I have been working at ACSO for almost six years and it was my first role in the sector. For as long as I recall, I have had a desire to help others, an interest in human behaviour, social justice and psychology. I secured a role with ACSO after completing my Diploma in Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) and so far, have been lucky enough to experience roles in Assessing, Bridging, Care and Recovery and as Acting Team Leader. I’m currently an AOD Counsellor for Forensic Treatment Services (FTS) team. I love what I do.
I do what I do because I have a strong desire to make a positive impact on others and support those who are often at a critical crossroads in their lives. I am driven by an appreciation of the complexity of our clients and being able to gain insight into their motivations, struggles and strengths. My passion comes from a combination of intrinsic qualities, lived experience, a desire to make a positive difference in others’ lives and my belief that everyone deserves a second chance.
While treatment interventions and guidance are important, a powerful realisation for me was that for a client, simply being heard and understood is incredibly therapeutic on its own as it validates their experience and helps to reduce feelings of isolation and fosters a sense of connection and support. I find that this can be transformative in the clients healing and enables for a strong therapeutic relationship with my client.
I honestly feel that the FTS Team is a “dream team” to be a part of and I feel extremely fortunate I get to experience the ongoing support, collaboration and camaraderie daily. We value, respect and encourage one another, which enables me to enhance my effectiveness as a Counsellor and therefore contributing a better outcome for my clients.
Although I do work from home majority of the time, I really enjoy visiting either Sunshine or Richmond (soon to be CBD) hubs. You can’t beat the spontaneous chats and face to face collaboration/interaction aspect of working in an office. I am also lucky enough to be able to see clients for face-to-face sessions, if they choose.
As a Forensic AOD Counsellor, my role is to provide therapeutic support and guidance to individuals who find themselves in the justice system due to their struggles with alcohol and other drug related issues. I work closely with clients to assess their needs, develop treatment plans, and facilitate interventions aimed at addressing underlying causes of their substance use. Other important parts of my role include advocating for my clients, providing education on their substance use and collaborating with other stakeholders to ensure comprehensive care and support.
To be able to work with other teams always provides a great collaborative experience and the ability to have an even better understanding of our clients. Working directly with the FTS Care and Recovery Coordination (CRC) Workers, gives us the opportunity to team up and provide the best possible outcomes for our clients. I love how everyone at ACSO is client centred and have the same passion for helping others.
Understanding someone’s story allows me to respond with compassion by validating their experience and feelings and acknowledge their struggles and achievements. Supporting change involves empowering our clients to rewrite their story and encourage them to take agency of their lives.
Self-care is such an important part of the work that I do and in my spare time, I really enjoy keeping active with pilates and walks with my beautiful Border Collie rescue. I am an avid music lover; currently learning to play the drums and I enjoy spending time listening to my ever increasing collection of vinyls, while cooking for friends or just chilling. I recently started enjoying acrylic painting on canvas and find this to be such a great form of meditation and self-expression.
