Karen M.

Karen M. has a diverse work experience in the social services sector. Karen started their career in 2014 as an Adult Literacy and Numeracy Trainer and Assessor at WISE Employment. Karen then worked as a Domestic Violence Case Manager at Uniting Care Wesley Country SA from November 2015 to September 2016. Following this, they became a Building Family Opportunities (Families in Transition) Case Manager at the same organization from September 2016 to November 2016, providing individualized family case management and assistance for families to gain meaningful employment.

In November 2016, Karen joined The Salvation Army Employment Plus as a Youth Employment Consultant, where they managed a large caseload of young people aged 15-21, focusing on their education and employment goals. In March 2017, they moved to Premier Youth Works as a Foster Care Residential Worker, providing residential care services to young people and creating a safe and nurturing environment for them.

Karen furthered their career as a Therapeutic Community Support Worker at The Ted Noffs Foundation Inc from June 2017 to December 2017. Karen then worked with the Australian Academy of Management and Science as a Disability Trainer and Assessor in Canberra from February 2018 to July 2018.

In June 2019, they joined the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre as a Counselor Advocate, where they served until August 2020. Following this, they worked as an Officer at the Department of Services Australia from August 2020 to May 2021.

Karen then joined headspace in May 2021 as a Youth Access Counsellor, where they provided counseling services to youth until July 2023. Currently, they are employed as a Community Programs Manager at Raise Foundation, a position they started in June 2023.

Karen M. began their education journey in 2005, enrolling at the University of South Australia. Karen completed their Bachelor of Social Science (Human Services) degree in 2011. In 2012, Karen pursued a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment from Inspire Education. Karen then obtained a Vocational Graduate Certificate in Management (Learning) from TAFE SA in 2013.

During the same year in 2013, Karen also earned a Certificate II in Driving Operations through Allied Programs. Currently, they are working towards a Masters of Social Work degree at the University of Wollongong, which they are expected to complete in 2025. Their field of study for the Masters program is qualifying for social work.

In addition to their formal education, Karen has pursued several certifications related to their professional development. In 2018, they obtained certifications in "Creating a Compelling Job Description," "Interviewing a Job Candidate for Recruiters," "Learning LinkedIn Recruiter," "Niche Recruiting," and "Talent Sourcing." These certifications were acquired through LinkedIn.