Claire Stanley

Claire brings over 20 years of clinical experience to her role as Senior Child and Family Practice Specialist with the Child and Family Wellbeing Team. Drawing on her social work and family therapy training, Claire works relationally striving to advocate for the rights of children and families, whilst maintaining a strategic focus on organisational policies and systems. Claire’s passion and thirst for knowledge in the fields of trauma, attachment, family violence and collaborative practice are evident in all of the work she engages in. 

Claire began her career working as a Social Worker with Looked After Children (LAC) in the United Kingdom. Always having an interest in working with Family Violence, Claire worked in the UK to support services including police, social services and specific family violence programs to build collaborative approaches for practice, ultimately leading to better outcomes for vulnerable children and families.  

Immigrating to Australia in 2003, Claire took on a management role with the Child First Integrated Family Services program and then the Family’s First program where Claire was responsible for successfully implementing major service change.  

Always looking for new ways to expand her clinical practice, Claire returned to study and completed a Clinical Master’s degree in Family Therapy. Claire’s commitment to understanding and working with Family Violence continued throughout her studies and following the completion of her degree, Claire established a highly successful private practice specialising in working with families. Claire’s practice also included providing clinical supervision and consulting to mental health organisations, maternal and child health nurses, DHHS Child Protection and Family Services.

Most recently, her expertise in the field of Family Violence has seen Claire work as a Senior Clinician at the Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault. Claire’s capacity to work systemically and strategically contributed to sweeping program and policy reforms and the development of new and innovative cross-sector projects, with improved outcomes for children and a relational perspective always at the forefront of her thinking. 

In joining the Child and Family Wellbeing Team, Claire brings her clinical expertise in the fields of Family Violence, Vicarious Trauma, Resilience, Relational Practice and critical and systemic thinking. Claire creates learning experiences that are based on bringing theory to life through practice. Her vibrant personality and love of learning shines through all of her work. Claire looks forward to working alongside practitioners to create sustainable change in the lives of children and families now and into the future.