Experiences that guide our work. Susan has provided consulting services for 4 years, sharing the knowledge and skills developed as an Executive and Board Director in the Not-For-Profit Sector, as Director of Residential Experience at the Australian National University, in Senior Social Policy roles in ACT and Commonwealth Governments and as a Social Worker in health, mental health and community services.
- Designing and implementing strategy, policy and service reform
- Scoping strategic alliances and supporting productive cross-organisation and cross-sector relationships through difficult conversations and reform processes
- Developing evaluation frameworks and conducting evaluations
- Guiding restructures of both governance and operational arrangements in non-government organisations to ensure decision-making and resource allocation are aligned with the organisation’s strategic objectives
Susan is a certified facilitator of the Core Capacity Assessment Tool that organisations can use to benchmark and develop their services. More information about this tool is provided here: TCC Group’s Core Capacity Assessment Tool (CCAT®) – TCC Group
- Coaching Executive Leaders and Middle Managers
- Developing and delivering tailored worksforce learning and development seminars and programs
- Providing external supervision to front-line workers, peer workers and social workers
Counselling Services:
- Susan has worked for 10 years across general health, mental health and employment support services, and led crisis responses with young people and adults.
- Susan provides counselling in a private practice supporting people through difficult experiences or facing complex challenges
More information and appointments:https://lifesupportscounselling.com.au/counsellors/susan-helyar/
Consulting and Counselling Services
- Consulting services are scoped in partnership with the organisation, and are tailored to the purpose, capacity and stage of development of an organisation
- Workforce support, learning and development builds individual, team and organisation capacity to fulfill the purpose of the organisation whilst growing the capacity of leaders and workers, and sustaining wellbeing
- Counselling services are tailored to address the challenges they are facing and build the self-awareness, skills and relationships that will enable people to flourish in their preferred future
Examples from previous work
2025 – developed strategic plans for diverse NGOs, completed service delivery reviews, facilitated operational and advocacy planning workshops to translate strategic alliance agendas into practical workplans, incorporating key focus areas, monitoring and evaluation frameworks and workforce capability development requirements.
2024 – facilitated planning days for peak bodies and alliances to scope opportunities and readiness to strengthen value proposition through service offerings and public policy engagement
2023 – facilitated a multi-agency review of a housing support service and provided advice on the future development of an intake and referral service that enabled organisations to more effectively deliver housing and wellbeing outcomes
2022 – supported a social enterprise to develop strategy and content to expand their consultancy services to build their revenue streams and broaden their social impact
2020 – 2021 – consultation, development and implementation of a new fit for purpose model of care that guided peer-led and professional services to University students across prevention, early intervention, crisis response, recovery and relapse prevention. The new model reduced critical incidents and increased reporting of adverse incidents so staff could prevent further harm and address causes of adversity.
Partnerships with Researchers
2023-2024 Guest presenter in Graduate Certificate Programs (University of Canberra)
2020 Developed “Better Cohesive” student leadership development program with Prof Kate Reynolds (Australian National University Professor of Social Psychology) to build knowledge and capability of peer leaders in on campus residences to build social cohesion and support positive group norm setting in their residential community. This program contributed to improved clarity of peer roles and improved capability of student leaders to fulfil these roles.
2017 led a partnership between the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (University of Canberra) and a consortium of community organisations on research into hidden poverty and deprivation in the ACT. (view)
2023-2024 Worked with the ACT Government and University of Western Australia on development of tools and resources to support fully costing services funded by government and delivered by NGOs
2015-16 Worked with the Social Policy Research Centre (University of NSW) on research regarding the community sector in the ACT, to build the evidence base for sector development. This research contributed to development of the ACT Community Services industry Strategy. (view)
2009 Led partnership between UnitingCare Australia and the Social Policy Research Centre (University of NSW) to identify how social policy reforms can be best aligned to support positive outcomes for children, young people and families. (view)
Policy submissions
2025: Facilitated development of analysis and recommendations on the provision of responses to households experiencing utility hardship
2024: Development of policy advice and resources included in the Knowledge Hub created as part of the ACT Government Sector Sustainability Program (Sector Sustainability Project Knowledge Hub – ACTCOSS)
2023 City Renewal Authority: Primer Paper to inform Board consideration of Social Vibrancy and Sustainability
2017 Future of Education: Submission 2 Excellence and Equity (view).
2017 Submission on Priorities for the ACT Electricity Network: ActewAGL Distribution Electricity Network Five Year Plan 2019-2024 Discussion Paper (view).
2015 Submission on the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building Policy Framework (view).
2013 Submission on Letters of Offer to Non-Government Providers of Housing and Homelessness Support Services (view).
Aged-care Submissions (view).
Disability Support Submissions (view).