Penny Antonopoulos
Penny is Founder & Director of the Vital Health & Wellbeing Centre, Diversional Therapist, Careers and Health Coach. Penny has worked in health and community care for over 20 years, as Health Education Officer with NSW Health; Project Officer with the Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centre; Manager Aged, Disability & Mental Health Programs in the not-for-profit sector, and currently as Operations Manager, Home and Residential Care. Penny has worked with a broad range of client groups, including older people, people with disabilities, mental illness, dementia, chronic illness, palliative care patients and their carers. She is an experienced Group Facilitator, developing and delivering programs on self-care, stress management, building resilience, cultural awareness, depression and other health related topics. She has played a key role in the development of strategic partnerships and sectoral capacity building, with a wealth of experience in community development. Penny has also undertaken qualitative research into mental health, help-seeking behaviours and the experiences of informal carers, resulting in published works.
In addition to her directorship of Vital Health, Penny is Co-Director of See Through My Eyes, a charitable organisation supporting people with vision impairment and disabilities and Chairperson, NSW Multicultural Ambassadors Program 202o, Mental Health Foundation Australia
Penny is passionate about working with people and supporting them through their diverse journeys. This stems not only from her work experience but also her personal journey and life experience as a carer. Her practice is based on a holistic, person-centred, strengths based approach aimed at empowering people to achieve optimum health, wellbeing and quality of life.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney
- Associate Degree of Health Science (Leisure and Health), Charles Sturt University
- Master of Human Service Management & Policy, Charles Sturt University
- Accredited ‘Partners in Depression’ Facilitator, Hunter Institute of Mental Health
- Statement of Attainment Aboriginal Cultural Education, NSW TAFE
SPECIAL INTERESTS:
- Human Service Management and Policy
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Community Development and Capacity Building
- Systemic Advocacy
- Qualitative Research
- Group Facilitation
- Mental Health
- Disability
- Gerontology
- Carer’s Issues
- Cultural Diversity
ASSOCIATIONS:
- Diversional Therapy Australia