Valerie Hoffer
As an accomplished community services professional, Valerie has a wealth of experience and knowledge gained from her years spent working in a variety of contexts, both here and in Australia. Her expertise is matched with a passion for social justice and providing assistance for the most vulnerable people in our communities.
Her drive to help people who are marginalised, disenfranchised and facing adversity began while she was growing up in the UK. With many friends who had a disability, Valerie was able to gain firsthand insights to the numerous challenges that people with a disability face. Beginning her career in the UK in aged care as a care assistant (AIN) and as a residential social worker, Valerie has also worked as a counsellor and case manager in the disability sector, in children’s programs, family and domestic violence organisations and then employment services.
Over her career, Valerie has supported people of all ages, from teenagers to older adults, who are experiencing complex issues including mental health, drug and alcohol use, homelessness and sexual assault as well as refugee settlement and cultural diversity matters. With a BSc in Counselling and Psychology, Valerie has always sought to expand her understanding of how humans think, feel and behave from various work and life roles in the community services sector.
As a teacher, Valerie strives to provide an interesting and enjoyable learning environment for students, where she can effectively demonstrate the important role that community services professionals play in society. She encourages students to share her commitment to ongoing professional development and continuous improvement of practice and service delivery.
