits in relation to departmental annual auditing purposes.
  • Build and maintain effective relationships and networks with local service providers to enable clear referral pathways and access to support services for families.

CQ Service Coordinator-FIS

UnitingCare Community
02.2012 - 09.2015
  • Manage the coordination of the Central Queensland Family Intervention Services (CQ FIS) to ensure that the objectives of the Service Agreements are met, assess and allocate referrals for service received for Emerald, Gladstone and Rockhampton FIS programs.
  • Initiate and facilitate regular case discussions and team meetings with UCC and Child Safety staff.
  • Complete all relevant verbal and written communication and reporting to UCC Senior Management and the funding body – Department of Communities including, program, budgeting and financial reports and quarterly OASIS reports.
  • Work within relevant practice and quality frameworks and risk management plans and identify and inform management of current or potential risks that may impact on service delivery, the operations of the organisation and in particular, the safety of clients and staff.
  • Provide supervision, professional development and performance management to FIS staff to ensure quality service provision to clients and where relevant, facilitate training to staff in reporting and case management.
  • Carry out all recruitment, selection and induction processes.

Family Counsellor-Family Intervention Service

UnitingCare Community
08.2010 - 02.2012
  • Work extensively with families and provide educative and practical services to families referred to the FIS program to identify needs and strengths and develop goals, which will address emotional, and practical concerns related to identified needs of the family.
  • Assist families to link with other support services and resources in their communities.
  • Support and implementation of prevention and early intervention processes with families who are at risk of having their children removed by Child Safety Services or families whose children are returning to their care.
  • Carry out all case management and planning of the role.
  • Attend and participate in regular case discussions with FIS and Child Safety staff in regard to cases.

Education

Family And Community Services

Mackay TAFE
Mackay, QLD

Post Graduate Certificate - Human Services

Griffith University
QLD
09-2027

Leadership And Management

Gidgee Healing
Mount Isa, QLD
12-2025

Skills

  • Ability to lead, guide and manage people through support and mentoring and implementation of cultural change to reflect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions and adapt cultural awareness and sensitivity for fostering of a positive, culturally safe and inclusive workplace
  • Understanding that each families are different and taking the time to build rapport and trust is important to start the yarning and sharing of their family and cultural values, beliefs and traditions, lifestyles and storylines so any support and work we do with families is tailored to their needs and family-led
  • Work within a cultural competent and cultural safe framework where communication and contact with program participates is respectful, engaging and inclusive
  • have a clear understanding of working with families in a case management capacity and putting strategies in place to minimise the impacts to the family as a whole and to work consistency with families to address identified child protection concerns
  • I am involved in the community and have extensive experience in community engagement and am aware of programs provided by local and regional service providers and government departments and through these working relationships, I have established sound networks to ensure clear referral pathways for children, young people and families involved with the services I have worked for

Accomplishments

    In 2012, I received the ‘National Emergency Medal (Queen’s Medal)' in recognition for services provided during Queensland’s 2010-2011 community disaster events in Brisbane, Cairns, Biloela, Gladstone and Rockhampton as Lifeline Community Recovery Crisis Worker.

Timeline

Operations Manager - Family Wellbeing Service

Gidgee Healing
02.2018 - Current

Family Intervention Worker - FIS

Centacare North Queensland
11.2016 - 01.2018

Child Protection Worker-Recognised Entity Program

Central Queensland Indigenous Development
11.2015 - 08.2016

CQ Service Coordinator-FIS

UnitingCare Community
02.2012 - 09.2015

Family Counsellor-Family Intervention Service

UnitingCare Community
08.2010 - 02.2012

Family And Community Services

Mackay TAFE

Post Graduate Certificate - Human Services

Griffith University

Leadership And Management

Gidgee Healing

o In 2012, I received the ‘National Emergency Medal’ (Queen’s Medal) in recognition for services pro

In 2012 I received the 'National Emergency Medal (Queen's Medal) in recognition for services provided as a Lifeline Community Recovery Worker during Queensland Natural Disasters that occurred in 2010-2011 in Brisbane, Cairns (based in Tully), Biloela, Gladstone and Rockhampton.

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Valerie Dempsey