Meet the Training team
The Centre for Youth AOD Research and Practice team is made up of dedicated and passionate people who believe in creating a better future for all young people.
The Training team aims to bring evidence based with current training methods and ideas to the Youth AOD sector and wider community. By offering a high level of training and up skilling participants it is being seen that the youth of today and tomorrow are getting the best from our workers.
Geoff Bayldon
Senior Trainer and Practice Consultant
Bachelor of Community Mental Health & Alcohol and other Drugs, Diploma of Youth Work, Diploma of Dual Diagnosis, Diploma of Outdoor Recreation, Certificate IV in Alcohol and other Drugs, Certificate IV Training and Assessment
Geoff Bayldon is an experienced Youth Worker, and is a Senior Trainer and Practice Consultant. He has worked at the Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) for 14 years, across many programs, including Outreach, Day Program, Drug Withdrawal Unit, and long-term Residential Rehabilitation. Geoff has extensive training experience. He is the principal trainer of “Understanding Methamphetamine” training for Human Service workers in Victoria and all new Child Protection practitioners. Geoff has also provided competency-based training in AOD for Melbourne Polytechnic Communities Services students.
Bianca Johnston
Senior Trainer and Practice Consultant - Family Violence Specialist
Bianca currently undertakes a Masters of Philosophy (via Research) into young women's experiences of Intimate Partner Violence, Masters of Social Work, Bachelor of Criminology
Bianca Johnston is a Social Worker, Criminologist and Senior Youth Work Practitioner with over 13 years’ experience in the youth area. Bianca has had roles with young people in both statutory and community settings including Child Protection, Out of Home Care and Youth Alcohol and other Drug services. Bianca has specialized in better understanding family violence and surrounding issues and recently designed and developed the Family Violence Capabilities for the sector with FSV from the Victorian Government.
A key focus of her research and practice has been engagement and intervention with young women who experience complex issues including experiences of intimate and family violence, criminal justice system contact and trauma. Her work has ranged from individual support, therapeutic groups, community development projects, large-scale community art projects, and workforce and sector capacity building. Bianca is a committed advocate for young women and is leading practice change in the Victorian Youth support service.
Michael Cameron
Senior Trainer and Practice Consultant
Michael holds Post Graduate qualifications in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing at the University of Melbourne, A Forensic Clinical Drug and Alcohol Assessor Accreditation with DHHS and a Diploma in Youth Work
Michael is currently a Senior Trainer and Practice consultant YSAS, specialising in the diverse ways in which we can understand and support young people. Michael’s passions include AOD, Trauma, Dual Diagnosis, Child Protection, Youth Justice and exploring Therapeutic Approaches to Youth Work.
Michael has worked across a variety of programs supporting young people who uses substances, including Child Protection Residential Care, Youth Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal and Rehabilitation, Headspace and AOD Outreach. He is also the current Youth Principal AOD Practitioner at Secure Care, providing Assessments, Secondary Consultations, Training and AOD pathway planning for Child Protection staff and Out of Home Care young people.
Karina Belloti
Commercial Business Manager
Masters of Business Management, Bachelor of Social Communication
Karina is an experienced Business Manager with extensive experience working in the not for profit and corporate sectors. Some highlights in her career include providing business management to a large Japanese manufacturing company and leading roles in project and events management. Karina has excellent skills in project management, sales, operations and customer service.
At YSAS, Karina manages the training and evaluation service and supports several capacity building projects within YSAS and the Youth AOD Sector.
Karina is a genuine people person and is passionate about YSAS' amazing work assisting disadvantaged young people.
