Jo Herbig
Post Graduate Family Therapist, Clinical Supervisor and AASW Mental Health accredited Social Worker, Jo Herbig established ‘Focus On Children’in 2004 as a locally based Private Practice in the small city of Launceston, Tasmania.
Jo had completed a Bachelor of Social Work with Honours in 2002 and in the same year commenced working for the local Children’s Contact Service. Her role at the Children’s Contact Service was twofold, that of Support Worker conducting intakes with clients who were predominantly separated parents.
Also, in a supervisor role Jo would oversee weekend arrangements for separated families, which were inclusive of the changeover of children from one parent to the other. This also included supervised visits for children with the parent they didn’t live with. At times these visits would include other family members. Jo regularly prepared reports for the Family Court in this role.
Observations soon became thoughts and thoughts soon became a plan for the private practice. Jo felt for so many families who were experiencing difficult times throughout their separation, in particular the children. Hearing their frustrating and heartbreaking stories became the catalyst for ‘Focus On Children’.
Years of litigation and thousands of dollars seemed to be “the norm” for most of the families and Jo soon became adamant that it should be easier for parents to arrange things for their children following a separation; that is the ones who were in need for something in writing and who struggled to communicate with their ex-partner for the benefit of their children.
‘Focus On Children’ was registered as a result and Jo simply “sat on” the name for a period of time, however continuing to advocate for the need. At one stage Jo participated in a Family Law enquiry, which was running across Australia in 2004. Jo recalls that this was certainly an opportunity to have input into what seemed to be a government interested in change.
Jo continued on in the role with the Children’s Contact Service for a period of four and a half years before moving into a Counselling role with the Parenting Orders Program for two years. This involved the individual intake, counselling and case management of separated parents, along with six-week education courses for the parents who were mostly mandated to attend. Holding a Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education assisted with developing educational programs for parents.
By this time and in 2006 the Federal Government had completed their enquiry and rolled out the first round of Family Relationship Centres (FRC’s) across the country. FRC’s were established for the purpose of separated parents being mandated to attend Mediation as a first step following their separation and prior to being able to apply to Court. In Tasmania the first round of FRC’s was set up in Hobart.One year later in 2007 the second round of FRC’s were rolled out across the country. Launceston was chosen geographically at this time.
In 2008 the opportunity arose for Jo to take up a position with the Launceston Family Relationship Centre as a Specialist Child Consultant. Jo had by then completed training under the guidance of Professor Jennifer McIntosh from Family Transitions in Melbourne. Jo is a current member of the Graduate Child Inclusive Practice supervision group who meet on a regular basis.
Qualifications and Certifications
- Post Graduate Family Therapy and Clinical Supervision
- Bachelor of Social Work with Honours
- Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
- Certified Integrative Health Coach
- Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education
Jo is a member of the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW) and the Association of Child and Family Development and Psychodynamic Counselling
