NICK BACKO

Support Worker

BA(Psych) (WSU), PostGradDip(Psych) (WSU), Working with Bereaved Children (BCC), Support Worker Certificate – Bereaved Children (NCCG).

I first attended the National Centre for Childhood Grief (NCCG) as a young person after my dad died from a brain aneurism. After spending time receiving some excellent support from a skilled counsellor I attended a boy’s camp. After that experience – I was hooked! I made the decision to volunteer for NCCG and have done so ever since. I am a support worker and have also attended many of the camps and adventure weekends. It has been incredibly rewarding to be able to combine my lived experience with my passion for supporting others at NCCG.

I work for the Department of Education in NSW currently where I lead teams responsible for regulating the early childhood education and care sector. I thoroughly enjoy this role and it connects well with my prior experience in child protection across a range of frontline and leadership roles within the Department of Communities and Justice.

I live in Gladesville, Sydney with my partner and our two cats (Mushroom and Yuki). I referee futsal and enjoy running in my spare time (or lack thereof).