About Amanda
Dr Amanda Shea Hart is a highly experienced mental health clinician with over 30 years of working directly with children, adults, and families experiencing relationship issues and problems adjusting to life crises, including family breakdown and exposure to violence or abuse.
Amanda’s expertise is highly sought by clients and practitioners across Australia, especially in family conflicts where adults and children have multiple and complex needs.
Amanda has a unique insight into family members’ adjustment to fractured families, including complex issues for infants and young children, and the impact of entrenched conflict and violence and abuse on adults and children.
This insight is based on Amanda specialising throughout her career on trauma from violence and abuse, and on separated families in dispute over parenting. She continues to undertake professional development on world leading contemporary practice in this specialised field.
Amanda's work and academic experience is recognised nationally and internationally through:
Amanda has worked for State and Commonwealth Government as well as community organisations. She has been in senior clinician roles in various organisations including the Department of Health SA, the Family Court of Australia (Adelaide Registry), and the Benevolent Society of NSW. She has also held management positions including Centacare Adelaide, the Adelaide Registry of the Family Court, and the AASW.
Amanda is engaging, respectful, and works together with clients to achieve the best sustainable outcomes. She is committed to the development and implementation of best practice and introduced Child Inclusive Practice to Australia as a way to centralise the needs and best interests of the child in resolution of family conflicts.
She is a strong advocate for children’s best interests and has experience with media presentations, campaigns, and invited consultations with politicians in regard to child protection, family violence, and policy and legislation reforms.
Amanda’s tertiary qualifications
Other qualifications and training
Amanda’s other professional activities
Memberships
Amanda’s expertise is highly sought by clients and practitioners across Australia, especially in family conflicts where adults and children have multiple and complex needs.
Amanda has a unique insight into family members’ adjustment to fractured families, including complex issues for infants and young children, and the impact of entrenched conflict and violence and abuse on adults and children.
This insight is based on Amanda specialising throughout her career on trauma from violence and abuse, and on separated families in dispute over parenting. She continues to undertake professional development on world leading contemporary practice in this specialised field.
Amanda's work and academic experience is recognised nationally and internationally through:
- presentations at conferences and seminars, including as Invited Speaker and Distinguished Visitor
- provision of skills training workshops for a wide range of professionals and organisations
- research, including her PhD research on children’s best interests in family law in cases of violence and abuse
- publications in professional refereed journals
- consultation for professionals, politicians, review committees and organisations
Amanda has worked for State and Commonwealth Government as well as community organisations. She has been in senior clinician roles in various organisations including the Department of Health SA, the Family Court of Australia (Adelaide Registry), and the Benevolent Society of NSW. She has also held management positions including Centacare Adelaide, the Adelaide Registry of the Family Court, and the AASW.
Amanda is engaging, respectful, and works together with clients to achieve the best sustainable outcomes. She is committed to the development and implementation of best practice and introduced Child Inclusive Practice to Australia as a way to centralise the needs and best interests of the child in resolution of family conflicts.
She is a strong advocate for children’s best interests and has experience with media presentations, campaigns, and invited consultations with politicians in regard to child protection, family violence, and policy and legislation reforms.
Amanda’s tertiary qualifications
- BSW (Hons), University of New South Wales, 1972
- Grad. Cert. Mediation, University of South Australia, 1997
- M. Conflict Management, Chancellors Award List , University of South Australia, 2000
- PhD, School of Social Work & Social Policy, University of South Australia, 2006
Other qualifications and training
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
- Advanced Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Certificate 1V Training and Assessment
- Advanced Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice
- Level 1 Collaborative Practice
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- Psychotherapy
- Attachment Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Play Therapy
Amanda’s other professional activities
- National and international conference presentations
- Skills training workshops for professionals
- Publications in refereed journals
- Web article reviewer for Parenting Research Centre
- AASW Accreditation Panel member for university courses across Australia
- Research projects on children and families
- Consultations for professionals, organisations, review panels, and PhD research students
- IACP Committee member for Collaborative Practice development across Australia and South East Asia
- Contributing to development of Elder Mediation across Australia
- Media presentations
Memberships
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)
- LEADR
- Australian Association of Social Workers accredited mental health professional
- Families Australia
- Adelaide Collaborative Practice Group
- Asia Pacific Mediation Forum (APMF)
- World Society for Protection of Animals