About Melinda
Hi. I’m Melinda.
After three decades working as a clinician, and 19 years as a clinical supervisor, I have hung up my counselling hat to focus on supporting colleagues. It’s time to give back to the people who help other people. I focus on providing clinical supervision to mental health practitioners, professional supervision to other professionals and workplace and leadership coaching.
Throughout my career, I have specialised in mental health, trauma and relationships within diverse settings, including government, public health, not-for-profit, schools and the private sector. My background spans roles such as clinician, manager, project manager, caseworker, clinical supervisor, trainer and leadership coach. I am accredited as a mental health social worker with the Australian Association of Social Workers and a member of the Australian Clinical Supervisors Association.
Qualifications and Accreditation
30+ Years of Clinical Experience
I began my career in 1991, working as a social worker in a rickety old wooden hospital psychiatry unit serving Vietnam Veterans. I had studied the war in high school, and it felt like a dream job to learn more about, and support people affected by war trauma. Like many young professionals, I then took the leap to further my horizons and moved to the UK, where I worked in another hospital. I also took this opportunity to travel the world, visiting Vietnam, India, South America and North Africa. On my return to Australia, I continued working in hospitals and health services.
After the first 10 years of social work, I honed my career in mental health and trauma, working with refugees and asylum seekers, Defence veterans and most recently with Police. In 2006, a pivotal year in my career, I completed my mental health social work accreditation, completed a master’s degree in couple and family therapy, and started my journey into private practice, working with clients and clinicians.
I noticed similar workplace patterns arising in my private practice work with supervisees and started to seek out more opportunities to support employee mental health. I provided management consultation, leadership coaching, group reflective practice, group supervision and wrote clinical and workplace policies, as well as continuing my individual clinical supervision practice. As a life-long learner in my personal and professional life, it also seemed natural to take up studies in public service management and workplace coaching. And so, this is where I am now. I am passionate about supporting people to make the most of their careers, by building on your awareness, strengths and professional skills.
I look forward to working alongside you as we explore what brought you into your professional role and where you would like to go from here.
My Approach to Supervision and Coaching
My supervision and coaching style is reflective, trauma-informed and person-centred, with a focus on goal-setting. I believe in building a collaborative relationship where your expertise and experience are valued, and together, we explore strategies for you to overcome challenges and achieve your work goals.
At person2person Consulting, I aim to deepen your self-awareness, help you reflect on your current work situation and guide you toward meaningful progress.
Organisations I’ve Worked with
I have supported professionals working at (amongst others):
- Asylum Seekers Resource Centre Vic
- Asylum Seekers Centre NSW
- Australian Red Cross
- Cabrini Health
- Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA)
- Foundation House
- Headspace
- Knowmore Legal Services
- Mercy Palliative Care Bereavement Service
- Open Arms – Dept. Veterans Affairs
- River Nile School
- River Nile Learning Centre
- STARTTS
- The Orange Door
- Uniting – Asylum Seeker Project
- Very Special Kids
- Victorian Trades Hall
- Victoria Police
- Women’s Health West