FSA Workforce Australia Support | Family Services Australia

FSA Workforce Mental Health Support

Family Services Australia (FSA) - Workforce Mental Health Support program is a specialised mental health service designed specifically for participants enrolled in the Jobseeker program through Workforce Australia at Family Services Australia. Funded through the Employment Fund delegated to Workforce Australia through the Department of Employment & Workforce Relations, services are free to all participants. Services are available face-to-face through several Northern NSW and Queensland locations including; Tweed Heads South, Burleigh Waters, Southport, Labrador, Springfield Central and Redbank Plains. Additionally, telehealth services can be accessed by participants serviced by FSA Workforce sites across the Gold Coast and Wivenhoe Regions of South-East Queensland.

A gorgeous sunrise in glowing orange and pink with reflections on the water and silhouette

Services provided include:

Intake assessment
Service navigation
Psychological intervention and counselling support by our team of accredited Mental Health Clinicians

Referral & Enquiry

WfA Referrals

FSA - Workforce Mental Health Support program currently has availability for referrals. Referrals can be initiated by contacting us on one of the below options. Please note, services are only available for participants who are engaged with FSA's Workforce Australia program. For more information on FSA's Workforce Australia program, more information can be found here

call us

1800 372 000

(option 2)

email us

triage@familyservices.org.au

Process

Inquiry & Intake

All enquiries can be directed to your Family Services Employment Consultant (EC) during an appointment. Once an eligible referral has been completed, an Intake with one of our qualified Mental Health Clinicians can be booked online. The intake appointment helps in understanding your unique needs and challenges, which is crucial for developing a tailored treatment plan. During an intake assessment, the clinician may ask questions about your medical and mental health history, current symptoms, and goals for counselling. The intake process is designed to build a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship from the beginning, making you feel safe and supported

Initial appointment

The initial appointment typically builds on the information gathered during the intake session with some deeper exploration of your concerns and challenges. You will also co-create a treatment plan mapping out the work you will do with your worker in more detail, including setting goals for treatment. When appropriate, your worker will introduce you to different therapeutic techniques and tools to help you engage in addressing your concerns. Your worker will be open to your feedback and will make any necessary adjustments to ensure the most optimal experience for you.

Ongoing appointments

While there is no set session limit in this program, you will work collaboratively with your worker to determine the appropriate number of sessions to address the issues presented. Ongoing appointments will be booked by your worker throughout your treatment window, and at times may also be booked by our administrative team to ensure continuity of care.

WfA Team

Our FSA - Workforce Mental Health Support Team

Josh Adey

Program Manager

(he/him)

Josh is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who joined our team in 2024. He has over 15 years' experience in the acute mental health field including supervision and management roles and working with hospital, outpatient and community organisations.

Josh believes the work is knowing that at any given moment you are exactly what your client needs. Your skills, care and expertise become a steppingstone on their journey back to wholeness. Never undervalue your contribution. Josh has a special interest in working with couples, families, and children, systems, crisis, suicide and psychosis.

Josh aims to be Person-centred, Strengths-based, and foundationally trauma-informed that is pragmatic, inquisitive and at times paradoxical. Joshua predominately works with Systems Theories: Bowenian, Structural and Strategic Family therapies, Brief Solutions Focused, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Brief Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (B-CBT), and Collaborative Problem Solving.

Josh enjoys golf, painting, biohacking and fitness, being at the beach, AFL football and spending quality time with his family.

Josh works Monday to Friday.

Darron Crocker

Counsellor

(he/him)

Australian Counselling Association (ACA) Registration: 28718

Darron is Registered Counsellor who joined our team in 2024. Prior to joining FSA, Darron worked in Family Preservation Reunification services supporting families, and in Bushfire Recovery services using group and individual therapy. Darron also provided parenting group work to incarcerated individuals. Darron is currently completing a Master of Counselling (Trauma Specialisation).

Darron is curious about human beings, what makes them tick and how other humans see the world, themselves, and others. Darron has a special interest in working with Adults, especially males, with anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioural and emotional issues.

Darron aims to provide a safe, calm place for clients where they can explore and discover new ways of viewing themselves, others, and their world. He is warm, compassionate, honest, down to earth and likes to use humour. Darron predominately utilises Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

Darron enjoys cycling, travelling, walking, kayaking, movies.

Darron works Monday to Thursday.

Dayne Michalak

Counsellor

(he/him) (they/them)

PACFA Registration: 29696

Dayne is a Registered Counsellor and joined our team in 2024. He has degrees in Counselling. Prior to FSA, Dayne spent 4 years working with anxiety and depression, addiction, alcohol and other drugs, at risk youth, homelessness, domestic violence, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+SB space. Working with ages ranging from childhood to elderly.

