Group Leader and Support Worker

BA(Soc/Ed) (FU USA), PostGradDip(Learn Dis) (UNSW), Working with Bereaved Adults (BCC), Working with Bereaved Children (BCC), Support Worker Certificate – Bereaved Children (NCCG), MedAccred (LEADR), PostGradDipCouns (Institute of Couns), GradDip(Clinical Supervision) (Interrelate Family Centres), MCouns (ACU), Effective Individual Supervision and Supervising Groups (Supervision Training Ctr), GradDipMgt (AIM); National Association of Loss & Grief (NSW) Inc. and Spiritual Care Australia.

Born in New York City, I swapped my favourite landmark from the Statue of Liberty to the Sydney Opera House in 1982 when I met and married my Australian husband Rick. My original educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Sociology and Education and a Post Graduate Certificate in Learning Disabilities.

I have had some interesting employment: working at the Watergate, tutoring the child of a Hollywood Cinematographer, and living in a historic mansion as I taught learning disabled students at a private residential school.  In 1995, my brother Raymond died from cancer and my focus took on a new direction. I became involved with palliative care and bereavement as a volunteer at Calvary Hospital in Kogarah. I became a facilitator for both the Rainbows and Season’s for Growth Programs for Children and received a special award in 2001 from the Prime Minister recognising my volunteer work in this area.

In 2004 I completed both the Adult and Children Bereavement Counselling Courses at the Centre. I have been here since working with individual children and in a group setting. I am filled with love and admiration for the NCCG and all those who pass through the front door each week.

I am a self-confessed course-a-holic and spend much of my spare time studying.  I have completed my Masters in Counselling, Qualifications in Mediation, and courses in Ethics, Leadership, and Creative Engagement.  I also love spending time with my husband Rick, our three children and their wonderful partners.