Synergetic Learning...
synergetic:
adjective of synergy –
the working together
of
two or more parts to
produce an effect
greater than the sum
of
their
individual
effects. |
Synergetic Learning is a boutique management consultancy based
in Melbourne, Australia. We have provided consultancy services around Australia as well as in the United Kingdom. We specialise in helping organisations
improve the effectiveness of their staff, and therefore the organisation’s
performance, by offering specialised consulting services, particularly
in the areas of human resource (HR) management and development.
OUR
CORE VALUES
- Synergy – much of our work is done with groups.
When people work effectively together they can produce this
energy whereby
the working together of two or more people produces results
greater than the sum of their individual efforts. The consultants
in our
group also find that we experience synergies. We believe in
the value of cooperation and collaboration for ourselves and
our clients.
- Making
a positive difference for our clients and for each other.
- Awareness
and growth – we believe in self-awareness and personal
growth.
- Value-for-money – we believe in the importance of providing
quality, value-for-money, effective and efficient solutions
for our clients.
OUR PEOPLE
A group of highly skilled professionals – organisational
consultants, psychologists, facilitators and trainers, many of whom are also healthcare practitioners, we all have
experience in employment and/or consulting to the public, private
and/or education sectors.
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Jo Fleischer – Director
[BA (SocSci), Grad Dip App Psych, MAPS, Assoc Member ASH]
Jo is the owner and Director of Synergetic Learning (incorporated in 1995). With an extensive human resources background, Jo consults to the public and private sectors. She has taught applied psychology at under- and post-graduate levels, organisational change and research methods at tertiary level. She has taught at RMIT, Monash University and more recently, was an Industry Lecturer for several years at the Endeavour College of Natural Health (formerly the Australian College of Natural Medicine) where she taught subjects including counselling and communication subjects and critical research skills, under three faculties.
Working mainly in the areas of HR practices, leadership, management, performance management, emotional intelligence, coping with stress, work/life balance, team building and personality, Jo has been a facilitator and adult educator for over 20 years and has a particular passion for self-awareness, learning and development, health & well-being and helping people improve their working and private lives.
As well as consulting, she works in private practice as a counselling psychologist. Jo practices clinical hypnotherapy to help people with issues such as addictions, phobias, self esteem problems and sleep disorders. She also works extensively with people suffering from depression and/or anxiety as well as a variety of other issues including eating disorders and relationship issues.
Jo has a passionate interest in complementary medicine, practising flower essence therapy with Bach Flower Remedies® and Australian Bush Flower Essences®. She runs public workshops on behalf of the founder of the Australian Bush Flower Essences, Ian White. She has a particular interest in meditation and nutritional medicine for mental health.
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Adrienne Curtis – Associate
[B Comm, FIPD, MCIM, Post Grad Dip HR, MA]
With an extensive assessment and development background Adrienne consults to the private and public sectors. Her initial background was commercial taking a Bachelor of Commerce in South Africa. She then became a specialist in recruitment and assessment in London, with further qualifications of a Post Graduate Diploma and Masters in HR. Working in the area of leadership and development, she was Head of Executive Assessment at a leading firm of international business psychologists, after moving on from running a medium sized headhunting concern with offices in London and Sydney. Management development and individual coaching form the backbone of her current work portfolio, which includes development of leadership skills and helping others to identify stressors and increase their resilience. She is a qualified counsellor and sees the benefits of combining analytical skills, empathy and business experience to assist individuals to achieve their full potential and to live more fulfilled lives. |
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Ann Curtis – Associate
[BSc (Hons) Business Studies, Psychology Major of BSc Social Science, Grad Dip App Psych, Grad Dip Psych]
With significant experience in the field of development and assessment, Ann has passion for creating effective personal development practices and cultures within organisations. She has worked within the public and private sector. Her early career was in marketing and technology with a Business Degree from Oxford Brookes University. In her twenties she moved to Australia and retrained as a psychologist. She worked with the internationally renowned SHL for 6 years first as a consultant and then headed up their Career Management practice within the Change and Performance Division. Since leaving SHL she has consulted internationally and focused on management, leadership, personal development and wellness. Her work centres on developing an individual’s potential through increasing their self awareness, finding their passion, then building behavioural skill, flexibility, resilience and instilling a sustained ability for continual learning and development. Ann works very collaboratively and uses an eclectic mix of techniques including NLP, Positive Psychology, Sports and Health Psychology, CBT and Eastern Mind and Body Practices. She combines the richness of science with a deep understanding and compassion for people to create significant and enduring behaviour change. She designs and runs workshops and seminars and also works 1:1 as a coach. |
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Amanda Dickie - Associate
[LCMdip, ATMS 4599 CertIV Holistic Counselling & MBM]
Amanda has been working in the field of Natural Therapies since 1993. Having completed her Diploma at the London College of Massage Amanda spent several years in the UK developing a private practice and teaching at the London College of Massage. Since returning to Australia Amanda has continued to study new therapies, run private workshops and in 2006 commenced teaching at Endeavour College (previously Australian College of Natural Medicine) specialising in Health & Happiness, visualisation techniques, anxiety and stress, energy and pain management. More recently Amanda has specialised in palliative care and disability work and has practiced reflexology from the Gawler Foundation. Amanda is passionate about making a difference to people?s lives and works using her skills in massage and other modalities in pregnancy, child birth, disabilities, aged care.
