about me

I live in the eastern part of Singapore. I'm an avid watcher of Scifi and detective procedurals. I love cycling downwind and snorkelling in the magical ecosystem of corals and fish.

education & Work experience

After graduating from the National University of Singapore with a B.A (Social work), I have been working with Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities - At the THK Family Service Centre@Tanjong Pagar and  Moral Welfare Home.

In 2012, i was awarded the Sabbatical Leave Scheme and this was when i first fell in love with Narrative Therapy. In 2015, i completed my Master of Narrative Therapy and Community Work (UniMelb/Dulwich) and was awarded the Salome Raheim Award for commitment and creativity in addressing power and privilege in my work and studies. Besides rigorous refining of my practice, the Masters Programme has also given me many precious friendships with amazing therapists all over the world with diverse background and expertise.

Part of my practice and passion includes researching and exchanging knowledges of working with others in finding the best approaches to help individuals, families (chosen/biological) and communities. 

In the last 2 years, i started offering counselling, training and supervision, whilst working with students and their families at Morning Star and families with diverse needs at PPIS Family Service Centre.

“Elizabeth’s belief in empowering clients and focusing on their strengths sometimes challenges my perception of clients.”
— Elizabeth Thambidurai
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My published work & Past Projects

  • Established Individualized Care Plan system – Taught case management skills to welfare officers, coordinated case conferences for the multidisciplinary team consisting of welfare officers, nurses, doctor, occupational and physiotherapist in which we with the client, reviews the resident’s condition and set 6-monthly goals and formulate an intervention plan.

  • Set up an Employment Programme that gives opportunities for residents to be engaged meaningfully in work and undergo vocational training.

  • Linked and supported residents who wished to learn or be employed externally in the community. 3 residents through our support managed to be re-integrated back into the community. Some interventions used was securing stable employment and housing, teaching coping skills, counseling and mediation.

  • Co-Presented in the World Family Therapy Congress 2015, "Reconstructing Singaporean Malay Narratives: A map to talk about sociopolitical systemic structures with families in poverty in the therapy room"

  • Recruited children and families for the League of Parents and Small People against Pocket Kering, facilitating a social action and community celebration of skills and knowledges earned in experiencing financial difficulties. http://dulwichcentre.com.au/the-league-of-parents-and-small-people-against-pocket-kering/

  • Presented in the AMKFSC-UNISIM Conference Symposium 2013, “Using the Tree of Life methodology to respond to hardships faced by mothers in low income families”

  • Planned and organized new programs with the occupational therapist, such as the Token Economy Scheme.

My work experience

View my updated CV here.

Moral Welfare Home is an institution for those who were destitute (older adults & persons with disabilities)

  • Casework – Coordinate resources in the Home (internal) and in the community (external) to meet the needs of the residents. Assessing resident's conditions and formulate goals to improve their quality of life.

  • Co-Planning and leading in Group work and Programmes for the residents.

  • Counselling support to residents and staff as they take steps towards their hopes.

  • Participate and led in the ICP reviews with the multi-disciplinary team.

  • Conducted in-house trainings for the staff, and organized regular events to improve morale and teamwork.

  • Managed group and individual volunteers, and supervising interns.

  • Working with residents' families and friends to support preferred ways of relating to one another.

THK Family Service Centre @ Tanjong Pagar is a social service agency that serves individuals and families reside in the central region of Singapore. This area has a large density of government subsidized housing for those with low income. The residents are composed of a diverse background of class and race.

  • Casework – Work with families with complex issues to improve their financial, housing, social, and emotional situations.

  • Groupwork – Create space for women and families who experience poverty to connect and strengthen with their stories of resilience, strengths and initiatives and develop ways to improve their situation.

  • Supervised new staff and students from NUS/ UNISIM during their practicum, and co-led in monthly team supervision.

  • Participated in national level, interagency and neighborhood focus and workgroups, to identify community needs and develop strategies to meet those needs.

  • Assisted in administrative and managerial duties as part of the seniors team.

  • Conducted Home Study Report assessments for prospective adoptive parents.

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MY SKILLS, STRENGTHS, COMMITMENTS AND HOPES

  • Strengths approach

  • Using creative ways for example using

  • Art, symbols, therapeutic letters, etc.

  • Programme Planning

  • Proficient in English and Mandarin, Moderately conversant in Hokkien dialect

  • Narrative ways of working with people

  • Casework for “multi-stressed families”

  • Conducting Groupwork

  • Risk Assessment & Crisis Management

  • Supervision of social work students and new social workers