Pearl Fernandes

Speaker

Pearl Fernandes is a Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with refugee trauma at STARTTS. She has extensive experience working with asylum seekers and temporary protection visa (TPV) holders, and has expertise with both individual and therapeutic group work with this client group. She published her work with a group of TPV holders in a chapter in the book ‘Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Australia: Issues of Mental Health and Wellbeing’ (2003). She has successfully trialled and implemented creative approaches for traumatised populations. Her most recent project has been the development of a therapeutic program ‘Jungle Tracks’. ‘Jungle Tracks’ is a program that utilises a story telling approach in the treatment of traumatised adolescents and young children. In addition to providing direct services to this client group, she provides clinical supervision and training to staff at STARTTS, students, intern psychologists and allied health professionals. She has presented papers at national and international conferences.