Damaris Pfendt

Experience

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  Impuls E.V.

  Feb 2005 - Feb 2009

  Family and Mental Health Case Manager, Child Protection and migration Specialist

  An accredited Service Provider for the Community and Justice Department (Youth and Family) in Brandenburg and Cottbus/ Germany. Impuls e.V. offers extensive case management, family therapy, migration support, therapeutic crisis intervention as well as intensive support for people affected by DV, GBV and mental health Main Role: Risk and psychosocial assessments (focus on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), Domestic Violence, Child Protection, Mental Health), case/ behaviour management, legal advocacy and representation in family and immigration court, therapeutic crisis intervention and trauma informed counselling for refugees and migrants affected by PTSD, acting as Child Protection advisor, client service provision for migrants and refugees, representing clients in court, mental health on-call, Delivering safeguarding and prevention training, developing community capacity development programs, stakeholder management Show less

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  Wesley Mission

  May 2009 - Dec 2012

  Youth & Case Worker

  Wesley Mission is a high profile, multi-faceted Christian organisation making a real difference in the community. Wesley Mission's Vision is “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”Main role: Youth and Case worker in a residential crisis centre (refuge) for young people. Providing professional support and therapeutic crisis intervention strategies for young people (age 12-16) who have experienced or are experiencing PTSD, a variety of mental health challenges, Domestic Violence situations as well as physical, mental and sexual abuse Show less

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  Hillsong Church

  Sept 2012 - Mar 2013

  Community Outreach Coordinator (Project Management)

  Main Role: Coordination of community development projects and development of a stakeholder engagement strategy

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  Hillsong International Leadership College

  Apr 2013 - Apr 2019

  National Workplace Training Coordinator/ Manager - Department Head

  Hillsong College is a registered training organisation (RTO) that offers a unique higher education training experience (Cert IV - Masters), in leadership, ministry, arts and social justiceWorkplace Training Coordinator Main Role: Managing the Workplace Training Department, including the planning, designing and operational management of government accredited professional work placements and assessments for up to 1600 students and 450 stakeholders (accredited placement), according to CRICOS and ASQUA course requirements and compliances.Lecturer/ Course Writer Main Role: Developing, facilitating and delivering accredited training courses/ packages. Show less

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  The Freedom Hub

  Mar 2018 - Jun 2019

  Mental Health and Transition Coach for Survivors of Human Trafficking & Programs Evaluator

  The Freedom Hub Cafe and Event venue is an ethical business for purpose. All profits support the Freedom Hub Survivor School. The Survivor School trains and equips victims of modern slavery to rebuild their lives, regain confidence and be reemployed in freedom.Client Transition Coach Main Role: Provision of psychosocial assessments and trauma informed client coaching/ counselling for survivors/ victims of human trafficking, GBV and DV within Australia.Program Evaluator Main Role: Developing a program log-frame and impact evaluation framework Show less

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  Australian Catholic University

  Sept 2018 - Apr 2023

  External Field Educator and Supervisor

  The Australian Catholic University (ACU) is a public university in Australia. It has seven Australian campuses and also maintains a campus in Rome. ACU is made up of four faculties, which offer bachelor, master and doctoral degrees.Main tasks: - Supervising graduate and postgraduate students, completing their student placements - Observe and assess competencies according to the Australian Association of Social Workers standards and competency framework- conduct regular coaching and supervision sessions Show less

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  Baptist World Aid Australia - Transform Aid International

  May 2019 - Apr 2020

  International Programs Officer - Project and Partnership Management (Contract)

  Transform Aid International/ Baptist World Aid is a Christian aid and development organisation that partners with Australian Christians and churches to be love and end poverty. Baptist World Aid partners with 42 organisations in 18 countries.Main Role: Project and partnership management of disaster and development projects predominately in countries affected by disaster and protracted crisis (MENA, Asia Pacific, South East Asia) including financial management, project design, monitoring and evaluation. Show less

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  Break Free Health

  Apr 2020 - Mar 2021

  Operational Strategy (policy/ compliance) advisor and consultant

  Main Responsibilities: - Develop and set up operational and business strategies - Development of an L&D and evaluation framework- Conducting workshops & strategy meetings (online & face to face) - Policy development - stakeholder management

