Forum Speakers - Antares Foundation Inc. (Australia) 2009 Annual Forum

Professor McFarlane is a recognised international expert in the field of post traumatic stress disorder. He is the recipient of the Robert Laufer Award for outstanding scientific achievement in the study of the effects of traumatic stress. He has published over 160 articles in various refereed journals and has co-edited three books. Apart from his interest in post traumatic stress disorder in relation to disaster victims, military personnel and other civilian accidents, he has broadened the relevance of this knowledge to the area of those suffering severe mental illness. His research has focused on the epidemiology and longitudinal course of PTSD as well as the neuroimaging of the cognitive deficits in this disorder. He has appeared on radio and television, including the Four Corners, Quantum and Catalyst programs to discuss matters relating to post traumatic stress disorder.

Dr Amanda Comoretto is a psychology researcher with more than 10 years' experience investigating stress and processes of resilience development. Trained as a clinical and developmental psychologist in the United Kingdom, from 2004 to 2007 she lectured at London South Bank University (London) while carrying out her PhD (she investigated a cohort of humanitarian aid workers pre- and post-field deployment in a longitudinal study that explored clinical and occupational outcomes). Previous to that she worked as a clinical psychologist in Italy, and as a research assistant in the United States, collaborating to a longitudinal study that explored the clinical, educational, and occupational outcomes of a large group of high-risk individuals into adulthood. Amanda Comoretto has a strong interest in contributing to research supporting resilience development in youth and adult populations. She is currently employed at Universidad Autonóma de Barcelona (Spain) as a postdoctoral researcher.

Robin Flynn is the Research, Development & Policy Manager for Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (ISC) Ltd. The ISC provides advice at the national level about skill needs in the community services and health industries and develops national vocational education and training (VET) sector qualifications. Robin has over ten years experience in national qualifications development and vocational education and training (VET) research and policy in the community services and health industries. Robin has health employer-side experience with three years working in employee relations and education and training policy for the New South Wales Department of Health before returning to the ISC in 2005 to coordinate a range of new projects and take on the role of Research and Policy Manager.

The ISC Research, Development and Policy team is responsible for production and review of the industry Training Packages including the recently completed HLT07 Health and CHC08 Community Services Training Packages. The team also generates community services and health industry skills development knowledge and information. Robin has managed numerous research projects in areas including Vocational Graduate level qualifications, licensing and regulation, mental health skills articulation and the production of the Training Packages industry Environmental Scan in 2008 and 2009.

Dr Craig Hassed is a General Practitioner and senior lecturer at the Monash University Department of General Practice. His teaching, research and clinical interests involve mindfulness-based stress management, mind-body medicine, meditation, holistic healthcare, health promotion, complementary therapies and medical ethics. Craig is regularly invited to speak in Australia and overseas on these issues and also teaches in the cancer support programs at the Gawler Foundation. He writes regularly for medical journals particularly in Philosophy of Medicine and has published two books on these issues entitled “New Frontiers in Medicine” (Volumes 1 and 2), a third book on mindfulness-based stress management entitled “Know Thyself” and a fourth on an holistic lifestyle approach to healthcare, “The Essence of Health”. Craig has also been a regular media commentator on these topics.

Jan has over 15 years experience in Human Resources, gained while working in large multinational organizations (FMCG & Telco) and not-for-profit organisations in Australia. Jan is currently the HR Manager for ChildFund Australia, based in Sydney, and is convenor of the ACFID HRTG.

Pauline Kleinitz practised as a physiotherapist in the disability sector for many years, and has worked in Australia, UK, Africa and Asia. While in Africa she worked and managed a community based rehabilitation program and developed a training course for disability rehabilitation practitioners. Pauline has particular experience in program design, delivery and evaluation within disability services and has co-authored a manual for implementing change within disability services. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) and Master of Social Science (International Development). Pauline has worked with CBM Australia and now works for the CBM-Nossal Institute Partnership for Disability Inclusive Development in training and research to support the inclusion of people with disabilities in international development efforts.

