About Amanda

Amanda has a Bachelor of Social Work with Honours class 2B (2001), a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (2011), a Certificate IV in Assessment and Training (2008) and is a current Mental Health Social Worker Accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (2011 - present day).  She has over two decades worth of experience working with individuals and families affected by chronic illness.

 

In 2007, she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate models of care for Young-Onset Parkinson’s Disease.  Her recommendations were accepted by Parkinson’s Australia and led to the inaugural Young Onset Parkinson’s Conference.

 

Having worked for Parkinson’s Victoria, she is passionate about supporting people faced with neurological illness and is experienced supporting people through her past work over the helpline, facilitating support groups, coordinating support forums and conducting family meetings.  She was also interviewed by the 7:30 report as a guest expert on the relationship between Dopamine Agonists and Gambling.  While working at Parkinson's Victoria she also developed the first Parkinson's Plus support group for people living with PSP, MSA and CBS. 

 

She commenced private practice work specifically with Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s plus syndromes in 2007 and currently teaches at a Masters level at RMIT University on Social Work theory and practice, alongside her private practice work. 

​

Amanda also has extensive experience working with people living with cancer and in palliative supports.  She ran the cancer support groups program at Cancer Council Victoria and is an experienced group facilitator, both online and in person.