Organisation: Queensland Police Service
Job Title: Police Liaison Officer
Word Limit: Two Pages
Location: Upper Mt Gravatt
As an experienced psychologist, I am skilled at building effective relationships with people from a diverse range of backgrounds. I possess a proven record of building effective working relationships with local communities and organisations, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. For example, in my role with Relationships Australia in that location, I sat on a committee comprised of representatives of the local Indigenous community, a Police representative and a Probation and Parole Officer to pursue a campaign against domestic violence. A successful outcome of this committee was the delivery of a well-attended event to celebrate White Ribbon Day, designed to raise awareness of and prevent violence against women. In a role with Anglicare, I participated in meetings with Indigenous community agencies and community elders to discuss the delivery of programs to the local Indigenous people.
In these capacities, I demonstrated understanding of, and respect for, local Indigenous culture and customs. Communicating in a culturally appropriate way and displaying respect for the views and status of community elders allowed me to build strong and productive relationships with the local Indigenous groups. The local Indigenous community’s acceptance of me in my professional capacity was demonstrated not only through the preparedness of the elders to engage in meaningful conversations with me in a meeting environment, but also through the willingness of Indigenous clients to come to me to access my services as a psychologist.
Quick to absorb new information, my capacity to learn and apply relevant laws and policy has been demonstrated in several of my previous roles. For example, my position with Anglicare required me to provide professional reports to the Department of Child Safety regarding the complex needs of children within residential care homes. In providing these reports, it was essential that I comply with Departmental requirements regarding content, as well as timing and format of delivery. In addition, a previous role as a psychologist for an Employee Assistance Service provider required me to adhere to policies and rules regarding the extent of the counselling services that could be provided under this service. I am confident that I would encounter no difficulty in learning and applying the laws and policies relevant to the advertised role, and acting within these frameworks to support the organisational vision, mission and objectives.
Many of my past roles have required strong problem solving abilities, often within high-pressure environments. For example, as a psychologist, on numerous occasions I have been engaged in counselling sessions with a client who I have determined is at risk of suicide or self-harm. This situation necessitates that I begin putting in place a plan to ensure the safety of the patient while continuing with the counselling session. While still in the session, I work with the client to establish a sense of hope and direction, and attempt to determine what their home situation is like with regard to available support. I will then assess available resources and take actions such as contacting the acute care team to provide short-term support, and making plans for future treatment. This is one example of my capacity to organise within a work environment.
With strong planning skills, I am able to coordinate events, activities and projects. Working with a committee of other parties, while working in Gladstone I organised a community event in celebration of White Ribbon Day. Successful delivery of this event required me to organise the venue, program, guest speakers and catering, as well as the marketing of the event top the local community. This event was well received by those who attended, and proceeded as intended thanks to strong organisation and planning.
Throughout my career I have worked successfully in team environments of various compositions. Some of my roles, for example my positions with Relationships Australia and PPC Worldwide, have seen me acting as the sole staff member in an office. In these circumstances, I have liaised with a manager and other team members in alternate locations in order to perform my role. This has been achieved by monthly face-to-face meetings and regular phone and email correspondence. Working successfully in a team environment where face-to-face contact is limited has required me to demonstrate excellent communication skills, in order to ensure that a flow of information is maintained and that miscommunications do not arise.
Other positions I have held have required me to liaise with multi-disciplinary teams or with external stakeholders. In private practice as a psychologist for example, I would frequently receive referrals of WorkCover patients from General Practitioners or from Psychiatrists. In this capacity I would be required to provide professional reports to parties such as WorkCover, solicitors, and the referring practitioner. Still other roles have seen me participate in committees and work groups with stakeholders such as police and local community representatives. In all of my professional dealings, I participate as an effective member of a team by using clear communication, well-developed interpersonal skills and a conscientious approach to delivering work outcomes.
Throughout my career, I have worked with individuals and organisations representing many different community and cultural groups. As a psychologist, I have treated patients from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, including a significant number of Indigenous clients. Formal professional development activities I have undertaken to assist in my professional relationships with people of diverse backgrounds include ‘Understanding Cross-Cultural Differences’, ‘A Chinese community’s perspective of mental health and mental illness’, ‘An Indian community’s perspective of mental health and mental illness’, ‘Transcultural Treatment Issues’ and ‘Managing Cultural Diversity in Mental Health: Transcultural Assessment and Diagnosis’.
In my roles at Anglicare and Relationships Australia, I demonstrated my capacity to communicate effectively with Indigenous community organisations through my work on local committees and meetings with community representatives regarding program delivery. In communicating with people of diverse cultural backgrounds, my practice is always to educate myself about, and be sensitive towards, what is considered appropriate and respectful practice in that particular culture. This cultural awareness and sensitivity has allowed me to provide services to, and collaborate successfully with, people and groups representing a range of cultures.
A clear and concise communicator, my work history demonstrates my capacity to convey messages effectively in written format. Many of my past roles have required me to provide written reports. In private practice as a psychologist for example, I produced reports of my professional opinions for use by parties including General Practitioners, Psychiatrists, WorkCover and legal professionals. In these reports, I used clear and unambiguous language and tailored my communications according to the information and level of detail required by the intended audience.
Confident and competent in the use of technology, I have used a range of software programs over the course of my career, including specialised electronic patient records systems such as Best Practice and the Medical Objects software which transmits information to treating doctors. I am proficient in the use of Microsoft Word and Outlook, and am quick to gain competency in new software programs and systems with minimal instruction.
