Shortly after starting the academic foundations for my degree in the field of practice, health conditions became challenging. This untimely event led to the prolonging of what should have been a 4-year degree. During this period, I met and married my husband. Having reached the end of my degree, again, the situation was racked up a notch with a pregnancy! These proved to be learning curves of determination and strength. Within a matter of months after completing studies, a Social Work career began its course. Within the first year of generic Social Work, again a life event transpired that required a move provincially and the practice continued. Herein exposure and training in the fields of Sexual Abuse, Child Protection and Legislation. Exposure to varied set of socioeconomic climate led to the furthering of studies and accolades of Diploma studies at Pretoria University in Management and of Mentoring. This development led into the expansion of specialities. Through a lateral move into the Health Sector, the field of HIV and AIDS practice was entered. After moving back to Western Cape, the choice remained in Specialised Practice where I had undertaken Probation through the Victim Empowerment Sector. This dually was undertaken with Adoptions. Both field yielded training and development opportunities. After 5 years, opportunity arose to practice at Provincial Level. Older Persons, was the entry point again to Specialised Practice. After gaining insight on national reporting, the Substance Abuse sector beckoned with expansion on scope of practice as well as levels of accountability. Continuous development mandatory to the field garnered further accolade training.
Having had the experience of the direct impact of politics on service delivery, I decided it was time to end a 15-year tenure in government and spread my wings to the Non-Government sector. This had always been an ambition, as the practice of Therapeutic Social Work is not accommodated in a world where numbers and targets outweigh adding value. The decision to start my own practice then evolved but so too did areas of management in the NGO in Child Protection.
Today I have been able to continue, with the aim of adding value and developing mind-sets through my Private Practice. However, my knowledge and experience of statutory fields of practice enables ongoing work within the Child Protection fields. Providing expert evidence at the High Court of Cape Town, as well as providing for International Immigration Offices. Children have always been a driving force for me as I am deeply rooted in my view of shaping a child – shaping the future.
Allowing my passion coupled with experience and knowledge in the fields of Social Work grant myself the ability to start your JOURNEY OF GROWTH.
