Instructor Profile

Teresa Coffey is the Director and Principal Trainer of WorkPlace Interventions. As a WorkCover, Health, Safety, and Wellbeing subject matter expert, Teresa has a real passion and more importantly significant knowledge base for improving mental health within the workplace. Supporting businesses of all sizes to create mentally healthier workplaces, this includes the implementation of policies and procedures as well as early intervention initiatives such as peer support programs.

With a diverse background in education, business, and health, Teresa possesses over 18 years of corporate consultancy experience, both locally and nationally. Teresa regularly teaches, coaches, and assesses Cert III, Cert IV & Diploma in Personal Injury Management through Deakin/WorkSafe, having delivered WorkCover, Mental Health, and HSR training for more than 10-years on behalf of the Victorian Chambers of Commerce and Industry(VECCI). Renowned in the industry for her subject matter expertise, Teresa is able to use relevant workplace examples in her delivery of an energetic and vibrant session, meaning she engages participants to consolidate learning, making her one of the most sought-after facilitators in her field.

As an ASORC registered Rehabilitation Counsellor, Teresa continues to work in the field, with hands-on experience in dealing with treaters, employees with complex mental injuries, the employee's manager and return to work coordinator to identify and support safe and sustainable return to work options. This includes WorkSafe Original Employer Services in the facilitation of return to work for an injured employee who has lodged a mental injury claim and WorkSafe approved Facilitated Discussions; a service specialising in the early intervention of complex workplace mental injuries.

Education & Qualifications

• Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (Graduate School of Education at The University of Melbourne -completing 2021)
• Masters in Rehabilitation Counselling
• Bachelor of Psychology
• Bachelor Exercise Science and Human Movement
• Diploma of Personal Injury Management
• Certificate IV in Training & Assessment TAE40116
• Certificate IV in Financial Services
• Certificate IV in OHS
• Instructor of Applied Suicide Interventions Skills Training (ASIST) 
• WorkSafe Approved Instructor for HSR Training
• WorkSafe Approved Consultant for OHS Essentials
• WorkSafe Approved Instructor for Return to Work Coordinator Training
• Principal Master Instructor Mental Health First Aid

Point of Difference

As an approved WorkSafe trainer, Teresa frequently delivers Return to Work training, OHS, and HSR courses, which coupled with her experience and qualifications offers workplaces a holistic, engaging, and workplace-specific mental health approach to assisting individuals as well as organisations proactively manage mental health challenges. 

Teresa is a Principal Master trainer with MHFA Australia and delivers a suite of MHFA programs including the Standard, Blended, Youth, Legal, and the Suicide Intervention course, where her organisation offers weekly public courses held online and f2f (Melb CBD). Teresa usually works directly with organisations to understand their needs and further roll-out of targeted onsite training. Teresa also delivers the 2-day Assisted Suicide Intervention Training Skills (ASIST) program; a worldwide recognised "Suicide First Aid" course, where participants learn to intervene and help prevent the immediate risk of suicide using an evidence-based framework.

CLIENTS

Government

• Department of Justice & Community Safety (victoria/Perth/NSW)
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Magistrates Court Victoria
• Dept of Trasport: Level Crossing Removal Project, Melbourne
• Roads Project Victoria (MRPV)
• Mallee Catchment Management Authority
• Many Councils including Yarra Ranges Council, Stonnington City Council, Moonee Valley City Council
• Hospitals: Northern Health, Eye and Ear, Star Health, Peter Mac, Barwon Health & Central Gippsland Health Services
• Education Sector: ASQA, Mercy Education, CECV, Independent Schools, Homesglen, Polytechnic and Chisholm

Other Organisations

• Mental Health First Aid Australia
• Metro Trains
• Yarra Valley Trams
• One Harvest
• Select Harvest
• Crown Casino
• Mercedes Benz
• Kennedys Lawayers, VLA
• CPB
• Chemring
• Hazeldens
• ISS

First Responders: VIC Police, Ambulance Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria (formally MFB), Air Services Australia.
Financial: Latitude Finance, Commonwealth bank, and Western Union
Disability support services/ Aged care: InLife, Yooralla, BlueCross Care
Insurers: Allianz, CGU, Xchanging, GB and EML.

We also collaborate with many non-for-profit organisations to meet their needs and work within the scope of their funding.

As a highly sought-after facilitator, you can review Teresa's profile (including more than 70 written recommendations) via the LinkedIn logo below.