Over the years Amanda has conducted leadership training for groups of people within a huge networking company as part of their leadership team with groups between 10 and 200 people, this is an area that Amanda?s past in the Media certainly complements her work with people?s health, happiness and wellbeing.
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Kristina
Didelis – Associate
[BA (Fine Arts), Grad Dip VET, Adv Cert HRD]
Kristina is a highly motivated, energetic and passionate learning and development
professional with 10 years experience in providing innovative training and
development services which are outcome focused with the ability to analyse
problems and find
solutions that secure commercial and business results. Her HR background includes
developing and implementing OD strategies, client relationship management,
business planning and exceptional customer service delivery with a commitment
to overall
quality improvement. Kristina’s adult learner centered training delivery
is innovative and creative, challenging organisational, team and individual
paradigms, with an accent on action and interactive learning. She incorporates
lateral thinking
methods and state of the art training processes.
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Jason Eldridge – Associate
[Adv Dip (Naturopathy), Rayid Practitioner, Rayid Teacher, Dip (Herbal Med.) Dip (Nutrition) ATMS member]
Jason has been in private practice as a naturopath for many years, helping people get well and stay well by using traditional knowledge with modern research, balancing science and soul. Jason is a lecturer at the Endeavour College of Natural Health (formerly the Australian College of Natural Medicine) where he teaches Food as Medicine, Wellness Analysis and Rayid Iridology. He has completed extensive studies under Denny Johnson (the founder of Rayid) and is a qualified Rayid Practitioner and Rayid Teacher with Rayid International. He has lectured healthcare professionals for BioConcepts and trained practitioners for HealthQuest Patient and Practice Solutions. Jason instructs guided meditation and has recorded a series of guided CDs titled 'Sacred Tree Meditations'. Jason has been helping people back to good health since 1991 when he started his own All Earth Health Food store.
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Christine Farrell - Associate
[BA (formal Dip Ed), Grad Dip Ed, Grad Dip Couns]
Christine is a counsellor, yoga teacher and teacher with 20 years? professional experience in both counselling individuals experiencing a broad range of issues and teaching. Her professional experience includes working in private practice with a focus on health and well being, stress reduction and building natural resilience. She combines transformational counselling and therapeutic processes. She has been employed by the Education Department as a Counsellor, coaching in teaching best practice methods and congruent teaching styles. Christine is the manager and teacher of ?Yoga Now? holistic health studio in WA. She has also facilitated a number of women's groups and re-evaluation of co-counselling processes for women. In addition Christine has taught primary and secondary schools in both WA and Vic in the class room, intensive ESL language teaching, music teaching and relief teaching. |
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Tonya Gabriel-Brennagh - Associate
[BA (Applied Psych, Grad Dip Psych, Diploma of Clinical Hypnosis, Dip of Counselling (Family Therapy), M Analytical Psychology, MA Health Science (Sexual Health). MAPS, MASH, SSSS, ACPCPP,ASSERT, AASECT,ASTSS,ISSWSH]
With an extensive experience in delivering counselling and training in a wide range of environments from Government Departments, Employee Assistance Programs, Private Practice, Trauma Debriefing to external agencies. Tonya Gabriel-Brennagh is an experienced trainer with the Australian Society of Hypnosis and has delivered courses on psychology, counselling, dealing with bullying, workplace stress, depression, health and humour. She has also delivered training in Mediation for Victoria Police and a range of seminars for Monash University.
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Emma Gierschick - Associate
[Dip Rem Therapies (Reflexology), Cert IV Reflexology, Cert IV Workplace Assessment & Training, Cert III Psychosomatic Therapy
Reflexology, Cert IV Workplace Assessment & Training, Cert III Psychosomatic Therapy]
Emma is a dynamic presenter, promoter and practitioner of natural health. She is a current serving Director of the International Council of Reflexology Board, the past National President and Hon Life Member of the Reflexology Association of Australia, and recipient of several awards including an Academic Blue for teaching excellence. Emma came up with the concept and registered several international natural health promotion weeks, including Natural Health and Fitness Week and Natural Medicine Week. In addition she created several modality specific weeks including: Naturopathy, Aromatherapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine. She was instrumental in the creation of the Australian Practitioners Emergency Response Network that recruited and coordinated volunteer therapists to provide support for the emergency service personnel and survivors of the bushfires in Victoria in 2009. She has presented on National TV and Radio several times and has been published in many National and International magazines, Journals and other publications.
