Melissa Trajcevski

I am a compassionate, hardworking and ambitious individual with experience in a broad number of responsible positions in various companies and organizations. I have recently graduated with a Master’s in Professional Psychology at Monash University and am seeking work as Carer Counsellor. I am experienced in behaviour support most recently at National Positive Behaviour Support.

The combination of my education and employment has allowed me to develop extensive experience in effective communication and has allowed me to develop the confidence and emotional intelligence to reflect on behaviour and personalities within a personal and professional scope. I feel able to embrace and bring those skills, enthusiasm and achievements to other companies and roles.

Carer Counsellor (SACSE Level 5) - Merri Health - Preston

(2022-01 - 2025-05)

Casual for the first 3 months, transitioned into Full Time employment

• Providing confidential and professional support to individuals facing a range of emotional, psychological, and/or social challenges. This includes areas of grief/loss, trauma/PTSD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, disability, socialisation, dementia and a variety of other mental health conditions.
• Conducting thorough assessments to understand the client’s needs, strengths, and challenges as part of each individual’s case formulation, such as DASS21.
• Assisting with and conducting group work and care coordination for carers, as well as providing a range of 6-20 individual sessions each. Modes of therapy included primarily face-to-face, telehealth and some telephone services (Zoom/Microsoft proficiency).
• Involvement in crisis intervention and providing immediate support to ensure client’s safety and well-being.
• Develop and implement evidence-based interventions and tailored approaches for clients, not limited to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-focused therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and others.
• Managing caseloads and maintaining accurate and confidential client records in the internal client management system, ensuring to continuously update and document the client’s progress and outcomes according to service standards and practice.
• Collaborating with other allied health professionals (e.g., social worker, medical doctors) to ensure comprehensive client care.
• Advocating for the client’s rights and making appropriate referrals to other linked services according to their needs.
• Undertaking consistent and relevant professional development in line with current practices, attending relevant training and professional development activities, utilising both internal and external sources from the department. This includes regular individual and group clinical supervision, debriefing with peers and team leader when needed or required.
• Adhering to the APS code of conduct.
• Abiding by AHPRA guidelines and standards for provisional psychologists.
• Work applied to clients in:
• childhood
• adolescence
• adulthood
• Late adulthood (>65 years)

Behaviour Support Practitioner - National Positive Behaviour Support - Moonee Ponds

(2021-01 - 2021-07)

• Provide evidence-based approaches to reduce behaviours of concern for people with disabilities from early childhood to older adults.
• Using a person-centred approach and working to adapt individual case formulation, assessments and interventions based on the needs and circumstances of the individual and collaborating with their close support networks such as family members, teachers and other stakeholders.
• Provide evidence-based approaches to psychological assessment of clients that have been diagnosed with mental health conditions, ranging from Depression, Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Autism and further. A variety of assessments were used as part of the behaviour analysis work, mostly including DASS21, K10, Aquol/WHOQuol, Mental State Examination (MMSE), MAS, Overt, Environmental assessments, QABF, and more.
• Provide evidence-based approaches to psychological treatment of clients that have been diagnosed with mental health conditions. Develop and implement strategies and interventions for clients. Interventions involved and were not limited to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectic Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution-focused therapy, Motivational Interviewing.
• Implement, capture and use data analysis to monitor the progress and effectiveness of intervention, review challenging behaviour and make changes when required.
• Undertake assessments; including psychological, behavioural, functional and risk to identify causal factors of challenging behaviours to establish suitable strategies and plans that address the behaviour and enhance quality of life for the client.
• Case study development and reporting using a clear and transparent process that adheres to adult/child learning principles (two of which will focus on assessments), supervised and reviewed by the supervisor.
• Diagnosis of a variety of mental health conditions with support from primary supervisor.
• Adhere to internal and external requirements to ensure all relevant legislative, ethical and moral guidelines are met.
• Report on professional development activities to the supervisor including case study review work and recommended reading material.
• Adhere to and maintain appropriate records, confidentiality and privacy protocols.
• Adhere to APS code of conduct.
• Abide by AHPRA guidelines.
• Debriefing and peer support with colleagues.
• Working in line with Human Rights Laws, Child Safety and the NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Quality Safeguard and Commissions Act to safeguard the dignity and quality of Life of people with disability who require specialist behaviour support.
• Work applied to clients in:
• childhood
• adolescence
• adulthood
• Late adulthood (>65 years)

Care Manager - Vasey RSL Care

(2020-01 - 2020-12)

• Role and responsibilities primarily involved informing consumers about self-managed government funded aged-care packages available to those over 65+ years. This involved informing clients about what to expect, how these packages work according to current legislations and requirements and how it may impact their independence and ability to remain in the home, as well as their overall health and well-being.
• Representing the homecare business as well as creating and fostering relationships with service providers, including onboarding and informing new and existing consumers of Vasey RSL and how it all works.
• Reporting to the Senior Care Manager regarding concerns and changes that relate to the consumer’s wellbeing, as well as speaking and collaborating with families and other healthcare staff including Occupational Therapists and General Practitioners, particularly with regards to high-needs clients, Veterans and those with Oxygen and Dementia Supplement.
• Consult with the clinical team regarding changes in health/deterioration of health to consumers, this includes observation/assessments, reporting, planning and helping to set up strategies to be implemented so as to maintain independent living.
• Update Care Plans/reports to reflect any changes in consumers health and requirements.
• Awareness and consideration of government funding-overspending and discrepancies that may present.
• Conduct 12 monthly assessment and reviews of changes that may have occurred.
• Work applied to those in:
• Late adulthood (>65 years)

Work Order Coordinator / Administration / Reception - Lake Maintenance

(2014 - 2018)

• Attending to phone enquiries, majorly in communication with DHS, residents’ and Mainte

Master of Professional Psychology - Monash University, Clayton (2020)

Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology - Deakin University, Burwood (2012)

Bachelor of Psychological Science - La Trobe University, Bundoora (2009)