About Melinda
Hi. I’m Melinda.
After over three decades working as a clinician, and over 20 years as a clinical supervisor, it’s a great time in my career to focus on giving back to my colleagues – the people who help other people. I provide clinical supervision and leadership and workplace consultancy to social workers, mental health practitioners and lawyers.
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, clinical suprvisor, couples therapist, manager, project manager, caseworker, trainer and leadership consultant. 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. Contact me for more information.
Qualifications and Accreditation
30+ Years of Clinical Experience
I began my career decades ago (1991) as a new graduate social worker in a rickety old wooden hospital psychiatry unit at Concord Hospital, working with Vietnam veterans. I had studied the Vietnam War in high school and attended one of my four university placements at the RAAF base, Richmond. It felt like a dream job to support people affected by war trauma and other mental health issues. Like many young professionals, I then took the leap to further my horizons, and moved to the UK, where I continued to practice social work in the health sector and travelled to lesser-known parts of the world. I returned to Australia four years later with a worn backpack and a smattering of bad French and Spanish.
After 10 years of social work casework, I honed my skills in counselling with a Masters degree in couple and family therapy. I deep dived into the mental health and trauma sectors, working with refugees and asylum seeker torture and trauma survivors, Defence veterans returning from East Timor and Afghanistan and more recently with Police after critical incidents. I completed my mental health social work accreditation and started my part-time journey into private practice, working with clients and clinicians (2006).
Over the past 23 years, I sought out opportunities to support employee and organisational mental health. I have supervised practitioners working in practice areas including family violence, sexual violence, oncology, health, LGBTQ services, schools, hospitals, leadership, law and also with refugees and soldiers. In work roles I was drawn to providing management consultation, leadership coaching, group reflective practice, group supervision and writing clinical and workplace policies. As a life-long learner in my personal and professional life, I took up additional studies in public service management and workplace coaching. And now, 34 years later I am focused on giving back to my colleagues.
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. Get in Touch.
My Approach to Supervision and Consultancy
My supervision and consultancy 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 any challenges and achieve your work goals.
In our work together, I aim to deepen your self-awareness, help you reflect on your current work situation and guide you toward meaningful career 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
- Youth Pathways
- 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
Get in touch
Contact me now for a free 15-minute initial phone call to clarify your professional needs and expectations, talk about what clinical supervision and/or leadership and workplace consultation involves and determine if I am the right fit for you.