The PACFA West Branch officially commenced operating on 1 July
2016. Individual members of PACFA in Western Australia receive automatic
membership with PACFA West with their PACFA membership.
Activities will include:
- Providing continuing professional development
- Providing opportunities for networking and peer support
- Undertaking local outreach
- Promoting PACFA to local education providers and students
- Building a vibrant community of practitioners in a particular geographic area
- Providing opportunities for practitioners in regional and rural areas to participate
PACFA West Leadership Group
Maxine Santich (Co-Convenor) has 15 years’ experience working as a counsellor and psychotherapist. She completed a Masters degree in Psychotherapy & Counselling and has completed Gestalt therapy training. Maxine is an accredited Breathwork practitioner, has studied and participated in Family Constellations for over 25 years, obtained Diploma level in Natural Therapies and trained and worked as a fitness instructor. Maxine is working in private practice in Busselton and is a volunteer counsellor with the Busselton Hospice Bereavement team.
Philippa Colgan (Co-Convenor) is an accredited psychoanalytic psychotherapist with APPWA (Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of WA). She also holds qualifications in humanistic counselling, anthropology and public health. Philippa works in private practice and is a member of the teaching staff for the postgraduate counselling programme at the University of Notre Dame Australia (Fremantle).
Deisy Amorin-Woods is a highly experienced psychotherapist and family therapist, with training in social work, psychology, and teaching, and a masters of family therapy. She possesses over 20 years-experience in private practice, gov, and non-gov where she has held clinical and managerial roles leading allied-health teams across diverse fields of practice.
She has worked as a seasonal academic and clinical supervisor in the Masters of Counselling programs at Murdoch and Notre Dame Universities and in the social work programs at Edith Cowan, UWA, Curtin, and Charles Sturt Universities. Deisy is a published author with single and multiple authored works and is also a frequent presenter at national and international conferences. She is past WA State Rep for AAFT. She currently holds the role of Chair of the ANZJFT Editorial Board, as well as Associate Editor (Interviews & Dialogues).
Gaby Browarczyk is a Gestalt Psychotherapist currently in private practice with a focus on nature based therapy. Having worked diversely across the community sector in prisons, drug and alcohol therapeutic communities, domestic violence services and remote communities. Gaby also provides clinical supervision, currently volunteering at ECU as a placement supervisor for masters students.
Jacobus (Jacob) Burger is a qualified counsellor and a human factors and performance expert. He completed Master's degrees in Aviation Management (Human Factors and Safety) and Counselling (Clinical). He has over 27 years of experience in human performance in high-risk environments. He is a qualified air traffic controller, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) officer, and aircraft accident and incident investigator. He specialises in the human psyche leading up to an incident. He also supports and counsels aviation personnel during the recovery process following performance-related issues. Jacob gained valuable counselling experience as a school counsellor, identified a significant need for family therapists, and opened a family counselling practice with his wife. He is a qualified Interplay play therapy facilitator who loves its humanistic approach. He uses a combination of humanistic and psychodynamic modalities. Jacob is still active in the RAAF reserves and strongly advocates for counsellors to be included in all WA schools and be recognised by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Jovan Scekic has a background in Psychology and completed a Masters degree in Psychotherapy and Counselling at Edith Cowan University. He works with individuals, families, students, and groups at a not-for-profit organisation helping torture and trauma survivors from a refugee background. His current roles are senior counsellor, supervisor, and student placement coordinator. Jovan is also a sessional lecturer and unit coordinator at Edith Cowan University and on a regular basis is involved in volunteer community work.
Maureen Tan is a practitioner-researcher and academic. Her primary role is as an educator at Edith Cowan University. Maureen's interest lies in the intersection between existential phenomenology and psychoanalytic theories; she is curious about the ways our presenting past shapes our worldviews and the dynamic ways our being shifts as part of our reflections on lived experiences. As a mental health clinician and researcher, this is the framework that she marshals in the areas of trauma and psycho-oncology. Maureen considers being part of PACFA West to be a privilege; to cultivate something fruitful for our professional community built on the efforts of the custodians who came before her, and the ones who will continue to support and enhance our collective professional identity.
Sheela Paul holds a Masters of Counselling from the University of Notre Dame and is passionate to see individuals thrive and flourish in their everyday lives. Sheela has a background in nursing and pastoral care. She also has a Graduate certificate in Health Management, Quality & Leadership from Murdoch University. Sheela runs a private practise in Canning Vale and works closely with individuals newly diagnosed with ADHD. She works with an interdisciplinary team of psychiatrist, general practitioners, counsellors, and psychologists to provide the best possible care for clients. Her strength lies in empowering women both in the professional and personal realm. She is also a busy mum to 3 boys and is an advocate in supporting mental health in young men in particular who are navigating this modern era. She is also trilingual (speaking Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil and English) with a passion to help new migrants assimilate into everyday life in Australia while helping them transform their challenges to opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
Contact the PACFA West branch at [email protected]