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  Caritas Australia

  Dec 2020 - Mar 2023

  Main Responsibilities: - Act as technical Advisor - Project Management of disaster,response, recovery and DRR projects across Asia, Pacific and Africa- Coordination of multi-stakeholder arrangements and programs (bilateral, multilateral, government (DFAT, AHP), ACFID, NGOs in-country and overseas, UN clusters). - Monitoring and managing multi-year budgets for at times up to 15 projects and a combined total between 6-8million AUD. - Technical support for design, proposal development, monitoring and evaluation- Successful AHP proposal submission and project implementation for COVID-19 response project to support vaccine rollout in PNG - Supporting organizational re-accreditation for DFAT - Operate as Disaster Ready PNG Country Lead (5-year DFAT funded project) Show less Main Responsibilities: - Project Management of disaster and response projects across Asia, Pacific and Africa- Coordination of multi-stakeholder arrangements (bilateral, multilateral, government (DFAT, AHP), ACFID, NGOs in-country and overseas, UN clusters). - Monitoring and managing multi-year budgets - Technical support for design, proposal development, monitoring and evaluation- Successful AHP proposal submission and project implementation for COVID-19 response project to support vaccine rollout in PNG - Supporting organizational re-accreditation for DFAT - Operate as Disaster Ready PNG Country Lead (5-year DFAT funded project) Show less

  • Humanitarian Emergencies Lead

    Feb 2022 - Mar 2023

  • Humanitarian Programs/ Response Coordinator

    Dec 2020 - Feb 2022
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  Medair

  Jan 2023 - Jan 2024

  Humanitarian Project Coordinator (Part of Senior Leadership- North/ North East Ukraine

  Responsible to manage the development, implementation and coordination of multi-jsectoral and multi-donor programs and partnerships in North (Northeast) Ukraine. Providing leadership, strategic direction and evaluation of programmatic and operational aspects. Taking on a key liaison role with local authorities, UN bodies, donors and other relevant stakeholders. Key responsibilities/ achievements:- Successfully designated and implemented multi-sectoral response and recovery projects (Shelter, health, MHPSS, NFI, CASH, WASH). - Responsible for the financial management of all designated projects with a combined budget of c. 3-4 million USD (depending on timeline of simultaneous projects). Donors: German Federal Foreign Ministry (AA), Swiss Development Cooperation (gov.), Swiss Solidarity Cooperation and other private donors. - Successfully coordinated numerous multi-sectoral needs assessments in border regions of Northeast Ukraine, up to a sample size of c. 2100 households. - Management of two field bases/ offices (Kyiv-North/ Sumy North/Northeast), leading a multi-sectoral team of a total of 28-32 staff, including human resource analyses, recruitment and supporting disciplinary/investigative actions. - Grew the field team in the Northeast by 100%, from 8 to 16/17 people (HR, finance, logistics and technical personnel) - Improved regular monitoring, coordination and evaluation systems- Contributed to the development and implementation of country and partnership strategies, - Successful rehabilitation of 9 Primary Health Care Centers in the Northeast (in 2023)- Successfully conducted winterisation NFI distributions in collaboration with IOM in active conflict regions. - Stakeholder Management with local authorities, NGOs, UN, and security bodies, and representation in humanitarian coordination groups (numerous MOUs set up).- Responsible to monitor security status of operational areas and develop security plans- initiated/ expanded two local partnerships Show less

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  Medair

  Feb 2024 - now

  Deputy Country Director

  Manage the development and implementation of the Syria program and operational functions to facilitate the implementation of the country program strategy. Providing leadership, strategic direction, management, and evaluation of all aspects of the country program, oversee systems development, legal compliance, grant management, operational coordination, and team leadership.Key Responsibilities/ Achievements- Development of country strategy and overseeing change management.- Line-management of program coordinators, technical advisors, HR, and finance manager (total team size of 21 people) - Coordinating the preparation and implementation of policies and procedures. - Overseeing and monitoring staff adherence to security protocols, managing security incidents and implementing security protocols.- Overseeing the conceptional development, operational management, and implementation of the country program for the Northeast and South Syria region, including program design, monitoring, evaluation, grants management and development of advocacy and communication briefs. - In coordination with the funding manager, develop funding strategies for institutional and private funding mechanisms (ECHO, Syrian Humanitarian Fund, Slovak Aid, Swiss Solidarity Cooperating, Swiss Development Cooperation, OCHA and Privat Donors). - Develop and implement systems to improve transparency and meet compliances. - Stakeholder manager (NGOs, local and gov. authorities, UN, lawyers), and representation of Medair at relevant intersectoral humanitarian meetings Show less