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Elisha Lawry – Senior
Associate
[BA (Psych), Dip Ed, Grad Dip App Psych, MCouns, MAPS COP]
Elisha is a registered psychologist with diverse experience of over 20 years in psychological practice including but not limited to organisational, individual and relationship counselling. She has extensive clinical experience in individual, relationship and family counselling, psycho-educational training and hypnosis. Elisha also has a strong background in organisational cultures, leadership development as well as lecturing expertise in tertiary institutions. She has co-designed a leadership effectiveness assessment tool and developed organisational culture and climate surveys. Her professional experience includes significant consulting experience with major international consultancies such as Deloitte Consulting Group and Drake International. Elisha is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the APS College of Organisational Psychologists.
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Judy Miles – Office
Co-ordinator (part-time)
[BA (Visual Arts), Dip Art Ed]
Judy has a long and varied career history, from working for a photographic business,
to book-keeping for a linen service to university lecturer in Curriculum and
Art Practice in Education at Capricornia Institute, Rockhampton, Queensland to
running art galleries in Queensland and Victoria. She also has qualifications
and experience as an office systems manager. Over-qualified for this job, Judy
brings her extensive organisational and office management skills to Synergetic
Learning on a part-time basis spending the rest of her time creating and exhibiting ceramics and writing her first novel.
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Michelle Nebbs – Associate
[BSc (Hons), MSc in Applied Psychology (Hons), Registered Occupational Psychologist]
Michelle is an experienced global consultant with strong skills in communicating and relationship building at all levels - both within companies and externally with clients. With experience across a wide range of industries, and significant experience in telecommunications, financial services and mining, Michelle has lived and worked in NZ, UK and Australia - delivering projects across all of the world's continents. Currently delivering high quality consultancy services to selected enterprises in the areas of development, team-building, performance management and executive coaching, Michelle has a background in organisational development, talent management, work place re-engineering, leadership development and work effectiveness. |
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Gabriele Parpinello – Associate
[B Sc (Psychology), BA (Mngt & Prof. Studies), Cert Mngt, Cert Mech.Eng.]
With an extensive human resources background over the last 20 years, Gabriele consults to the public and private sectors. He has project- managed and facilitated National Training Programs for Telstra in the areas of change management, performance management, and organisational and personal development. He has run successful Conferences for the Australian Association for Psychological Type and has performed project management roles with Synergetic Learning. Gabriele is passionate about self-awareness, personal development, health & well-being. |
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Clare Pyers - Associate
[BHSc (TCM), Cert Adv Clin Prac (China), CMRBV Registered Practitioner, Member AACMA]
Clare brings a wealth of practical experience to the Synergetic Learning team. She employs a pragmatic approach to guiding people through stress management and achieving balance based on her holistic approach to health and wellbeing. An understanding of the workplace demands on team members at all organisational levels is derived from Clare's various roles in the private sector: project management, training design and delivery, leadership, mentoring, strategic planning, and policy/procedure setting. Clare melds her knowledge gained in the private sector with 9 years experience in the health industry where she has a busy client load, manages her own multi-practitioner clinic, and designs and delivers lifestyle and wellness workshops.
Clinically, Clare treats a wide variety of health issues ranging from workplace and career stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders through to headaches, chronic pain, infertility and digestive disorders. She is registered with the Chinese Medicine registration board and is a recognised TAC Provider and Worksafe Victoria Provider (previously Work Cover Victoria). |
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Owen Thomas - Associate
[Diploma Film Practical – Institute of Lens Arts Australia (1996), SPAA – Screen Producers Association of Australia]
Owen has a background in retail sales and distribution, has worked for some of Australia's leading grocery brands and has built and operated an independent distributor network of over 1,000 people throughout Australia, New Zealand and Europe. This required significant teaching and training in team building skills and leadership development. Owen has given presentations and key note addresses throughout Asia Pacific. He has significant experience writing, directing and producing film (corporate & drama), new media and live events and has five successful music albums to his credit. Owen has worked with such media identities as Ita Buttrose, Kerri- Anne Kennerly, Joe Dolce, and Susie Ahern to name a few. He has been responsible for producing, show directing and production management of large corporate events with delegate numbers upwards of 10,000, both locally and internationally. He recently developed and taught the course “Jump Start Your Life” for the Council of Adult Education. His career and interests are eclectic which gives him the ability to relate to a broad range of people. He has a passionate interest in Household and National Sustainability, Metaphysics, Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese Medicine, European Natural Medicine and Australian Indigenous Culture. He is an excellent communicator and is able to make complex new subjects easy to understand. He practices yoga, puts on great parties and loves a laugh. |
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Jan Williams - Associate
[Dip Science, Dip Rem Therapies (Reflexology), Cert IV Reflexology, Cert IV Workplace Assessment & Training, Cert IV Sm Bus Mgt]
Jan has a background in medical science and I.T. and in the year 2000 gained her qualifications in reflexology. Jan now has two clinics in Brisbane and teaches reflexology at the Endeavour College of Natural Health. She has a strong involvement with the Reflexology Association of Australia at State and National levels, culminating in two years as the national president. The facilitation of learning for adults is a particular passion and Jan has done this both in Australia and the UK delivering to large groups as well as small workshops. |
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