ABOUT TINA

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Hi there! I'm an accredited Social Worker with 15 years of experience in mental health, and my journey has been one of continuous learning, growth, and a deep passion for helping others. 

I started my career with the Department of Human Services in child protection, where I had the privilege of refining my social work skills in some very challenging and rewarding environments. This role was a crash course in resilience, case management, court processes, and writing court reports. I worked with families involved in the child protection system, helping them meet the goals set by the Magistrates at Melbourne Children's Court. It was all about a strengths-based, solution-focused approach to ensure families stayed on track and prevented re-entry into the system.

What drew me to child protection—and continues to guide my practice—is a deeply held belief in the fundamental rights of children to feel safe, be heard, and have every opportunity to thrive. I am equally passionate about supporting parents to build their confidence and capacity to care for their children. I believe meaningful change happens when families are supported with respect and clarity, and when practitioners lead with compassion and accountability.

Along the way, I honed my ability to navigate the statutory framework and maintain a deep respect for legislative requirements. The work gave me a powerful understanding of how to establish strong, collaborative relationships with children, young people, families, carers, and service providers, always working together to achieve lasting outcomes.

From there, I transitioned into the Department of Justice as a Mental Health Case Manager with the Bail Program. This was another exciting challenge, offering me the chance to provide counselling, community support, and rehabilitation to clients during their bail periods. It was a role that demanded excellent risk assessment and crisis intervention skills, as well as the ability to keep the court in the loop with thorough, accurate reports to the Magistrates. Working in this environment taught me a lot about providing holistic care and support, from mental health services to drug and alcohol treatment agencies—always ensuring the right support was in place for each client’s unique needs.  I was drawn to this work by a strong belief in second chances and the value of supporting people with empathy, structure, and timely interventions to help them make sustainable change and safely rehabilitate back into the community.  

After this, I joined Medibank Health Solutions as a counsellor, where I had the opportunity to work across a variety of mental health programs like Beyond Blue, Pregnancy Birth and Babies, Quitline, the Mental Health Phone Support Line, and 1800 Respect. This role allowed me to refine my therapeutic approach, using strength-based and solutions-focused techniques to empower clients in often difficult circumstances. I worked extensively with people in distress, providing immediate support, completing risk assessments, and ensuring clients were referred to the appropriate services based on their individual situations. The ability to listen actively, empathise, and provide tangible next steps became a core part of my work.

That experience led me to a senior management role in Mental Health Clinical Governance, where I've spent the past eight years overseeing the design and implementation of mental health programs that make a real difference. I’ve been privileged to lead programs like the Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Service, Medibank Mental Health Programs, and the Head to Health NSW and WA Programs. I’ve worked with clinical and service delivery teams to establish robust governance systems, ensuring the best practices are embedded in everything we do. One of the highlights of this role was leading the successful National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards accreditation process for our programs where we successfully obtained accreditation. I've also served as a Senior Clinical Program Advisor, where I managed a team of program advisors and contributed to shaping the direction of key mental health services.

Throughout my career, my focus has always been on supporting others, whether that’s clients working toward personal growth, or professionals striving to deliver exceptional care. I’m deeply committed to clinical quality, best practices, and empowering both clients and colleagues alike to achieve their full potential. I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a position where I can make a lasting impact, whether it’s through direct counselling, program leadership, or helping create systems that support the mental health of thousands of people.

If you’re looking for someone passionate about mental health, with a blend of therapeutic expertise, leadership, and a commitment to best practice, I’d love to connect!