Dr Kathleen Jacobs

Since 1999, Dr Kathleen Jacobs (Dr Kati) has been an international speaker and trainer in many topics relevant to personal and professional growth, teaching classes to over 80,000 people in Australia alone.

Originally from the USA, Dr Kati proudly became an Australian citizen in 2011 and resides in northern NSW.

Dr Kati serves her local community as a counselor (Master of Social Work, USA), and professional supervisor (Australian certification), and volunteer.

As an MBA, Dr Kati teaches personal communication and leadership/management classes to businesses of all types, including some the largest companies in the world.

Greg Egan

Greg Egan is a Senior Social Welfare Industry Specialist with over 15 years experience in the social welfare industry with qualifications in psychology and social work.

Greg has worked in a variety of roles in government, non-government sector, and private sector in child protection, out of home care, early intervention programs, clinical social work counselling roles and recruitment, with specialties in child and family work, disabilities, mental health, drugs and alcohol work, and criminal justice system as well as other areas of the social welfare sector.

Mirna Tarabay

Mirna Tarabay is a Psychotherapist, Educator and Trainer. Her work with survivors of trauma, abuse and loss spans over a decade. Mirna has worked in a range of capacities primarily with survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, both adults and children.  Mirna has a practice in Sydney where the focus of her clinical work is with survivors of child abuse, trauma and loss. Mirna has been conducting training for both government and community based organisations for many years. She holds a Bachelor of Education, Post Grad Diploma in Counselling and Certificate 1V in Training and Assessment (TAE). Her training experience includes employment as a Training and Development Coordinator at The Centre for Community Welfare Training, providing counsellor education to students at the College of Applied Psychology and working as a State-wide educator for the Education Centre against Violence in the Cultural Equity Unit. Mirna is a Clinical member of the Counsellor and Psychotherapist's Association of NSW.

Dr. Pat Johnson

Dr Pat Johnson has a consultancy practice, Crystal Phoenix and has worked for more than 30 years in community services.  Pat has developed training resources for Nirimba, St. George, Granville and the Hunter Institute of TAFE, the Specialist Homelessness Services Case Management Resource Kit and has conducted extensive research on youth homelessness, learning difficulties/disabilities and families.

Yoga Balakrishnan

Yoga Balakrishnan is a qualified professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling, and a Masters in International Social Development and 15 years work experience both nationally and internationally.

Yoga has experience in both government and non-government in the Community Education and Social Welfare sectors with a great deal of experience in Child Protection. Other than Australia, Yoga has lived and worked in China, India and Venezuela.

Alison Ewington

Alison Ewington is an educator and trainer, qualified in Early Childhood, Social Science and Social Welfare.
Alison is a Community Welfare teacher at the Institute of TAFE and was a facilitator of keep them safe training to Mandatory reporters when introduced in 2009. In 2016, Alison developed and delivered a 'safe home' workshop for Child Care staff in NSW on the impact of domestic and family violence on children.
Alison has 25 years experience working with children, young people and families with a focus on child protection and case management as well as training, assessing and reviewing foster carers. Alison has her certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE).

Tammy McKee

Tammy is a strong advocate for social justice. She works tirelessly to bring about social change and quality care for children, young people and their families.

Along with 15 years experience working in the out-of-home care sector, Tammy has held positions in Families First, early intervention roles. Tammy is an experienced and motivated trainer and enjoys seeing carers reach their full potential.

Tammy has qualifications in psychology, sociology and marketing. She holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

 

Leonie Jenkins

Leonie Jenkins is a registered Nurse and Midwife who has been working in the Special Care Baby Nursery at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide since 1991. In this time Leonie became aware of the increase in the number of babies admitted for drug withdrawal and the need for more education for families and for staff.

Leonie was part of a team which published an information booklet for parents on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome which has proved most helpful.

Education of Staff within the nursery has been a priority in helping to remove the stigma of drug use, understand the demands of the families and improve the care of the family during their hospital stay. Improving the quality of care continues to be addressed.

Leonie has worked closely with many of the people involved in the management of these families. These include Medical Staff, Social Workers, Mental Health Workers and Family Services.

This work continues as new staff continue to enter the workforce.

Rebekah Lucas

Rebecca Lucas is a Social worker who has been counselling and supporting those affected by trauma since 1994. Rebekah has worked in Juvenile Justice, the Department of Community Services, Sexual Assault Services and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Rebekah has been involved in teaching Youth Work and Community Work students within NSW TAFE, however now has a private practice focussing on victims of crime and mental health issues, in the Southern Suburbs of Sydney.