I have worked as a qualified professional social worker with individuals, couples, families and groups for over thirty years. Much of this time has been in older persons health. Now working as a private practitioner, I offer a range of services including supervision, counselling, inservice and education, as well as ACC social work.
I am familiar with life changing events, with diagnoses, and with the changes that come with growing older. I have a particular affinity for the area of dementia through family and professional experience. Palliative care is another area in which I have worked and gained experience and skill. I believe that when people are heard, supported and encouraged, they become empowered.
As a profession, social work offers a huge variety of opportunities. I have worked in the CDHB and in NGOs; there have been two occasions of working in the social work department at the University of Canterbury. I enjoy being a student and an educator, a caseworker and a group facilitator. Over the years I have supervised students and colleagues; I now supervise a wonderful group of social workers and people from other disciplines.
Outside of work I continue to love language – I am still fairly fluent in German, having lived in Austria, and am now learning Italian. I am a qualified Esol teacher and have had fun teaching during breaks from social work. Other interests include reading, music, gardening and walking. A dream fulfilled in 2018 was walking the pilgrimage way of the Camino through Spain.
I am a registered social worker with an Annual Practising Certificate and a member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers. I am professionally supervised and committed to ongoing study and training.
Qualifications:
M.A.(Hons), Dip.Soc.Wk, GradCelt