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RESUME
Contact Information
Name: Dr. Sonja Mahs
Email Address: smahs@optusnet.com.au
Phone: 0414 386 773 (Mb)
Education
Tertiary
Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)
Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Completed 2015.
Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Drug Dependency Studies
Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, completed 2000.
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology
University of Western Sydney, NSW, completed 1999.
Bachelor of Arts
Double Major in Psychology & Education.
Auckland University, New Zealand, completed 1988.
Employment
February 07
Current:
Part Time
February 07 –
March 09
Full Time
February ‘07-
January ‘05
Private Practice – Clinical Psychologist
Camp Hill Health Care from 2007 to current
& Heart Sense Psychology, Bulimba from November 2016
Team leader/ Counsellor
LOGAN WOMEN’S HEALTH & WELLBEING CENTRE, Logan Q.
 Coordinate and manage the therapeutic program to ensure
that service objectives are achieved.
 Develop and monitor evaluation systems.
 Coordinate & manage the counselling team
 Provide supervision, support and case debriefing to Intern
Psychologists & other counselling student placements.
 Provide support and debriefing to reception staff as required.
 Provide counselling and conduct therapeutic group work as
needed.

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December 2004
- August 2003
Advisory Counsellor
LOGAN WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE, Logan Qld.
 Provide timely and high quality client focused assessment and
brief interventions to women upon their initial request for
counselling.
 Develop a comprehensive database of key referral agencies
and service providers
 Develop resources that support the mental and emotional
health of women
 Conduct therapeutic group programs, (inclusive of DBT
program)
July 2003 –
February 2003
Manager – Gambling Help Services
RELATIONSHIPS AUSTRALIA QUEENSLAND.
 Manage range of client services and provide leadership of
program across the state.
 Provision of branch training and support of staff
 Provision of counselling to individuals and their families
affected by gambling.
August 2002 -
October 2001
Psychologist/Link Project Coordinator
ST GEORGE ALCOHOL & OTHER DRUG SERVICE
South East Sydney Area Health Service, NSW.
 Provision of counselling addressing drug dependence issues &
other mental health related problems, for individual & family.
 Planning, implementation and evaluation of community
development and health promotion activities.
 Develop and implement workforce development initiatives &
develop strategic partnerships between the AOD services and
Needle & Syringe Program (NSP) and across a range of
services focusing on the reduction of BBV transmission for IDU
 Develop and deliver educational programs as required
August 2002
- June 2001
Health Education Officer (PT casual)
MEDICALLY SUPERVISED INJECTING CENTRE
Uniting Church, Kings Cross, NSW.
 Assessment, referral, crisis counselling, provision of health
education and information.
October 2001
– August 1997
Alcohol & Other Drug Counsellor
FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY HEALTH, South West Sydney Area
Health Service.
 Provision of counselling addressing drug dependence issues &
other mental health related problems, with a focus on working
cross culturally for individual, family and in group settings.
 Planning, implementation and evaluation of community
development and health promotion activities.
 Liaison and consultation with Service Providers & Community
in the development of joint initiatives.
 Support and supervision of detox nursing & ancillary staff
August 1997 -
March 1996
Alcohol & Other Drug Youth Worker
SOUTH WESTERN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM, Cabramatta,
NSW.

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 Development, implementation and evaluation of a range of
Community Development & Health promotion activities,
including resource design.
 Provision of Counselling, case management and crisis
intervention for CALD youth & their families
 Liaison and consultation with Service Providers to develop and
implement joint health promotion projects.
March 1996 –
October 1996
Alcohol & Other Drug Counsellor (Locum Position)
PHOEBE HOUSE, Sydney.
 Provision of Individual & Group Counselling for women
addressing drug dependence issues within a residential
treatment setting.
 Assessment, referral and preparation & implementation of case
management plans.
 Planning and Management of household daily activities.
May 1996 -
May 1995
Community Services Coordinator
NSW Users & AIDS Association. Sydney, NSW.
 Advocacy and representation of individual and group issues at
a service and policy level.
 Identification of gaps in policy impacting on Injecting Drug
Users (IDU) and development of strategies to address these.
 Consultation and Liaison with service providers and policy
makers, advocating on relevant issues for IDU.
 Strategic planning and Project development
 Supervision of 3 FT staff, & management of contract workers.
 Resource Development & crisis support where necessary.
May 1995 -
August 1990
Education Worker
NSW Users & AIDS Association, Sydney. NSW.
 Design and implementation of education programs &
community development initiatives in a variety of formal &
informal settings.
 Management of community development projects including the
training and supervision of contract workers.
 Resource design and development.
 Representation, Consultation and liaison with service providers
and policy makers.
 Training health service providers, staff of government
departments and community groups on IDU specific issues.
 Provision of Needles & Syringes & other related safer drug
using resources and information to IDU
Sept. 1990 -
May 1989
Welfare Worker
WOMEN’S PLACE, Sydney City Mission, Kings Cross, NSW.
(Crisis Refuge & Proclaimed place)
 Interviewing, assessment, crisis counselling & referral for
homeless and drug affected women in crisis and management
of daily activities and care of residents in house.

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Private Contract and Consultancy Work
Private Clients
 Small private practice begun 2007 - current
 Queensland State Emergency Services – contracted as after-hours
counsellor – September 2012
 Provision of Clinical Supervision begun 2002 – 2009 (deferred during
post-grad training)
After Hours Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Counsellor (Employee
Assistance Program) – for service: Langmont Advantage
Rostered 1 week per month after hours counselor (2005 – 2007)
Training Provision:
- Queensland Disability Network – contract trainer for ½ day
presentation on resilience and coping for members (August 2014).
- Accidental Counsellor Training – contract trainer for a 2 day course for
non counselling community service staff on basic counseling, active
listening skills and crisis management, (run 3x in 2007, 2x 2008)
- Community Welfare Training – contract trainer for a 2 day Introduction
of Narrative Therapy (2005)
- NSW Probation & Parole service - Contract Trainer in AOD relapse
prevention for offenders program. Designed and facilitated a 10 week
psycho-educational program. (May – August 2002)
Volunteer and Community Involvement
Family Drug Support (Qld.)
Volunteer – facilitate monthly support meetings (2003-2005)
Member of Steering Committee (2002-2003)
Family Drug Support (NSW)
Member of the Professional Advisory panel 2000 - 2003.
Developed the Volunteer Supervision/support model for the service.
Foley House (Formerly known as Badlands Services, NSW)
Member of the Management Committee from 1992 - 1994