Nadia M

I am a highly motivated and dedicated professional whose passion for helping others inspired my decision to pursue Psychology as a field of study. Throughout my career, I have gained valuable experience across a variety of settings, including student development and mentorship, psychometric assessments, report writing, and interventions related to substance abuse and other forms of addiction among youth. My professional journey has also provided me with the opportunity to work internationally, enriching both my personal and professional growth through exposure to diverse cultures and working environments.

In addition, I have had the privilege of leading and managing large teams responsible for implementing and overseeing Student Support Services initiatives and strategic objectives. These experiences have equipped me with strong skills in independent and collaborative work, people management, time management, conflict resolution, report writing, and presentation delivery. I am committed to continuous learning and professional development and look forward to opportunities where I can apply my knowledge, experience, and skills in an environment aligned with my passion for empowering and supporting others.

Assistant Director: Student Support Services at Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET) – Northlink TVET College (2018-10 – Present)

• Manage the Student Support Services Team and ensure that they implement the Student Support Services Framework from the Department of Higher Education & Training
• Ensure that the following Key Performance Areas are implemented:
• Provision of Pre-Entry Student Support Services with a student-centered approach
• Provision of diverse On-Course (Health & Wellness; Academic Support; Sports, Arts & Culture) services to students within an enabling and inclusive environment
• Manage the provision of Exit-Support services to improve student success and employability
• Manage the Student Governance structure
• Ensure support is provided to Students with Disabilities
• Designing and ensuring implementation of Student Support Services Policies and Processes in line with DHET Policies
• Monitoring and Evaluation of all Student Support Services Interventions
• Compiling and presenting quarterly Student Services Reports to the Academic Board
• Attend and participate in all College Management and DHET Meetings and Events as requested (provincial and national) and liaise with external stakeholders
• Attend and participate in international training with partners of the college
• Manage the Student Support Services Team
• Designing relevant Programmes for implementation which respond to student needs and DHET directives such as GBV; Mental Health etc.

Registered Counsellor at Moya Group Psychologists (2025-10 – Present)

Provide individual counselling services to adolescents, young adults, and couples, addressing a range of psychosocial and mental health concerns, including substance abuse, addiction, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and personal adjustment challenges. I utilize evidence-based counselling approaches to promote emotional well-being, resilience, self-awareness, and positive behavioural change while offering ongoing support, guidance, and referrals where necessary.

Student Support Officer and Academic Support Co-Ordinator at Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET) – College of Cape Town – TVET College (2011-04 – 2018-09)

• Counselling
• Provide individual counselling sessions to students – either self-referral or referral by their lecturer
• Provide sessions on any personal matter and do a referral where necessary
• Compile process notes kept in a lockable cabinet
• Ensure counselling is done according to ethics as set out by HPCSA
• Liaise with external service providers for information and referral purposes
• Attend regular trainings and classes on counselling related matters
• Career Guidance and Placement
• Conducted, scored and reported on assessments (PACE) for the purpose of placing prospective students into specific programmes into the college by looking at their basic numeracy and literacy skills
• Provided one on one verbal feedback to students and discussed various options where necessary.
• Conducted, scored and provided verbal feedback to students on Career Interest Questionnaire specifically to students who were unsure of a career path to follow. Provided one on one sessions to discuss various options in line with personality, skills and interests in conjunction with results of the Questionnaire
• Delivered talks to schools and at open days to market various courses at the college. Conducted PACE assessments and Career Guidance Questionnaire and provided guidance to students
• Attended workshops to keep up to date with current trends in the field of career guidance. (SAQA Workshops)
• Received online career guidance training in Career Simulations which provided students with realistic settings of the work environment in line with their course of study. Students received an electronically generated report which I assisted in interpreting
• Mentoring of Career Development Officer Interns – in their role of providing career guidance on campus
• Presented and discussed career guidance within the team and looked at ways of improving current services and also possibility of new assessment tools
• Assisted in advertising career guidance and college related courses and employment opportunities on social media such as Facebook and also notice boards
• Liaised with management and employers on students being placed in the industry – problems students and employers are facing and provided career related guidance to students based on this feedback
• Compiled a manual containing soft skills modules for presentations and student workbooks
• Collate stats from across campuses and compile a report sent to management
• Liaise with management to discuss implementations and time required in the academic time-table
• Liaise with management to look at ways of improving and implementing programmes which will assist students in their academics
• Currently looking at improving Psycho-social education interventions for students by doing research for classroom workshops
• Provide workshops to students on soft skills and psycho-social education according to a set time-table
• MOT (Interactive personal development programme for youth) (Co-Ordinator)
• Completed MOT training
• Conduct MOT sessions to students on campus
• Implement a schedule which covers all groups
• Provide feedback on MOT sessions
• Attend MOT events and meetings
• Co-ordinate implementation of MOT sessions across the college
• Provide quarterly reports on the progress of MOT across the college
• Revise the Implementation Strategy to determine challenges and revise new strategies to effectively implement the programme across the college
• Weekly mentoring and training of Interns (Career Development Officers from ETDP SETA)
• Providing weekly plans and discussions on various projects within the SSS unit
• Checking their progress across areas identified for development
• Policy Development with the SSS unit
• Developing policies in areas of Co-ordination
• Providing input in the development and reviewing of policies within the SSS unit by liaising with various stakeholders and management
• Oversee the SRC Election process according to policies provided
• Provide mentorship to the SRC Electoral Commission
• Provide training to the elected SRC and individual and group mentoring
• Attend scheduled meetings with the SRC on various matters on campus and within the college
• Assist in the SRC Executive elections
• Assist in transporting SRC to off campus meetings and events when available
• Providing input on SRC year plan and activities
• Health and Wellness
• Planning and setting up for Health & Wellness days according to schedule sent by Health & Wellness Co-Ordinator
• Conduct needs assessment on campus and also liaise with management and staff to determine campus specific needs and plan intervention in accordance with the outcomes
• Advertise and co-ordinate all health and wellness related events and information on campus
• Ensure posters are displayed
• Sports and Culture
• Plot the plans for Sports and Culture in year plan
• Liaise with Sports Co-Ordinator and SRC Sports Officer on any updates on plan and check plan is implemented
• Assist on the Sports and Culture Committee
• Other/Administration
• Planned the Graduation Ball for Exit Level Students
• Implemented a feeding scheme programme
• Assist in various campus related duties as required
• Compile Monthly reports sent to management
• Responding to email and telephonic enquiries
• Updating relevant paperwork for the intranet
• Filing – manually and electronically to keep record of important documents
• Assisting with walk-in enquiries