Dayne believes that seeing the growth in Clients is the most rewarding experience to behold. Facilitating this process fills his cup, and is the reason he drinks tea all day. Dayne is interested in working with Clients that have direction for what they are seeking, anxiety, depression, neurodiversity and Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Dayne aims to be holistically eclectic, incorporating may styles of therapy resulting in an increased ability to better the process and experience for the Client. He predominantly works with Person Centered Therapy, Affect Regulation Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). He also takes a systems approach.

Dayne enjoys building PC's, gaming, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), reading books, cooking, and baking. Dayne has a lived experience with Autism.

Dayne works Tuesday - Friday.

Phoebe Maher

Counsellor

(she/her)

Australian Counselling Association (ACA) Registration: 15505

Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) Registration & Certified Practitioner HR ID: 335082

Phoebe is a Counsellor registered with the Australian Counselling Association and joined FSA in 2023. She is also a Certified Human Resources Practitioner. Phoebe has a vast range of professional experience prior to focusing more intently on work as an allied health professional for the past decade and has gained valuable experience in crisis support and management, emergency services response work, leadership, human resources and rehabilitation case management.

Phoebe believes it's a privilege to show up and to be there for people who are courageous enough to reach out for support. She has always been curious about human behaviour and counselling provides a unique insight into this and a perspective on why people do and think the way they do. Phoebe enjoys the challenge of finding and applying creative approaches to help people create shifts and positive differences. If needed she provides and holds space for people to explore where they are at and what they may want and/or need out of their life. Phoebe likes to support individuals with career counselling, relationship issues and grief and loss.

Phoebe takes an informal, relatable, collaborative approach to therapy that is tailored and non-judgmental to the individual. Phoebe predominately works with Client Centered Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Talk Therapy, Solutions Based Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Phoebe enjoys traveling in her spare time.

Phoebe works Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Noel Payne

Registered Counsellor

(he/him)

ACA Registration: 15708

Noel is a Registered Counsellor who joined our team in 2024. He has a Degree in Human Services/Counselling. Noel has over 3 years' experience working in community crisis support and individual's life challenges.

Noel is drawn to the stories and life journeys that we share stories that are common to our society and those stories that are kept in the privacy of individual lives. Noel hopes to explore what these stories mean to those who are travelling through life’s changes, struggles, and questions, and how we can adapt and cope with these changes. Noel has a special interest in working with anxiety, grief and loss, life purpose and direction, spirituality and various forms of trauma.

Noel aims to be cooperative working together towards your wellbeing and health and flexible in the skills and techniques. Noel aims to adapt to changing needs and circumstance of clients. Noel predominately works with Person-centred therapy, Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), Solutions focused, Motivational Interviewing, Body based, nature-based and Spiritual guidance.

Noel enjoys many forms of the arts: performance, music, visual, sculpture and poetry. He also loves being in and caring for the natural environment.

Noel works Wednesday to Friday.

Svetlana Winn

Social Worker

(she/her)

AASW Registration: 479981

Svetlana is an accredited social worker with the AASW, who joined our team in 2024. Svetlana has provided counselling for a number of years working in employment services, rehabilitation, Drug Arm (drug and alcohol), Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Health Services and Lifeline, providing a Domestic Violence and Suicide Call Back service.

Svetlana has had the lived experience of a family struggling with physical illness, mental health issues and long-term unemployment. This led to her philosophy of working to ensure the biological, psychological, and social well-being of her clients is focused on finding the best fit profession and employment to help lead to a balanced lifestyle. Svetlana has a special interest in working with anxiety, depression, stress management, trauma, career transitions, grief, loss, people who are dying, Indigenous, Torres Strait Islander and Māori peoples.

Svetlana aims to build connections, collaboration and strong partnerships through listening to client stories, and together finding a solution to their life challenges to positively move them forward. Svetlana predominately works from Brief Family Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Compassionate Focused Therapy (CFT), Motivation Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Strength Based Therapy and Trauma Informed Care (including Trauma Informed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability, Intergenerational Trauma and Intergenerational Healing via Cultural awareness of the various seasons through the year).

Svetlana enjoys keeping fit. She regularly attends her gym, swims, walks with a Heart Foundation group, attends Infusion yoga classes and practices meditation daily.

Svetlana works Monday to Friday.

Kylie Richards

Psychologist

(she/her) (they/them)

AHPRA Registration: PSY0002481623

Kylie is a registered psychologist who joined our team in 2024. She has previous experience working as a psychologist in both private practices and the not-for-profit.

Kylie became a psychologist because, when she was younger, working with a psychologist changed the trajectory of her own life. It is her personal goal to create an environment where all people, regardless of gender, sexuality, culture or upbringing, can feel safe, seen, and heard. She has a special interest in working with complex trauma/PTSD, neurodivergence (ADHD/Autism), grief and loss, depression, and anxiety.

Kylie is a neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed, warm, enthusiastic, and supportive clinician. She aims to create a collaborative experience by providing tools to enable you to change your life. Kylie predominately works with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Schema Therapy.

