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Youth Life Skills Coach – Gisella assists at-risk young people by:
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helping them identify their values (i.e. helping them to focus on what they really
want from life),
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identifying the skills needed to live their values,
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helping them put together, and commit to, a personal action plan,
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and providing them with ongoing support.
Gisella
has also taken groups of young people through a personally challenging and intense
program that begins in the wilderness of the Carnarvon Ranges in Central Qld, then
moves to semi-rural South East Qld for practical follow-up. Personal and vocational
goals, are developed during the program. These personal and vocational goals provide
the basis for ongoing support and encouragement of participants which is given for
the ensuing twelve months through a telephone-based mentoring service.
Gisella has had more than nine years involvement with the alcohol
and other drug field, including the past two years as a volunteer telephone
counsellor with FDS (Family Drug Support). FDS is a caring, non-religious, non-judgmental
organisation - primarily run by trained volunteers. FDS was established in 1997
for the purpose of supporting people in managing and dealing with complex drug related
issues.
Gisella was accredited as a Values Consultant in 1993 and uses the
knowledge and skills gained from this program to help people identify what is really
important in their life, thereby aiding them in their quest to live a meaningful,
fulfilling life. She has found these skills particularly useful in working with
troubled youth.
Gisella is bi-lingual, being fluent both Italian and English. She was born
in Australian, however, much of her early education was in Italy (Isle of Elba)
where she lived for most of her teenage years. Apart from learning Italian, this
experience gave Gisella a good understanding of issues facing immigrants in a country
where, initially, they don't speak the local language or understand local customs
– this now enables her to emphasise with, and to help, the many people who find
themselves in this same situation in Australia.
Gisella's initial work experience was as a Soccer Pool’s
Coordinator/Compare in Italy for Rete Toscana Sud (Television Studio) on
the Isle of Elba. However, most of Gisella's early work experience was in the hospitality
field. Her hospitality skills were in high demand by such top restaurants/function
centres as: Michaels, Jamieson's and 29 Murray Street. Knowledge and skills gained
during this time have made Gisella extremely adept in planning, organising, and
managing conferences, seminars, workshops and functions related to her current career
in social sciences/human services.
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