Dr Ali Maginness is currently employed in a conjoint position with the Rural Clinical School, UTAS and Mental Health Services, DHHS, Tasmania. Her position has been established to develop and extend clinical psychology training and research opportunities in the NW of Tasmania. An area of interest in research includes resilience, and she is currently undertaking and supervising three projects investigating the subjective experience of resilience across different rural population groups. Prior to moving to Tasmania, she worked as a clinical psychologist in Christchurch New Zealand and when there she became involved with an NGO, the Christchurch Resettlement Service that works with the refugee and immigrant population there. She also has an interest in humanitarian aid work, and would like to become more involved with this work in the future.

Kate is the Programs Manager at the Antares Foundation Inc (Australia). Previously Kate worked for Médecins Sans Frontières for more than 5 years in various HR and management roles in Sydney, India and South Sudan.

Kate has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Human Resource Management from UNSW. In 2008 she completed a Master of Arts (Development Studies) degree with a final research paper "A Survey of Factors influencing Turnover and Retention of MSF Australia Field Workers"

Peter has had a diverse range of appointments as a psychologist within Defence since commissioning in 1982. His primary duties have included selection, training, counselling, policy, command, mental health, aviation support, and research positions. In January 2006 he was posted to his current appointment as the Director of Defence Force Psychology. He is also Head of Corps for the Australian Army Psychology Corps. His major professional interest is the pragmatic application of human science to enhance the capability, effectiveness and psychological health and readiness of personnel in operational settings. Peter’s qualifications include those in the fields of Psychology, Human Resources, International Relations and Aviation Human Factors.

Academically, Jacqueline Paul completed a Master of Psychology (Clinical) and Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne.

Following completion of her formal studies, Jacqueline was employed as a union organiser in Canberra. In 2004, Jacqueline assumed a United Nations Volunteer position, working with the International Labour Organization in Afghanistan. She then briefly worked in Haiti, before accepting the position of Operations Support Officer with UNRWA in the Gaza Strip. Prior to commencing maternity leave, Jacqueline developed and managed the gender initiative “Equality in Action”, designed to empower Palestinian women in the Gaza Strip.

She is a volunteer with the Antares Foundation Inc (Australia).

Aurelia has a clinical health background and over 20 years experience in workplace health and safety. Aurelia worked as an inspector for WorkCover NSW, both as a generalist inspector and later specializing in the health and community services industries focusing on proactive interventions to assist the industry improve its health and safety performance. Over the last 8 years she has worked as a Principal Consultant for a multinational professional services firm gaining skills in the public health domain by working with indigenous communities in evaluating health trials. Aurelia has a keen interest in the Humanitarian Aid Sector, initially providing assistance in OHS in a voluntary capacity to ActionAid, formally Austcare, then through the ACTFID HRTG with member support and participation was able to develop the sector’s draft OHS Management System. Currently Aurelia is a Managing Consultant for the Brief Group which has supported this project from its inception.

Angie is a human resources management consultant for the humanitarian sector focusing on Australia and Asia / Pacific region. She is currently working at People In Aid as their representative for Australia and the Pacific. Prior to this she spent 10 years working for Australian Red Cross leading the international Human Resources team.

Since 2005 Angie has consulted for the Australian Red Cross; the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; the International Committee of the Red Cross; CARE Australia; JTA International; British Red Cross; The Antares Foundation Inc. and RedR Australia, undertaking field roles in Kenya, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia in senior human resource roles

Angie has a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Economic Development (Hons) and has successfully completed post graduate studies in Human Resource Management and Human Resource Development.

Amanda is the Operational Director of the Australian based Antares Foundation as well as an Australian psychologist with a special interest in the psychosocial aspects of humanitarian work. She is currently completing a PhD exploring psychosocial adjustment issues that confront medical humanitarian aid workers.