In her downtime, Kylie enjoys reading (Science Fiction/Fantasy), video gaming, creative writing, and book binding.

Kylie works Monday to Thursday.

Nicole Duffy

Counsellor

(she/her)

Australian Counselling Association (ACA) Registration: 27229

Nicole is a Registered Counsellor and joined our team in 2024. Nicole has degrees in Psychology and Counselling. She has experience as a crisis support worker and working in a residential drug and alcohol rehab/health and wellness retreat. She is a Level 1 student of Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy.

Nicole believes that each person is innately good and possesses an inner strength and wisdom that naturally guides them towards healing and wholeness. Nicole’s therapy process uses vulnerability and authenticity to help you feel seen and accepted by others. She takes great pleasure in being a compassionate witness and support for others on their journey of healing and growth. Nicole has a special interest in working with anxiety, depression, helping people to develop a relationship with the parts of themselves that they struggle with (such as self-critical, perfectionist, or self-sabotaging parts) and supporting them to understand, appreciate and care for these parts of themselves.

Nicole aims to be warm and compassionate. She attempts to hold a safe space so clients can explore their challenging thoughts and emotions with curiosity, compassion and non-judgement. She aims to empower clients to gain insight into their experiences, to realise their innate goodness and strength, and to cultivate compassion for themselves. Nicole predominately uses somatic psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Nicole enjoys everything to do with the beach - surfing, diving, snorkelling. She loves hiking, boxing, wholesome time with good friends, and getting lost in a good book.

Nicole works Monday to Thursday.

Max Rankin

Counsellor

(he/him)

Australian Counselling Association (ACA) Registration: 17862

Max is a Registered Counsellor who joined our team in 2024. Additionally, Max has worked with unemployed and disadvantaged people and students transitioning into the workplace.

Max believes in walking with people out of their pain towards their potential with a special interest in working with people who have experienced trauma.

Max aims to be warm and respectful. Moreover, he particularly enjoys working with individuals who have the courage to face their challenges. Max predominately works with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Solution Focused Therapy (FST) with a focus on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

As well, Max enjoys watercolor painting and going for walks in nature. He is a husband, father and grandfather.

Max works Monday to Friday.

What are the benefits of a psychological assessment?

A psychological assessment can help people to better understand their strengths and needs, and provide tailored recommendations to assist their wellbeing across environments. This may include classrooms / workplace modifications and accommodations and suggestions of beneficial follow-up referral support options or interventions. Diagnoses may be provided to help the individual and those around them to better understand their unique experiences.
Where is the psychological assessment conducted?

The majority of assessments we undertake must be completed in-person. Our assessment clinicians are located in our main office at 1 Lamerton Crescent, Shellharbour City Centre. There is ample free parking available nearby. Some assessments may be able to have components, or the entirety completed via telehealth, however please discuss this with us on enquiry.
Who will complete my psychological assessment? Are they appropriately trained?

All of our assessment clinicians are registered psychologists with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Our autism assessment clinicians have been specifically trained in administration and interpretation of autism assessment tools.
How do I enquire about a psychological assessment?

Contact our friendly reception team at 1800 372 000 (Option 2), or send us an email at triage@familyservices.org.au.
Do you have payment plans available?

Yes. Please discuss this with our administrative staff as part of your enquiry.
Can I get a rebate from my health fund?

This is dependent on your health fund. Please reach out to them to get further information on this.
What is your cancellation policy for assessments?

FSA Psychology is fee based due to lack of external funding to provide ongoing sustainability. As such, we are required to enforce cancellation fees where appointments are not attended or where short notice is provided. Appointment reminders are routinely sent via SMS and Email in the lead up to an appointment booking and allow for a minimum of 2 business days’ notice of cancellation. Cancellation requests can be sent via email to triage@familyservices.org.au; by calling our reception on 1800 372 000 (option 2); or by responding to the SMS reminder message. Cancellation and refunds for booking deposit: If you cancel your assessment at least one week prior to the initial consultation, your deposit will be fully refunded. If you cancel with less than one week’s notice and do not reschedule, the deposit will not be refunded. You may reschedule once without losing your deposit. However, if a second reschedule is required, the deposit will be forfeited. Cancellation and refunds for assessment sessions: Cancellations or rescheduling with less than 2 business days’ notice will incur a fee of 25% of the full session cost for the portion of the assessment being cancelled. If we are able to fill the cancelled appointment slot, you will be notified, and the cancellation fee will be waived. However, due to the nature of our service, this is not always possible. Your securely stored debit or credit card will be charged the relevant fee. You will be emailed a receipt following being charged. If you would prefer to pay over the phone or in person, you are required to contact our office prior to the end of the scheduled appointment to arrange your preferred payment. In some cases, future appointments will not be booked until the fee has been paid.