Simon Harvest
Simon commenced his working life in the welfare sector as Education Officer in residential care for Wards of the State.
After several years in secondary teaching, Simon entered the tertiary education sector as a tutor and lecturer in psychology at Rusden College, (now Deakin University).
Simon first began working as a psychologist in 1990, initially in private practice and then in the public health sector as a psychologist and consultant in the (WorkCover) rehabilitation services. His work with NRRU Worklife (formerly Northern Region Rehabilitation Unit), spanned 1991 to 1995 with his final role as an Administrator.
From 1995 to 2000, Simon was Senior Psychologist / Coordinator, Student Welfare in the Student Services Department of Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT). He was responsible for student and staff counselling services, disability support services and student welfare across seven campuses, 30,000 students and over 1,000 staff.
From 2000 to 2001, Simon was Manager of Melbourne’s Wesley Central Parish Mission’s Lifeline program. Lifeline Melbourne is the largest service of its kind in Australia, averaging more than 50,000 calls a year, with a dedicated suicide line.
More recently, Simon was Manager, Statewide Mutual Support and Self Help Program for the Mental Illness Fellowship, a long standing organization in the Psychiatric Disability Support Services sector, where Simon was responsible for the management, development and delivery of the operational framework for carer support, specialist family education and counseling services.
As Assessor Manager with Assessments Australia, Simon has responsibility for the recruitment, training and management of all Allied Health Professional assessors. Additionally, Simon manages the day-to-day contract with the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Program for Students with Disabilities.
Simon is past Chair of the Victorian State Committee and past Chair of the Melbourne Branch of the Australian Psychological Society, among many other psychology and counselling affiliations.