Counsellor at Western Cape Youth Rehabilitation Centre (2010-09 – 2011-03)

• Counselling
• Individual counselling to youth (age 13-19) in the field of substance abuse in a 6-week in-patient programme
• Liaising with the referring social worker for background information and other issues relating to the patient
• Providing input within a multi-disciplinary team in the treatment of individual patients and their aftercare programme
• Inviting family members or guardians directly involved with the patient for sessions to discuss their role in the treatment programme
• Having regular meetings within a multi-disciplinary team to discuss progress or problems with patients while still adhering to confidentiality
• Conducted group counselling sessions as scheduled
• Workshops/ Psycho-social Education Groups
• Planned workshops for groups according to the need observed
• Conducted workshops with groups of various sizes
• Regular workshops were conducted with groups as scheduled
• Administration / Report writing
• Dealt with emergency cases as required
• Compiled reports during the patient’s stay and when discharged
• Assisted in crisis control situations when problems amongst patients occurred

English Teacher at GEPIK (South Korean Education Department in Gwangi-do Province) (Chilbong Elementary School) (2009-06 – 2010-05)

• Teaching English to Grades 1-6 alongside a Korean co-teacher
• Planned lessons in advance and discussed with Co-teacher
• Planned and conducted after-school Drama lessons as extra English classes
• Conducted weekly English lessons to teachers at the school
• Planned and conducted Holiday Programmes for English lessons according to specific themes

Telephonic Counsellor at National Responsible Gambling Programme (2007-05 – 2009-05)

• Provided telephonic counselling to gambling addicts and their families across South Africa
• Conducted an assessment for the criteria as an addict
• Completed the necessary referral for the caller to attend face to face counselling to a professional in their area
• Completed reports for tracking purposes and to check in with callers after their treatment
• Administration duties – updating forms; filing

Psychometrist at Catalyst Consultants (Psychometric Testing) (2005-04 – 2007-04)

after completing 720 hours of internship I was permanently employed

• Career Assessments
• Administered, scored and interpreted assessments for young learners or any other person who wanted clarity on a career path to follow
• Provided reports to the clients - test battery included personality; interest and vocational assessments
• Provided individual feedback to the client and parents where necessary
• Recruitment and Selection
• Administered various test batteries for the purpose of recruitment and selection for large companies in the country
• Scored and provisionally reported on the results of tests
• Provided telephonic or face to face feedback to candidates
• Provided reports to companies on results and recommendations
• Administration
• Updating database
• Record keeping of results and reports
• Filing

B. PSYCH (4-year degree) in Community & Health Sciences – University of the Western Cape (2003)

Matric with University Exemption in English HG, Afrikaans HG, Biology HG, Geography HG, Mathematics SG, Accounting SG – Belgravia High School (1999)