I have been an artist, a social worker, a researcher and academic and now work as a counsellor and accredited mental health social worker.

Earlier phases of my lifetime have included an international career exhibiting artistic ceramics and photography, then years spent as a social worker and academic. 

Much of my life has been spent studying what it is that makes us 'human'. Formally, this has included studies focussing on early human development, from psychodynamic through to biological, neurobiological and psychoneuroimmunological growth, health and mental health, palliative care, trauma, modern developments in psychodynamics and psychotherapy. Through these studies I have gained some insight into how this process of growth develops throughout our lifetimes and how it may also be severely damaged and then, possibly, also healed.



2016 - present   Employed as social worker / counsellor, Family Support Consultant in Community Palliative Care, now also accredited mental health social worker and counsellor in private practise.

2016             Invited judge, Blue Knot Foundation Photographic Award, 2016.   

                      "Voiceless and Selfless: The Experience of dissociation as a route to discovering the embodied, non-verbalised voice of traumatised                                                        children". Paper presentation: "Children's Voices in Contemporary Australia", Symposium hosted by The ARC Centre for Excellence in                                              the Study of Emotions, The University of Melbourne. 

                      Active advocate and educator for trauma informed care for survivors of childhood trauma.

  2015           "Fairfield Farewell". Group exhibition: selection of works exhibited over the years at New North/Photonet Galleries. 
                                             Photonet Gallery, Fairfield, Melbourne.   (June)

                      "Art Expo 2015 Milano". International Group Exhibition organised by ArtMeet Milano to coincide with Universal Expo 2015, 
                                              Milan, Italy.   (July - September) 
                     
2014             "Outsider Art Today". The Dax Centre Public Program. Panel Discussion, The Dax Centre, Kenneth Myer Building, 
                                              The University of Melbourne.

                      "Raw Emotion". Group exhibition, The Dax Centre Gallery, The University of Melbourne.   (October) 

2013             Group Exhibition: Photonet Gallery: "Windows". An exhibition for International Women's 
                                               Day 8th March.   (March)

                      "The Door In The Dark". Representative works from the Cunningham Dax Collection. 
                                               R.M.I.T. Gallery, Melbourne.   (September, and ongoing travelling to other locations).

                      Artist talk: "The Door in The Dark". 

2012             "WASHI". Invitational group exhibition showcasing the varied possibilities and qualities of 
                                               hand-made Japanese paper (washi) in Fine Art photographic printing. (Mar)

                     "WASHI" (selection). Exhibited at Manning Clarke House, Canberra.   (June)

                      Solo Exhibition: Manning Clarke House, Canberra: "Edges".   (Dec) 

2011             Group Exhibition: New North Galleries: "Alison's Daughters". An exhibition to celebrate the                         
                                                100th anniversary of International Women's Day 8th March.     (Mar)

                      Finalist: Brunswick Street Galleries Photographic Competition: "Picture This".   (Apr)

                      WINNER: New North Prize for Portraiture in Photography.   (Oct) 

2010             Shortlisted: Brunswick Street Gallery Photographic Prize.

                                         Invited to exhibit: Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, Australia.

                      Solo Exhibition: New North Galleries: "The Sense of Self: Flight".   (Aug-Sept)

                      Shortlisted: Brunswick Street Galleries Art Prize (All Media).

                      Solo Exhibition: Brunswick Street Galleries: "The Sense of Self: Selected Works".   (Oct)

                      Merit Award: Portrait of an Australian Latvian.   (Dec) 

2009              Shortlisted: New North Gallery Photographic Prize.

                                         Invited to exhibit: New North Gallery, Melbourne, Australia. 

2002-present     Ongoing intensive psychotherapy following a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder, ongoing reading, research
                      and education in trauma, dissociation, psychodynamics, attachment and infant development and related subjects. 

2002-2003    Tutor, Department of Social Work, The University of Melbourne. 

1997-2003     Post-graduate study and research, social work and Doctor of Philosophy. 

1995-2002     Social worker, various organisations and roles. 

1991               The first non-Soviet national to be accepted as a member of the Latvian (Soviet) Artists' 
                                         Association.     

1990-92         Participated in many group exhibitions in Latvia and Germany. 

1990               Solo Exhibition: Riga, Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic.

1985-90          Participated in many group exhibitions.





   

 



 

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http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/dissociation-and-coping-with-trauma/8290294

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-01/what-its-like-to-live-with-dissociative-identity-disorder/83120