Allen Baloyi

Registered Social Worker with multi-sector experience spanning public health, education, secure care, employee wellness and social development. Holds a Master of Public Health in Occupational and Environmental Health (Cum Laude, University of Venda) and an Honours Bachelor of Social Work (University of Venda), together with a proven track record in psychosocial support, school counselling, behaviour-change facilitation, legislative research and programme management. Experienced across NGO and government sectors, with national-level collaboration spanning SAPS, the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, the Safer South Africa Foundation and the Master Drilling Group.

Previously served as Programme/Project Manager at Abraham Kriel Bambanani NPO, leading social programmes that improved outcomes for vulnerable beneficiaries and families. Passionate about youth development, public-health advocacy and systemic change through research-informed intervention and strategic leadership.

Currently

Wellbeing and Social Impact Practitioner at Master Drilling Group, providing psychosocial support, therapeutic counselling, crisis intervention and employee-wellness services across mining operations in South Africa and other African countries, and implementing wellbeing and mental-health initiatives that enhance employee resilience and workplace productivity.

Wellbeing and Social Impact Practitioner (EHWP) at Master Drilling Group (Pty) Ltd (2026-06 – Present)

• Provide comprehensive EAP services — psychosocial assessments, case management, counselling, crisis intervention and trauma support — to employees and dependants across mining operations.
• Deliver individual and group counselling addressing mental health, workplace stress, substance abuse and trauma, applying occupational health, safety and psychosocial risk-management principles.
• Design and roll out wellness programmes, webinars and psychoeducation and awareness campaigns; conduct site visits across South Africa and other African countries to support employee wellbeing in high-risk, unionised, production-driven environments.
• Develop and execute employee wellbeing strategies aligned to organisational objectives, occupational health standards and South African labour and social legislation.
• Collaborate with HR, Occupational Health and Safety teams on risk assessments, referrals and reporting; provide ongoing crisis intervention, trauma debriefing and psychosocial support while monitoring wellbeing trends across operations.

Programme Manager at Abraham Kriel Bambanani (NPO) (2024-11 – 2026-05)

• Provided strategic and operational leadership for the centre and supervised a multidisciplinary team of 30 (social workers, social auxiliary workers, child & youth care workers and administrative staff).
• Developed the organisation's business plan and drafted the annual budget, monitoring expenditure against financial policy, donor requirements and sustainability objectives.
• Oversaw centre-based programmes for compliance with Department of Social Development standards, child-protection legislation and SACSSP ethical and professional requirements.
• Facilitated capacity-building, performance evaluations and team development; prepared and submitted monthly and quarterly reports to donors, the board and government stakeholders.
• Coordinated partnerships with SAPS, clinics, schools and the Department of Health to strengthen community-based interventions.

Community Social Worker at Abraham Kriel Bambanani (NPO) — Westbury, Kathrada & Slovo Park (2021-05 – 2024-11)

• Delivered psychosocial services to 150 beneficiaries and their families, including children and families affected by HIV/AIDS, within the framework of the Children's Act.
• Conducted risk assessments and developed individual care plans; compiled reports and referrals to other service providers and departments.
• Supervised social auxiliary workers, child & youth care workers and student placements; consolidated monthly reports for management.
• Facilitated group and individual HIV/AIDS education and counselling; ensured children were registered with Home Affairs and held birth certificates.
• Identified and enrolled clients in skills-development programmes; conducted staff appraisals and resolved staff-related issues.

Senior Social Researcher at Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) (2024-02 – 2024-10)

• Reviewed chapters of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 and identified challenges within intelligence legislation.
• Conducted interviews with SAPS, Correctional Services, intelligence services and traffic police across South Africa; planned and executed surveys and data collection.
• Identified funding sources, prepared research proposals and funding applications, and analysed data to draw conclusions and inferences.
• Presented findings to committees and produced reports, papers and reviews for journals and conferences; collaborated with research teams, industry stakeholders and government agencies.
• Conducted an impact analysis of the Safer South Africa Foundation's community justice programme.

Employee Assistance Professional (EAP) — Social Worker at Mopani District (Old Parliament), Department of Health (2023-09 – 2024-01)

• Provided professional individual and group psychosocial support to employees and immediate family members, managing cases from intake to termination.
• Coordinated and monitored Employee Wellness Committee activities in line with the EHW Strategic Framework, and organised wellness sessions on mental health, HIV/AIDS, team building and work-life balance.
• Prepared monthly and quarterly statistical reports on cases and activities, and maintained daily statistics via Excel registers.
• Coordinated employee sports and recreational activities and delivered presentations on mental health and psychological wellness.

Social Worker: Social Behavioural Change Facilitator at Nhlayiso Community Health & Drop-In Centre (NGO) (2022-04 – 2023-02)

• Facilitated organisational HIV-prevention programmes and psychosocial support to youth and families, including YOLO and Chommy sessions for ages 14–24.
• Facilitated the ROCK leadership programme, the Family Matters Programme (parent training) and the Ke-Moja substance-abuse prevention programme.
• Led social behavioural-change and community-capacity-enhancement conversations, and Men/Boys Championing Change workshops.
• Developed and submitted weekly, fortnightly, monthly and quarterly work plans and activity reports to the site team leader.

Student Social Worker (Block Placement) at Mavambe Secure Care Centre (DSD) — Children in Conflict with the Law (2021-05 – 2021-11)

• Managed cases and assessments for young people in conflict with the law; drew up Individual Development Plans, care plans and court reports for sentenced youth and diversion-programme participants.
• Rendered statutory social work services and therapeutic counselling, including the Wake-Up Call, Rhythm of Life and substance-abuse therapeutic programmes.
• Coordinated crime-prevention awareness campaigns and family Group Conferences, and conducted case work, group work, community work and outreach.

Reactor: Human Rights Defender / Advocacy at Nhlayiso Community Health & Drop-In Centre (NGO) (2019-03 – 2021-03)

• Developed weekly, monthly and quarterly action plans; conducted and captured interviews and household visits with key and vulnerable populations (MSM, TG, SW, PLHIV, PTB, AGYW).
• Facilitated anti-stigma campaigns and community dialogues to reduce human-rights and gender-related barriers to healthcare, and sensitised duty-bearers (police, nurses, educators, traditional leaders).
• Documented human-rights violations and wrote referrals to further service points; distributed IEC materials to key and vulnerable populations.
• Coordinated media and communication interventions amplifying anti-stigma messaging, and provided individual and group counselling to KVPs with psychosocial needs.

Master of Public Health (MPH) in Occupational & Environmental Health – University of Venda (2023-01 – 2025-12)

Bachelor of Social Work (Honours Degree) in Social Work – University of Venda (2017-01 – 2022-12)

National Senior Certificate (Matric) – Zivuko Senior Secondary School (2015-01 – 2015-12)